One Phone Call

being on a crashing airplane with one phone call to make

On an airplane,
falling from the sky,
erupting in the air,
he has time to make one call
to one person,
one last time
to say "I love you."

He dials the wrong person,
punching two instead of seven.
He tripped over his own fingers,
like his first piano recital.

The phone rings
and rings.

Nobody answers.

The automated voice answers.
"Please leave your message at the sound of the beep."
And he says, "I love you"

It doesn't matter.
He said, "I love you."