A laugh,

A look,

But not a face.

The love,

The respect,

But not the voice.

My memories remember the boy,

But I don't know the man.

Four years of remembering,

But never of seeing.

Until one summer,

Two weeks,

But only a few words.

The changes

Of adulthood,

But, underneath, the boy.

Desperation stopped the words

But memories moved my heart.

Familiar gestures of hand,

But different habits of body.

Eyes the same,

Heart never changed,

But a girlfriend on his arm.

My old thoughts,

Our old friendship

But his new life.

I saw the potential

Of his beautiful face.

I felt the kindness

Of his gentle heart.

Four years ago,

Two young kids,

And a special bond.

Friendship born,

New life begun,

Now memories are all that's left. . .