Overheard...

I got to our lab (a.k.a. "The Grey Room") the other day, and the voicemail light on the lab's phone was flashing red - oooh, message.
Since we're about 7 people based in the lab, it could be for pretty much any one of us and there is a note-taking routine. This would be the first time I did it.

So I went through the post-it-note procedure described on the pinboard wall, clicked the pen a few times and prepared to take down notes on whom the message was for.

It was the voice of a man in his 40's, with a jovial tone of voice and a slight accent.

Message received 4:36 pm, Thursday. *BEEEEEP*

"Hi ***, it's me. Just wanted to say that I'm home now, and wondering when you will be. Hope you come home soon... I'm longing for you. (long wistful pause). OK,takecare,bye!" *CLICK*

There are no more messages in the inbox. *BEEEEEP*

I never took down that message, since *** had already left the office an hour ago and was most likely already home with her husband of several decades.

But the wistful tone of voice he'd used when said "I'm longing for you" replayed in my mind the whole bike ride home, leaving a smile on my face.