Dead Zone

The tunnel roof was sweating grey,

I had so many things to say.

About the flights and why the cost

meant one more family thing was lost.

The line went flat. A hollow sound.

The train went screaming underground.

I pulled the phone back from my head

and saw the screen was black and dead.

A smudge of oil where my ear had been

was all that flickered on the screen.

I didn't try to call her back.

I sat there staring at the black.