Disconnected

Voicemail - 25th December - 10:14
Hi Dad.

I know it’s been a while.

…I didn’t really know what to say after what happened last time.

Anyway.

Merry Christmas.

Just let me know you’re alright.

Voicemail - 1st January - 00:07
New year, same you I guess, right?

You could have responded to me at least.

But I should’ve known that’s not you.
You never believed in any of that.

Voicemail - 24th February - 21:37
Is this another one of your tests?

You know, all I ever wanted was to make you proud.
Every critique you had about the way I played in a match, you’d say:
“Everyone will tell you when you’ve played well, lad. I’m here to tell you what you do wrong.”

Well guess what?

Everyone did tell me.
Every trophy. Every point I put on the scoreboard told me.

But all I wanted was to hear it from you.

Happy birthday.

Voicemail - 7th May - 01:12
It’s been exactly a year since we were last together.

It was funny at your funeral
all your friends would come up to me and say how you’d brag to them about me.
They told me how proud you were of me.

It was nice to hear.

But all I wanted was to hear it from you.

I wish we could have said it to each other.

Just once.