WISH YOU WERE HERE

by Jessica Sims

My brother called me up while I was sitting at home watching TV.  His voice didn’t sound the same. He sounded like there was something wrong. He sounded worried and he couldn’t speak in whole sentences. I answered the phone in my regular voice calm and cool tone, the way I always do, but something just felt different.
           
“Hello,” I said picking up the phone.
           
“I need to talk to you,” was his reply.  This was abnormal because he would usually, at least, say hello back, wassup, or something.
           
The first thing that crossed my mind was what did I do?  

I had to back track because I just knew I was in some kind of trouble. I turned the T.V. off and replied, “I’m listening”.
           
“You know I got Kelly pregnant,” he said in a low muffled tone.
           
“Oh,” I had to let the thought register. But I knew that wasn’t all because it didn’t seem like much for him to need to talk to me about. That’s when I began to worry. My palms began to get all moist and warm.
           
“Well, she had the baby January 18, but he died today. He was premature.
           
That was all I heard because everything after that was a blur. Those words caused me to feel numb, first my fingertips and toes, and then my entire body. Then tears filled my mouth. And as he continued talking, I heard his voice, but didn’t hear the words.  All I remember seeing was this watery blur, from the tears I was trying to hold back. There was a long silence, until I said, “Are you okay?”
           
“Yeah.”
           
“Well, everything is going to work out.  God makes everything happen for a reason,” Then there was a silence again. At that moment I couldn’t speak any more because the tears began to roll, but I wanted to stay strong for him.
           
“Yeah man, this is just something hard to cope with. But I’m going to hit you back, this momma on the other line.”

“Alright, then bye, I’m going call you later”

After that, I went to my room and played this song on the radio over and over.  The song fit the situation so perfectly. It’s called “I Wish You Were Here” by Jamie Foxx. The only thing that kept going through my mind was my nephew whose life I will never get to be a part because he passed away. And I never got to hold him, touch him, or ever get the chance to know what he was like. I never even got the chance to see his eyes.