It was one of those days when the clock seems to be running twice as fast as you are. Since morning Anne was chasing deadlines at work, and when she got home, the "second shift" was waiting for her - laundry, dishes, and replying to overdue emails. This "daily routine" often gave her a headache, and the sweltering heat outside didn't help at all. It was the hottest day of the year. When she finally collapsed on the couch in the evening, her body felt like it weighed a ton, but there was a spark of excitement in her heart, because tonight was "the night".
She turned on the TV just as they - her favorite band - took the stage. The Blair Brothers had been building their musical legacy on for decades, while their future big fan was still a child, unaware of the wonderful harmony of their voices. When Anne finally discovered their work, there was no turning back - it was love at first listen. The live broadcast pulsated with energy, and the familiar sounds of the guitar immediately washed away the girl's fatigue from the whole day. After a moment, Anne saw a room full of people. The cheers and applause of the audience drowned out the first chords of the music, but then a melody she knew well reached her ears. She smiled to herself, involuntarily tapping her hand on her knee to the rhythm of the music.
The brothers were now standing on the stage of one of the most famous concert halls in the entire country and accompanied by their band, they performed another song from their latest album. Anne sang along with them, smiling.
Of course she knew this song. She knew all their songs by heart, every chord and every note. When the last instrument fell silent and the hall was filled with thunderous applause from the audience, a tall black man stepped onto the stage, officially introduced the stars of the evening to everyone who's watching the event at home, and remind of the opportunity to talk to the brothers on air. Anne looked at the phone number that had just appeared at the bottom of her TV screen.
- No way. - she thought.
Despite the temptation to dial the number, she refrained and decided to focus her attention on something else, or rather on "someone" else.
Bobby, the oldest brother, was now talking to one of their fans. He stood with his electric guitar slung over his shoulder, smiling at the camera and answering her questions. Robert, the second brother, stood in the middle, in front of the microphone and listened attentively to the conversation. He was also smiling and occasionally chimed in a few words. However, Ann was interested in the third brother - Michael. Robert's twin brother. Although they were born on the same day, they had a very little in common. They didn't even look alike. This man had always fascinated her. In this case, "always" meant, ever since she had discovered their music.
During the band's heyday, Bobby was considered a heartthrob. Michael kept to himself and few of his songs saw the light of day, but it was those songs that she liked the most. Of course, fascinated, she dug up even the oldest songs he had written, including those that had never been released on any album. In reality, however, it wasn't about the songs, the melodies, or the lyrics, but about his voice. This deep, low and incredibly sexy voice became her refuge, and his ballads, full of emotion and maturity, made Anne feel an almost metaphysical connection with him. Although there is a significant age difference between them, for her he is the epitome of masculinity and sensitivity. The dream of meeting Michael Blair face to face, accompanies her every day. Anne believes, that what she feels when she hears his voice is not just fan adoration, but a genuine attraction of souls that makes the age barrier irrelevant. Besides the music he created, she loved his sense of humor, his wonderful smile, and his beautiful green eyes. Until now, she had only seen him on her computer screen when she was watching old recordings of concerts and interviews. Some time ago, however, she wanted to get to know him for real. She wanted to find out what he was like on a daily basis. What he liked, what annoyed him, what he was interested in. She knew it was silly, that she didn't know him at all and might never meet him, but every time she saw him, she felt strange. She felt like a teenager who had fallen in love for the first time in her life. Michael became her obsession.
Some time later, the concert was coming to an end. The host of the event once again reminded viewers that they could call in and talk to the brothers on the air. Anne looked at the number displayed on the screen again. This time she didn't even think twice. She grabbed the phone and dialed the number, not expecting a miracle.
- Everyone's calling now. - she thought. And yet, after a few rings, she heard the operator's voice, and then... silence, broken by the voice of the show host on the other end of the line.
- And now we're connecting with another person. Good evening, who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?
Shocked, Anne didn't respond at first. She couldn't believe that all this was really happening.
- Hello? Can you hear me? Good evening. - the man repeated, a little surprised by the silence that answered him.
Finally, Anne gathered all her courage to respond, and although her voice was barely audible, she was greeted by the applause of the audience gathered in the concert hall.
- Good evening. My name is Anne. - she said.
- How's your evening going? - she heard Bobby's voice, who was now smiling at one of the cameras. At that moment, her nervousness, which had just reached its peak, slowly began to subside.
She took a deep breath and turned down the TV so that their conversation would not echo in the receiver.
- Now, it's much better. - she replied. - This call was a totally spontaneous decision, I didn't even think I'd be able to talk to you at all.
- We're glad it worked out. - continued the eldest brother. As usual, he was very polite. They exchanged a few more sentences, and then Robert asked the question she had been waiting for since the beginning of their conversation.
- So, what would you like us to sing for you?
Anne smiled to herself. She didn't have to think long. She knew exactly what song she wanted to hear. She gathered all her courage again and turned to the man in the hat, standing behind the keyboard.
- Michael... - she began shyly. Hearing his name, the man looked slightly surprised at the camera in front of him and smiled.
- Yes, Anne? - he said in his wonderfully deep voice, and when he pronounced her name, she felt goosebumps.
So the woman continued.
- Ever since I discovered your band, it's you who have always been my favorite. - she confessed, completely oblivious to the crowd listening to their conversation. Bobby and Robert looked first at each other, then at Michael. They were a little surprised that this confession was directed at their brother. It didn't happen often. In fact, it didn't happen at all. Both men just smiled, waiting to see how the conversation would unfold.
- I love your sense of humor, your smile, and most of all, I love your voice. - Anne continued. - That's why I want you to sing now. - when she mentioned the title of the song, Michael nodded in agreement, and although he was still a little surprised, you could see the satisfaction on his face.
- Thank you very much, Anne. So now, especially for you... "Closer than close"...
After he said that, the lights in the studio dimmed and the signal in her phone suddenly cut out. Michael began to sing her favorite ballad, looking straight into the camera lens as if he could see her sitting on the couch in her sweatpants. In that one moment, all the stress, rush, and fatigue disappeared. She sat in front of the TV with tears of emotion in her eyes, feeling like the happiest person in the world. It was no longer just a concert on TV - it was a personal dedication that made every minute of today's hardship worthwhile.