Deadline

A friend is terminal yesterday he told me standing in the parking lot stunned, I was blank wordless affection, noble silence clasped his hand we wouldn't hug We weren't that close still I sunk inside fear in me, mixed empathy how close do you need to be to share lonely moments of humanity we're all in the same queue that, and taxes always come due He said he's okay that is his answer to pancreatic cancer haunting smile from quivering lips fake laughs, shrugs some live years on, he wryly said vowing happiness till the end There's a deadline now not his, it's mine he's made his peace my deadline starts today I share my hugs with you in words