Camille at Karaoke

Camille had been living in Berlin for a year, but the French woman still sometimes felt like an outsider in the large city.
On lonely evenings, she often visited a small karaoke bar by herself.
There, she could sing in French for three minutes and forget that she did not know anyone.

That night, the bar was more crowded than usual, and red light covered every face.
Although Camille wanted to turn around, she wrote her name on the list.
Soon afterwards, she climbed onto the small stage with trembling hands, took the microphone and began an old French song.

During the first chorus, Camille noticed a woman standing beside the stage.
Her dark, straight hair and black shirt stood out beneath the red light.
The woman was not smiling, yet she watched Camille with such intense interest that everyone else in the room seemed to disappear.

When their eyes met, the next line vanished from Camille’s mind.
She remembered the lyrics just in time, although her heart was beating far too quickly.
From that moment onwards, she stopped singing to the crowded bar.
Instead, she sang only to the serious woman beside the stage.

When the song ended, the entire bar applauded, and Camille almost fled from the stage.
However, the dark-haired woman was already waiting beside the steps.
She moved closer and said calmly, “You have a beautiful voice.”
Embarrassed but delighted, Camille replied with a laugh that was much too loud.

Beside a red booth, where two drinks stood on the table, the stranger introduced herself as Lea.
Then she asked Camille for her name.
Although Camille had answered that simple question hundreds of times, her voice suddenly sounded uncertain.
Lea did not seem bothered; she stayed close and patiently waited for Camille’s almost whispered reply.

Lea suggested a duet with a chorus they both knew.
Side by side before the lyric screen, they each held a microphone and began to sing.
Their shoulders brushed whenever they moved, and Camille noticed that Lea smiled at every accidental touch.
At first, Camille sang cautiously, but Lea’s calm presence gradually restored her confidence.

After the final chorus, Lea remained close beside Camille.
She leaned in so her question would not be lost in the noise.
“Would you like to step outside with me for a moment?” she asked.
Camille answered without words: she nodded at once, picked up her black shoulder bag and followed Lea towards the door.