It's been a long time, I reply, when what I really want to do is ask her what she's been doing for the past fifteen years. If she still drinks tea with milk and lemon. If she's happy.
The narrator reflects on a long absence from someone's life, revealing a sense of nostalgia and curiosity about the years spent apart. There's a deep longing to reconnect and understand the changes that have occurred over time. A simple question about tea preferences underscores the intimacy of their past relationship and highlights the small details that shape their memories together.
Amid the longing, there is an underlying concern for this person's well-being and happiness. The narrator’s desire to know if this individual is content speaks to a deeper connection that transcends time and distance. The yearning for personal updates suggests that despite the years, the emotional ties remain strong and significant.