Four Words

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Just,” hello, I’m still here”
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled with a sigh
Four words, just those four
Were the sweetest words I ever read

Gone for weeks, so far from home and my heart, hearing static, reading garbled messages of broken words, I stood in the kitchen, my feet in one spot, never moving, staring at the message on my phone, remembering your face, with the small scar above your right eye, eyes of blue, and hair, honeyed, mixed with gray.  
I miss that face as I look around the room; everything starts to remind me of you.  Your chair at the table, where we share our meals, empty, but I can picture you sitting there, laughing at something I did or said, and your favorite coffee mug, still in the drainer by the sink, where you left it. I always hated that mug, stupid pictures of fish all over it, but now looking at it, it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

You’re coming home, in one piece, mission accomplished, and whatever else you said, I only heard coming home. I’ll leave the porch light on, and have a cup of coffee waiting for you, soon my love, soon.