Our Souls at Night

42

One night she called him on her cell phone. She was sitting in a chair at her apartment. Will you talk to me?

There was a long silence.

Louis, are you there? she said.

I thought we weren’t going to talk anymore.

I have to. I can’t go on like this. It’s worse than before we ever started.

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He doesn’t have to know. We can talk on the phone at night.

Then this seems like sneaking. Like he said. Being secretive.

I don’t care. I’m too lonely. I miss you too much. Won’t you talk to me?

I miss you too, he said.

Where are you?

You mean where in the house?

Are you in your bedroom?

Yes, I’ve been reading. Is this some kind of phone sex?

It’s just two old people talking in the dark, Addie said.