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“Now,” the presenter began when the crowd started to settle. “Tonight we are doing things a little different. Instead of random callers with questions, we have submissions from some people standing here in this very crowd.”

There was a murmur of interest as people looked around uneasily, making it clear that they’d submitted questions.

“Silas, are you ready?”

“I am.”

“Madison, can you call in, please?” the warlock asked.

My fingers were slippery, and my hands shook as I hit the call button. On the screen, I saw the fake Madison lifting her phone to her ear.

The phone on Silas’s desk rang.

He hit the button.

“Madison.”

“Silas,” I said. My voice was small and trembling.

On the screen, “Madison” bounced in her seat. And, well, there was a lot of… bouncing.

“Okay, great,” the warlock said. “Shall we begin?”

“Ready when you are,” Silas said.

“Yep,” I agreed.

“Our first question is as follows: My partner and I have been together for two years. He’s never been great at expressing his feelings. To the point where I’ve threatened to leave him several times because I don’t feel seen or appreciated. But last month, he planned a whole trip around something I mentioned once six months ago in passing. He remembered. I think a part of me was expecting a love confession or something. But he still hasn’t said anything of the kind. However, he did show up for me. My question is: is that love? Or am I reading too much into one good deed in two years? Oh, this one is juicy,” the warlock said. “Silas, do you want to start?”

The audience murmured.

Silas looked right at the camera, and therefore right at me through my phone screen.

“Yes,” Silas said.

Just that, nothing more.

The audience chittered.

Some laughed.

“That’s your answer?” the warlock, trying not to sound disappointed, asked.

“The question was whether that constituted love. It does. Next question.”

I clicked unmute.

“It’s not that simple,” I said.

The masked woman on the screen tilted her head and waved her hand as if she’d been the one to speak.

It was a little unnerving how well she had her timing down.

“Madison.” Silas sighed out the name. He sounded frustrated, maybe a little disappointed.

“She wants to know if it’s love,” I said. “You just declaring yes doesn’t tell her anything. She needs more clarity than that. Why is it a yes?”

“Because he listened. Months ago, she said something that he heard and held onto. Then he built something out of it.”