Poem: He has not returned

He has not returned

or if he has
it has been kept secret
from me.  I hope
it is not intentional,
that he did not come
and stay away.
I doubt that
but I worry.
He has been
my good friend
for a long while
but I am not
a confident man
and I worry
there might be reasons
he would disappear,
that I have done something,
that he has decided against me
and I won't see him again.
I have no reason to think that.
It is absurd.  We have been friends
for many years now
and I know it is fine,
he is just busy,
has things that draw him away,
but I do worry.
I have been hurt before
and would rather 
protect myself
than be unprepared.

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