If I should meet thee

After long years,

How should I greet thee?

With silence and tears.

Kevin punched the number, into the stiff keys, taking the old and battered phone from where it dangled on the wire. He prayed it worked. It looked like it had been chewed through.

He relaxed as he heard the rings then tensed as he realised who was going to answer. While he waited he glanced around the airport waiting room, anxiously tapping the wall and biting his lip.

"Hello?"

"C-Connor?"

There was a long silence as Kevin listened to the sound of static suddenly amplified. They both could hear the other breathing but neither of them knew what to say.

"Kevin? Is that you?"

It was a pointless question to ask and he realised as soon as he said it. He knew it was Kevin.

"Yeah it's me. I'm coming home. I'm coming to see you." His voice cracked and he took a deep breath in, saving himself from pouring out everything he wanted to say. He glanced around at the other people in the waiting room, none of whom had looked up.

"How long?"

"The flight's ten hours, then I land in JFK."

"I'll be there."

There was so much they needed to say and so much they wondered if they'd have the courage to. Kevin knew he couldn't leave it all until they were face to face.

"We are currently boarding passengers on this Ugandan Airways flight to New York."

"That's my flight Con, I have to go."

And suddenly Kevin felt he couldn't stop himself, the words tried to come out in a flood.

"I've missed you, I've missed you so much and I don't know how I've-"

"Shhh."

"What?"

"Save it Kev. Save it for when I can look into your eyes as you say it."

"I love you." His voice was so quiet, his eyes now blurry.

"Love you too. Now quick get on that plane so I can see you quicker."

"I love you."

"You've said that Kev."

"I just need you to know."

"I do. Now hang up."

And Kevin did right there and then because he didn't need to say goodbye to Connor. He'd had to say that six months ago and it had been painful. He didn't need to say goodbye because he wasn't leaving, he was going home.