The Sound Of Love

“That’s so impressive,” said Charles. “It’s admirable, really it is. I don’t think a lot of people feel this way. When something bad happens to them, most people tend to moan about it a lot. They start to talk about how nothing goes their way, you know? That’s understandable, I guess. I mean, if something bad happens to you it is very natural to become bitter about it, to become sad, to feel like you have been dealt the short straw. I’m not saying that there is anything bad with being upset that life is not going the way you want it to, it’s just that the way that things are going with you, you deserve to be a little bitter or sad but you are having none of that. You choose to be positive, and that is something really special.

“I’m pretty amazed by you. I mean, this is only the second time that we are talking but I’m still pretty amazed. I’ve already told you that I’m a really good judge of character. I’ve already told you that everything people try to hide I can usually find immediately. I can tell that you are an amazing person and I am really happy that it was you I chose to talk to last night.”

Chantal smiled. “I’m really glad you chose to talk to me too. And like… I don’t really know what to say. That’s such a nice thing to say about me, that I’m an amazing person. I honestly wasn’t expecting you to feel that way about me. I really like you, you know. I’ve never connected with anyone so much so quickly. I’ve never felt so… understood.”

“To be honest, I’ve never felt this understood either,” said Charles. “I guess we are just two very similar people. We live different lives, of course, our circumstances are very different indeed, but I think that it’s important to realize that we are similar in spite of all of this. Can I tell you something?”

“Yes,” said Chantal, “tell me anything.”

“My name’s not really Charles,” he said. “I guess you probably already knew that. You’ve been doing this for a while after all.”

Chantal laughed and said, “Yes, I did know that. It was the way you hesitated, the way you spoke. I could tell that you were a first time caller and most first time callers lie about their names. I don’t mind. I’d like to know your real name because I really like you, but you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I mean, I’m not expecting it from you or anything just because it’s something I want. I can just keep calling you Charles if that would make you feel more comfortable at all.”

“No,” said the man that had been calling himself Charles up until now. “No, I would like you to know my real name. It’s Michael, Michael Rather.”

“Michael,” said Chantal, speaking his name slowly. She was tasting it, the feel of it on her tongue. It was a lovely name, and it suited him a lot more than Charles. Charles was such a stuck up name, it was the kind of name that an entitled person might have. Michael was a lot more earthy, it was a lot more grounded. It seemed to suit this man that had become such a wonderful part of her life in spite of the fact that she had only known him for two days.

“My name’s not Jasmine either,” said Chantal, “although you probably knew that too.”

This time it was Michael’s turn to laugh. “Yes, I was fairly certain that it was a pseudonym. You’d probably need to protect your identity too, you’d probably be in danger if you start using your real name. I don’t blame you at all. I’d like to know your real name too, but I would completely understand if you don’t want to tell me. I wouldn’t want to make you feel obligated in any way to tell me your real name.”

“I know I’m not obligated,” said Chantal, “but I’d like to tell you anyway. I kind of trust you, for some reason. My name is Chantal.”

“Chantal,” said Michael. “That’s such a lovely name. I feel like it suits you perfectly!”

Chantal laughed and said, “I feel like your name suits you perfectly too! It’s such an earthy, real name. It goes with your personality, your voice. I really, really like this name of yours.”

“So I just feel like…” said Michael, starting to speak and then stopping. “Never mind.”

“No, tell me,” said Chantal. “Please, I’d really like to know.”

“Would you like to exchange numbers?” said Michael. “I just… I would like to talk to you regularly. Is that alright?”

Chantal thought about it for a moment and then said, “Yes, it’s alright. I think I would like that very much, to talk to you on a regular basis I mean.”

Chantal gave Michael her number and he texted her with his name so that she could save his number. “I got it,” said Chantal. “You can call me there if you like, I might have to go for ten or so minutes whenever I get a caller but in between calls I’ll be all yours.”

“That would be lovely,” said Michael. “By the way, I am still paying you for this call.”

“No!” said Chantal. “Don’t do that, why are you paying me? I had such a nice time talking to you, it didn’t even feel like work.”

“Because if I hadn’t called you, you would’ve earned money by talking to someone else,” said Michael. “This is how you earn money to live, I’m not going to take it away from you!”

Chantal smiled and said, “That’s really sweet. Thank you. Okay, pay me and then call me on my phone.”

Michael paid her through his card, cut the call and called Chantal on her cell phone. She was so excited for the few moments in between calls that she could barely stand it. She didn’t want him to go. She wanted to keep talking to him, she wanted him to keep talking to her.

She didn’t know what this was. She didn’t know how she could feel so drawn to somebody so quickly. She didn’t care. She had never felt the need to talk to anyone so much, but now that she was feeling it she wasn’t afraid to surrender to it.