Silence behind my words.

We chat lightly over at around one in the afternoon, my friend and I. He updates me on common friends. I ask questions and share newsy tidbits.

At times, the conversation slips into more serious spheres and I complains the problems that I faces juggling between me and him. My words form pictures in his mind as he listens carefully. Comments and insights bubble up; I hold them back, not sure that they are welcome. He was not always this careful while talking to me.

We moaned about arguments we had few days back. Increasingly, He found himself playing safe on anything that could be outside my comfort zone. I am reluctant to share observations on life, opinions, insights, and reasons for lifestyle choices, things that mean much to me, motivate me, and hurt me.

Our friendship spans over a decade. Staying in touch degenerated into a 'nice-to-have' at the bottom of our to-do lists for most of us.

Last night he woke up at midnight and gave me a call to wish me on my birthday. I apologized for that argument. But, there was still something I wanted to say.

He has noticed something wrong in our conversations. But he has not talked about it. But then, if he did, there would be no silence between us.