The Cries of the Butterfly - A LOVE STORY by Rajeev Roy

evening and it was almost six pm. That’s nearly seven in LA.
    And then her laptop tinkled. A little note on the lower right hand corner of the screen said: ‘Lu has just signed in’. A little something kicked in Savannah’s bosom. And then he was paging her.
    She clicked on the message and the Fly Messenger board came alive.
Lu says: hey girl the power turned a trick uh?
     
    She pressed the keys frantically.
Sav says: right. sorry about it.
     
Lu says: so wassup?
     
Sav says: not much.
     
Lu says: ok.
     
Sav says: look lu u were sayin somethin b4 the power conked off.
     
Lu says: v r rather desperate 2 know arent we?
     
Sav says: inquisitive, not desperate. so spill.
     
Sav says: lu...u there???
     
Lu says: no its my corpse here.
     
Sav says: LU QUIT!!!
     
Lu says: k, k...but i m just 2 nervous!
     
    Oh, here we go again! she thought.
Sav says: pls dont b. dont u trust me lu? v hav bcum such gud friends that u know u can say anything 2 me. whatever it...
     
Lu says: i luv u babe.
     
    She stopped breathing.
Lu says: i know its bizarre n stupid n strange n ridiculous n ull think ive totally lost it but i think i m in luv with u sav. somehow i just am. even i cant figure it out myself…i feel so f…ing stupid.
     
    She remained frozen.
Lu says: this is what i wanted 2 say all along n couldnt, but now its out in the open n ur silence tells its own story n i m feelin like a real heel. i m mortified n ashamed n feel real cheap n if only the earth below me wud open up ... so gudby savannah n i m truly sorry i embarrassed u, but not my fault entirely. u practically compelled me 2 confess.
     
Sav says: WAIT!
     
Sav says: DONT GO LU!
     
Sav says: theres NOTHING 2 b ashamed/embarrassed about!!!
     
Sav says: LU?????
     
Lu says: yes.
     
    She exhaled.
Sav says: u read what i said?
     
Lu says: yah.
     
Sav says: now dont b so meek. like i said u hav nothin 2 b ashamed/embarrassed about. u voiced ur innermost feelings n thots n i admire u 4 that. its a rare quality 4 a human 2 hav n its 2 b valued n cherished.
     
Lu says: wow u do hav a nak of makin a bloke feel gud.
     
Say says: i m just bein honest here sir.
     
Lu says: thax a lot sav.
     
Sav says: & look lu…these things happen. certain things r beyond human control…or reason. luv tops dat list. “inexplicable phenomenon”, like u like to say.
     
Lu says: great! lol.
     
    A pause. Then...
Lu says: lets talk on the phone sav.
     
    The abruptness of that made Savannah blink.
Lu says: sav?
     
Sav says: yes.
     
Lu says: lets talk real time…voice.
     
Sav says: u really want that?
     
Lu says: about time dont u think?
     
    Well, that’s a new one! she thought.
Sav says: i dont exactly hav ur phone nos u know.
     
Lu says: i’ll call u.
     
    You still don’t want me to have your number? What’s the deal, Lucio Edilson?
Sav says: k. lets do it then. call me in 10 mins. … & on my fixed-line.
     
Lu says: why not 5 mam?
     
Sav says: bcaus i need 2 go 2 the loo 1st.
     
Lu says: u need a pee b4 u can talk 2 me???
     
Sav says: u r such a genius lu!
     
    And she quickly logged off. Then she dashed to the bedroom and to the loo.
    Lu Edilson had implied right—she was suddenly nervous. But more, in a sort of a daze. It was all too sudden.
    The phone bell rang as she lowered her panties and she froze. I told him ten minutes, didn’t I? She listened, but after two rings it stopped. Savannah went ahead with her task.
    The phone buzzed again as she was putting her panties back on. Shucks! Again it ceased after two rings. So Lu had decided to play with her a little before they actually spoke. The prick! Didn’t he realize he was making her even more nervous?
    She sat down on the edge of her bed, next to the bedside table, and checked the wall clock. Seven minutes still before he was supposed to call. Now she wished he would call before time. She found her hands were shaking just a little. Mary, what’s this! She felt like a teenage girl going on the first