"Why don't you ever speak?" he asked, staring into her lonely eyes.

She hesitated, her gaze still painfully looking at the ground. "I don't like talking very much."

"Why not?"

"I just don't."

There was a small pause, an awkward silence radiating throughout the painted room.

"Have you ever spoke about it?"

"Not really."

The two of them had just finished an assigned art project. Mr. Hager, an old, grumpy man, with two laughable bald spots, had recently ramped up the due date on the assigned art portfolio.

Justin Paterson, a tall, stocky jock, playing linebacker for the school team, was practically the poster boy when it came to having a flamboyant, outgoing personality. He could hold conversations together like masking tape, make people laugh like a stand-up comedian, and had the confidence of a hunky playboy grazing over the cover of a standout magazine.

Patricia Anderson, a shorter, more fragile girl, both physically and emotionally, was the penguin-like polar opposite of Justin. Shy, introverted, and keeping to herself, Patricia was the quiet and even awkward girl. Known for speaking few words, talking with a small lisp at times, she had been asked the same question her whole entire life.

Why are you so quiet?

Needless to say, had the two not been paired together for a school project, the chances of them spending time together outside of studies was slimmer than predicting the world would end in 2012.

"Well, sometimes if we don't talk about things, they can build up negatively," Justin admitted.

Patricia paused, the nearly-finished art portfolio laying before her on the granite table. Indeed, even though she would often deny it, Patricia typically refused to speak about her social insecurities—how they started, where they came from, and the need to carry on with it.

However, there was one single outlet that Patricia held deep inside of her. A hidden talent that she desperately wanted to share with the world, but didn't know how to express it without the troubles of her anxiety consuming her.

"Well," she replied, taking a moment to herself. "I guess I'm worried about...being judged."

Justin raised an eyebrow, grabbing a glue stick. "How so?"

"I'm worried that people will think down upon me and the way I construct things."

"Maybe you have some social anxiety?"

"Probably."

"Or maybe it's caused by a bad experience you had in the past?"

Patricia felt that in her heart, a gut feeling streaming throughout her body. "It's possible."

Justin reached into his backpack, filled with football gear and extra school assignments. "Sometimes I get worried before game day."

          "Really?" Patricia was slightly taken back. Even though he was still human, it was hard for her to see Justin as an insecure individual—with his outgoing personality, comedic humour, and constantly being loved by other classmates.

          "Yup. I'll start tapping my foot restlessly as the announcer begins calling the lineups. Or hearing the fans cheering gets my heart pumping as we run out to the field."

          "I went to a home game last year year and just watching made me nervous. The crowd was so loud. I can't imagine the pressure playing in the actual game."

          "Yeah. It does get pretty intense. Especially during our home games in the playoffs last year. I'd get so much anxiety I could barely even sleep the nights before."

          "How did you manage to deal with it?" Patricia asked, dying to know the solutions to cure her inner nerves.

"Deal with what?"

          "Your anxiety before the games."

          Justin paused. "Well, I found ways to push through it."

          "Can you tell me?"

          "Taking deep breaths, focusing on sensations, reminding yourself you'll get through this."

          Patricia nodded.

          "Or, another thing I found helps, was meditating. Before a big game, I'd try and find an empty space by myself for fifteen minutes, plug in my headphones, and attempt to get myself in the right mindset."

          "Mediating sounds like it could help. I remember my mom would do lots of yoga when I was younger."

          "That, too. One time our coach took us to a yoga instructor for beneficial results on the football field. It helped a lot and relaxed me, but all my buddies were gossiping how 'hot' the instructor looked."

          Patricia chuckled. "White noise has also helped me a bit. I'm a bit of a weirdo, and I sleep with a fan blowing all-year-round. Even in the depths of mid winter, snow and rain. I don't know. The silence of the room makes me uncomfortable and I can't sleep."

          Justin nodded, grabbing another magazine, zoning out for a moment. The sound of him cutting out more pictures with a pair of scissors drew Patricia into a moment of deep though.

Then, randomly of nowhere, abruptly as ever, that's when Patricia felt a tsunami-like tidal wave of confidence flow over her, washing and cleansing away all of her anxieties. It was a shocking, yet beautiful experience, the weight of her shoulders being lifted like the Gods themselves, her burdens evaporating into the sky like rain on a sunny day.

"Can I show you something?" she asked, softly.

"Uh...sure," Justin replied, half his focus still gazing down at the portfolio.

Patricia nervously stood up, causing her chair to make a scrapping sound, catching Justin's full attention.

          "Is everything okay?" he asked, surprised to see Patricia in such a bold manner.

          "I was...uh—" She hesitated, yet pushed through. "—I wanted to tell you something."

          "Oh...alright." Justin was only as surprised as her.

          Patricia stood there, feeling her nerves arise like always. But this time it was different, as if nothing in the universe could stop her, throughout every galaxy, shorting star, or passing comet. After everything she had repressed, pushing each insecurity down to the murky pits of the dark, cold ocean, there was simply no holding back Patricia Anderson.

          "I'm a singer," she proudly confessed, two hands on each hip.

Justin raised yet another brow. "Really?" Respectfully, singing was the absolute last thing he could picture her taking on.

"Yes," she replied, a natural smile lifting upon her face. "I started when I was only seven."

          "Wow."

          "Yeah."

          "How come you never shared this with any of us?"

          "I honestly don't know. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm worried about being judged."

          "I don't think anyone would judge you for that, Patricia. Honestly, they would probably think it's really cool."

          "I know. It sounds so stupid when I say it out loud."

          "I don't think it's stupid. I just think you maybe care too much what others think."

          With that, Patricia stood tall, shoulders back, chest out. She took a deep breath in, exhaled out, and swung for the fences, ready to hit a game-winning grand slam out the park. Nobody could stop her.

          "Can I sing for you?"

          Justin's eyes widened like saucers. "Oh...um...okay?" Shocked, he didn't know how to respond.

          Patricia smiled once again. She zoned out of her surroundings, envisioning herself walking out from behind the draped, red curtain, her name being announced to the dazzling crowd. They cheered with a loud, profound roar, her high heels clanking along the stage floor, her ruby dress hanging down to her ankles.

          Meanwhile, Justin watched in awe, the two of them struck together in that little room, the art portfolio still resting on that same granite table.

          Patricia grabbed the metaphorical mic, wrapping both hands around it and making eye contact with the audience, then let out her hidden talent that she'd kept hidden for so fucking long. She started off slow, humbling softly under her peachy lips, orchestrating a natural rhythm by tapping her foot.

"When I was younger I would sit on the porch

Watching as the world goes by

Wait for my mother when I'd finish my chores

And then she'd sing a lullaby"

Justin was taken by utter surprise. Her voice was simply...lovely. The vibrant tone and profound meaning struck him like a chord, the way each word and syllable rolled lusciously off her tongue, along with the poetic storytelling lyrics.

"Two birds kill one stone as they were flying so high

A mocking bird would laugh in joy

Mocking my ways while I would sit back and sigh

I think Santa he forgot my toys"

At this point, Justin felt like he was sitting in the audience himself. Hearing Patricia continue on with her gracious sound, he could practically see himself sitting in the very back row, wearing a fancy suit and tie with smooth slicked-back hair. On his feet were fancy dress shoes, along with a handkerchief hanging out of his pocket.

          "The wind blows the rain, the rain blows by in the wind

          My umbrella broke my coat's not dry

          I'm laughing so hard that I forgot what I've did

          I'm happy I don't need to cry"

          It was simply the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. He continued to to envision himself watch Patrica perform on stage. The audience was entirely sold out, not a single seat empty in the auditorium. The whole crowd sat upon the edge of their seats with anticipation to what Patrica would come up with next. The light above circled around her as she poured her emotion into the microphone. Her hair was twisted up in a bun with dazzling style, eyes sparking with a soft makeup, and her thin, fragile lips painted a scarlet-red. On her body was a glittering blue dress, coloured like a balmy lakeside shore, along with a pair of lanky high heels. It was simply the performance of the century, a Grammy-nominated act that would go down in the history books forever. Justin simply could not believe what he was witnessing.

          By the time Patricia had ended her earth-shattering symphony heard around the entire world, the news press and social media blowing up like a catastrophic volcano, the crowd stood up and gave a standing ovation that nearly shattered the ear drums of everyone attending. Patricia gave a bow to last her a lifetime, as Justin could practically see the roses being tossed towards the stage. The petals landed before her, tears rolling off the cheeks of the audience, along with a moment being burned across the universe. The drapes of the red curtain slowly closed before her, leaving not a single soul stunned beyond belief.

And so it was Patricia Anderson, the quiet mysterious girl who nobody took serious—the same one who was too scared to speak and left everyone with so many questions—stealing the show without anyone looking back. It was simply beautiful, and no one could take this moment away from her—no one.

Coming back to reality, the two of them still among the art portfolio in that same painted room, Patricia gazed into Justin's hazy eyes, as if waiting for a response. Even though it was the most gorgeous thing he'd ever heard, bringing him to his knees of profound emotions, he could still see the doubt in her expression. As if Patricia wasn't aware that she'd shared a breathtaking moment, blowing Justin out of the Atlantic Ocean.

"So," she finally spoke, bitting her lip nervously. "How, uh...how was it?"

Justin froze, thinking of any words for the poetic beauty he'd witnessed.

"It was—" He paused, still trying to grasp the aura he felt. "—the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life."

          Patricia's worried expression turned upward into a soft smile. She blushed like roses—perhaps the same ones Justin envisioned being throw by the crowd.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Patricia could not believe it. It felt like everything she had worked for in her life, all she'd kept bottled up inside—out of fears that others would judge her—was finally being expressed. Even though it was only Justin who'd heard her, to Patricia, it felt like every radio station in existence had tuned in to listen. It was the start, or rather the birth, of Patricia Anderson and her career—taking her to starlight never thought possible.

The rest of their time spent together was double-checking over the art portfolio, talking and laughing. Patricia was a whole new person after exposing her hidden talent, a radiating glow of confidence beaming off her, the inability to stop smiling uncontrollable. She kept thinking about her future—sharing her endless talents and devotions—along with the never ending cycle of possibilities.

By the time everything was checked over and completed, ready to go over for Mr Hager's presentation, Justin offered to walk to Patricia to the front door.

Before letting her go, walking down the stairs and passing through the kitchen, Justin stopped her beside the shoe rack.

          "You know, that was very brave of you to share," he reminded.

          "Thank you."

          "You should really think about getting in the studio and recoding."

          "You think so?"

          "I know so."

          She blushed again. "Well...I'll definitely consider it."

          "I'm serious, Patricia. You need to share your talents with the world. Your must be heard."

          "Thank you. I'm so excited to show everyone. I'm gonna start working on my next song when I get home."

          Justin's lips turned upward himself, feeling so happy for her. He thought about all the times he watched Patricia sitting alone, doubting her self-confidence, and simply not believing in herself. He'd never felt so proud of anyone in his life. It was absolutely lovely.

          And just like that, Patricia opened the door and carried on her way, her backpack bouncing off her shoulders and binder in hand.

Though before she left, Justin had one final question for her—something he must, must know.

"Hey," he called.

"Yes?" Patricia turned around.

"How come I was the first person you ever sang to?"

She paused, the sun shining down upon her through the trees, the breeze blowing through her hair, as she smiled blissfully with zero hesitation.

"Because silences teaches you how to sing."