# The Phone Rings... The phone rings and my heart drops like a stone into dark water— who calls at this hour? I let it ring. Once. Twice. Three times. The sound cuts through the house like a blade through silk. My hand reaches though I don't tell it to, trembling slightly, as if the receiver might burn. "Hello?" But there is only silence— that thick, breathing silence that means someone is there, listening, waiting. I almost hang up. Then a voice, thin as wire, speaks my name. Just my name. Nothing else. I know that voice. I've been dreading it for years. "Who is this?" I ask, though I already know. The line goes dead. But the ringing continues— not in the phone now, but in my ears, in my chest, in the place where memory lives. It rings and rings and rings, and I cannot find the switch to make it stop.

- Hello...Yes...I am...Who?
It can't be...Where are you, tell me?
I didn't recognize the voice...It's changed...Please wait...
I'm glad...How? What to make bitter?

The years...Wait...Please leave...
We both have our guilt...
No...Why? I have long forgiven...
Leave...It was once...How are you now?

Really? I didn't know...Ah, bad luck...
Do you remember our first meeting?
Do you remember how it dawned on us in the morning,
fused into one of the hot kisses?

I know...It hurts...What are you sorry about?
I'm still not indifferent...
I stopped...No...I'm not hurting you...
How can I not remember...I love you!

I don't want anything...I'd like to see you,
to look into your eyes for a moment...
You don't want to...Well...I'm not offended,
I see you in memories---nights and days.

The years of wrinkles have given me countless.
Stylishly in the hair silver shines.
Your words didn't hurt me...
Are you in a hurry? Bye! Call again...