Frequency of love

ir as the late afternoon sun slanted through his apartment windows. He reached over to ad

ou're listening to the show where we talk about eve

go when he'd stumbled across her frequency while testing some equipment. Her voice reminded him of dark honey, rich and warm with just

t's take our first caller... Jennif

les. Something about a boyfriend who wouldn't commit after two years together. The woman's voice trem

a? I love him, but I feel

intimate quality that made listeners feel she was speaking directly t

elieve them. Two years is plenty of time for him to figure out what he wants. You dese

owning at the radio. His half-empty coffee m

empty room, running a hand through his alre

rkplace dilemma, then another discussing family drama. Alex half-listened, his focus

talking about her ex.

ey're not fully present with you. Have a direct conversation about it but be prepare

ced across the hardwood floor, his sock-clad feet making soft

to the kitchen, his eyes fell on his phone sitting on the coffee table. The show's number glow

ked up the phone and dialed, heart pounding again

stifled a yawn behind her hand. Another night, another parade of strangers seeking validation for decisions they'd

shift, and the studio's fluorescent lighting was giving her a headache. She rubbed

lass partition. Her producer's voice came through the headset: "Nex

d with their issues. Might be interesting or mig

caller. Welcome to After Hours

Deep, with an unexpected hint of warmth despite the chal

ngly disagree with the

ot challenging her. She sat up straighter, suddenly more engaged than she'd

te on that?" She twirled her pen between her f

onversation advice? Completely oversimplified. People have complex histories. Sometimes

elf smiling despite herself. She caught her reflection in the da

accept our partners dwelling on former relationships?" She

there are unresolved feelings. Or maybe they come up because they were a significant pa

don't you think there's a difference between ackno

the two. You're telling people to have 'a direct conversation' but then immediately suggest

, her oversized bangles jangling silently against the glass. The ca

the answers tonight." She kept her tone playful rather than de

son? Unresolved feelings? Or just stories from a significant period of their life? Then deci

g from experience, perhaps?" She bit her lower lip,

considering his answer. "Let's just say I'

udging by our call screen lighting up, our listeners are enjoying this debate.

e was amusement in his voice now, a subtl

er usual on-air chuckle. "Until you're brav

ice, not my life story." Not

share with our listeners before we move on?" She foun

ey're more like ongoing research projects. Sometime

ting from it. "That's... actually quite poetic. Though I have t

ld depend on who'

he hadn't felt in longer than she cared to admit. She glanced at the clock, aware

certainly given us food for thou

up on me." The smile i

Feel free to call again when you disagree wit

her chair. Her scalp tingled from where the headset had been pressing too tightly. Tess b

oved him! Please tell me you got his number for a follow-up

e tried to sound nonchalant while fighting the urge

ady spiking. People are using #Mystery Man and #Radio Debate hashtags.

. The way he challenged her without being condescending. The hint of playfulness when she'd called h

place: the unpredictable magic of connecting with a stranger through nothing but words an

she made a mental note to look through the caller log tomorrow. Just out of professional cu