The Friend Who Moved Abroad

My friend Wira moved to Australia two years ago for work. Before he left, we promised to call every week. For the first month we did. Then it was every two weeks. Then once a month. Now we send a message on birthdays.

It isn't anyone's fault. The time difference is difficult. His life is full of new people and new problems that I don't understand. My life is the same, and he's not in it. When we do call, we talk about old times, because we don't have new times to share.

Last week I sent him a long message instead of waiting for a call. I told him about my job, my mother's health, the football team. He replied with an even longer message. It's not the same as sitting in a warung together. But it's something, and something is better than a birthday message once a year.