Reception

RECEPTION (by Silvio Vinci) The dial is warm beneath my hand, the room is turning blue. A voice arrives from somewhere else, then breaks before it's through. I hear a chair across the floor, a breath against the wire. I turn the volume down again, the signal rises higher. Are you receiving? Can you hear me now? Keep the channel open, don't turn me down. Are you receiving? Is there someone there? I can hear you breathing through the empty air. The clock has lost another hour, the window holds the rain. You say you've never been here, then you say my name. I follow footsteps down the hall, they stop before the door. The voice that asks to be let in Are you receiving? Can you hear me now? Keep the channel open, don't turn me down. Are you receiving? Is there someone there? I can hear you breathing through the empty air. Leave the light on. Let the tape run. Leave the light on. Let the tape run. Something moves beneath the hum. Then the room falls silent, and I understand: the voice I have been waiting for is asking where I am. Are you receiving? Can you hear me now? Are you receiving? Can you hear me now? Keep the channel open, don't turn me down. Are you receiving? Is there someone there? I can hear you breathing through the empty air. Keep the channel open. Let the signal through. I thought that I was listening. Was I calling you?