"I love you too"

Written 2/13/13. A man wants to meet his online lover

“When do you think I’ll be able to see you in real life?”

“… That was sudden.”

“It’s just been on my mind lately.”

“… I can’t say.”

“… Oh.”

“Sorry…”

There was a short silence.

“It’s okay. Do you think it will be any time soon?”

“Hopefully.”

Another.

“I just want to be with you.”

“… Me too.”

“If I can get enough money for a trip, do you think we can meet?…”

“I hope so. I’ll try too.”

“Okay.”

“Listen, I’m sorry, I gotta go for now. I’ll talk to you after. I love you.”

“… I love you too.”

They hung up. As she went off to do her thing, I flopped down on the bed and closed my eyes. Before I knew it, hours had passed. It was morning. Reaching over to the bedside table. 2 missed calls.

“2 new messages. Message 1, 7:45 pm…” The robotic voice changed to a soft, familiar one.

“Hey, I’m back from my thing. Are you there?” There was a pause. “I guess not. In the bathroom or something? Call me back when you get this,” and then a soft beep.

“Message 2, 12:34 am…”

“Guess you fell asleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow then, goodnight. I love you." Beep.

The last words rang over and over. I want to hear you. I want to see you. I love you too. I want to feel you. I want to feel your touch. I want to see your smile, your hands, your face. I want to hold you. I want to hear you saying the words ringing in my ears to my face. I love you too.

I love you too.

And then suddenly I was in my car, and then walking, and then politely asking the banker to give me all their money. When did this happen? Where did this gun come from? Why do I even have this thing? Oh, right. I wonder if being at gunpoint will convince them faster?

Someone must have called the police, because they were here in a flash, or at least it seemed like it. While you’re putting those cuffs on me, can you slip some bills into my pocket? “Resisting only brings a greater penalty,” but I let them handle me as rough as they did. Was it really necessary to knock me to the floor? Come now, I’m not crazy. I can’t deny that desire is taking me over, though. But I swear, it’s for a good cause. It’s in the name of love. Don’t you love someone as well? Can’t you understand this physical loneliness? I crave, I need, I yearn, just like you. Isn’t it normal to feel like this?

When did we get to central booking? Holding cell? I’m alone again, and it’s surprisingly cold. What a day, time to sleep. It’s morning again. Did I seriously just fall asleep on the floor? Explains the cold. The judge will see me, apparently. You don’t understand, Judge, I did it for love. Not a good enough reason, huh? 2 years, huh?…

She doesn’t know what happened to me. She doesn’t know what I tried to do for us. She hasn’t spoken to me in months, years. She probably thinks I’m dead. She probably hates me. I’m sorry.

I love you too.