"We'll never forget you.", was the main lie, but there were others as well. "No one deserves it more.", they said. "We'll keep in touch.", they assured you. The preening, the posturing, the long testimonials. But I waited. Perhaps you remember that I stood back and waited? Praise and compliments flow easily when the bright lights are upon the ceremonies, but when the lights grow dim, and echoes resound through the hall, where are they then? So I waited, too long perhaps, to tell you what the news meant to me. That though there would be distance between us, our hearts beat as one. I waited. I waited to tell you, but you already knew.
Years later, when the sad news arrived, they all pressed about you, to let you know that they knew.
"It was meant to be.", was the quick easy lie, but there were others as well. "You're still young.", they said. "There will be others.", they assured you. The peering, the posing, the urgent condolences. But I waited. Perhaps you remember that I waited. Distracted as you were, you saw what it had actually meant to them. An impatient look, a glance at a watch, it had given them away. So I waited, too long perhaps, to tell you what the news meant to me. But there were no adequate words. "I am so sorry.", was the best I could do. And you knew that though there was distance between us, our hearts beat together. I waited. I waited to tell you, but you already knew.
When the final news arrived, they all pressed about you, to let each other know that they knew.
"We were the dearest of friends.", was the most uttered lie, but there were others as well. "We'll miss you.", they said. "We'll always remember you.", they assured you. The praying, the protesting, the loud and long speeches. But I stood back and waited. Perhaps you would have guessed that I would have waited. Praise and compliments flow easily when the bright lights are upon the ceremonies, but when the lights grow dim, and only echoes resound throughout the hall, where are they then? So I waited to tell you what the news meant to me. That though there would be distance between us, our hearts had always beaten as one. I waited, too long perhaps, to tell you, but you already knew.