He hated that the online dating website had gotten so addictive. He was looking for a woman to chat with but soon found that he enjoyed the site as an outlet for all of the erotica he had been writing since his last affair had broken up. It seemed like he spent more time writing his stories than he did actually talking with someone. Alex was about to log off when someone sent him a note about one of his stories. SmilingAgain was her screen name; pretty, but was she just like all the others? He read her note and decided to write back.
That was how it began. Simply; they had just started talking. Surprisingly, it only took a moment before the emails became a habit. She made it perfectly clear that she wasn't in this for sex, cyber or otherwise, but she was an avid reader and a writer as well, and his stories hit a sweet spot that she couldn't ignore. She wanted to know if Alex would help her write some erotica of her own. Alex sighed a breath of relief; maybe he had finally found someone he could talk with. Indeed, they did talk and two hours flew by without either of them realizing it. The talk quickly shifted from writing stories as they talked about their childhood, their jobs, interests and hobbies. In those two hours, Alex learned more about this woman than he would have thought possible.
Of course by this time, Strontium5 had become Alex, and SmilingAgain was revealed as Susan. No last names, no addresses, no phones numbers; that was the rule. As they said their goodnights, Alex could hardly force himself to log off. For the first time in a very long time, he had a real smile on his face and was actually happy. This was fun.
A dreamless sleep followed by a quick and easy day at home, and Alex was positioned at his keyboard again. No surfing this time, no stories to write, this time he knew where to look. Susan was there waiting for him, and greeted him happily. They continued where they had left off, getting to know each other.
Alex found himself telling her little details of his life that he had never shared with anyone, let alone a complete stranger. Things he was afraid of as a child, embarrassing things that had happened with women, plans and wishes for the future. Once he started talking to her, it felt as if the gates had been opened, but this stream was going both ways. Susan talked with him, shared with him and they laughed together.
By the time the night was over, they had signed off with "hugs" and found themselves using little endearments such as sweetie and honey. Surely they hadn't just "met" yesterday it seemed they had known each other for so much longer.
The days and nights flew by and they never ran out of things to say. Always some new question, some new insight into each other that left them both amazed. When they weren't talking direct to each other, each was writing long letters and sending them off every night. Alex opened his mailbox every morning and held his breath until he saw the Susan's return address. There was always a letter waiting for him, and he made sure her mailbox was equally full.
He didn't even notice the night he signed his letter "love, Alex". It just seemed so right. Susan noticed though and felt the warmth rush through her. Lately she was starting her letters with an acknowledgment of her love for him, a habit they both loved. Their intimacy was growing. It wasn't small talk, or completely innocent facts they were sharing with each other, they talked about everything. Sex included. Favorite positions, things they had tried, things they would never try, no subject was off limits now. It had happened before, but one night Alex wrote how he wished he could take her hand and walk with her while they talked. Susan agreed and added that a real good night kiss would be the perfect way to send her off to bed.
