Three Missed Calls

[Instrumental Intro] [Verse 1] Ten fourteen. Ten twenty-six. Ten forty. Three missed calls. All from home. Last bus turns by the pharmacy sign My bag on my knees, one earphone in Manager kept us forty minutes late Phone stayed face-down beside the till Now Mama’s name sits three times on the screen Battery red, twelve percent left I know she’ll ask if I ate tonight I haven’t yet [Pre-Chorus] Streetlights slide across the glass Same shops, same turn, same crowded bus I press the first voice note Her kitchen comes through first [Chorus] Three missed calls All from home A spoon in a cup A chair on the floor Someone laughing somewhere behind her Three missed calls I let them sit Not because I don’t want to talk I just need five quiet minutes before I become her daughter again [Verse 2] She says Papa finally fixed the gate My brother cut his hair too short Mrs. Bako’s dog got loose again and slept all afternoon on our porch Then: “Are you eating properly?” Pause. “Call when you can.” Behind her voice I hear the old fan clicking every third turn [Chorus] Three missed calls All from home A spoon in a cup A chair on the floor Someone laughing somewhere behind her Three missed calls I let them sit Not because I don’t want to talk I just need five quiet minutes before I become her daughter again [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3] My stop comes. I climb four flights. Key sticks twice before the door gives in. One plate. One glass. Work shoes by the wall. The neighbor’s television through the plaster. I charge the phone beside the mattress and play her message once again Not for the words. For the room behind them. [Bridge] I left because staying felt too small Now sometimes this room does too Funny what distance does A place gets louder after you leave it [Final Chorus] Three missed calls Still on my screen Ten fourteen Ten twenty-six Ten forty I press call One ring Two Then her voice: “Hello?” [Pause] “Hi, Mama.” [Outro] The old fan clicks somewhere behind her.