After the girl got done eating, she started singing to herself. I had never heard most of the songs, and a couple were even in foreign languages. But I didn't care, because this girl had the most beautiful singing voice I had ever heard.
The problem was, I think she was paranoid that people could hear her, so every time she thought someone was looking at her, she stopped. As we were in a crowded lunchroom, it was hard to get a whole verse out of her.
The next day, I sat next to her again. And the next day. And the next day. Before I knew it, I had a crush on her.
I continued to sit next to her throughout eighth grade. And ninth. And tenth, too.
About two weeks into our junior year, she stopped singing for the first time that I knew about. Now she listened to music on her brand-new phone.
After about a week of this, I tapped her on the shoulder and asked her why she didn't sing anymore.
She gulped. "I didn't think anyone ever heard me...well, I used to listen to music in my mind, but now I use iTunes." After some hesitation, "Hey, why do you care?"
I wanted to tell her that I loved her, and her voice was the most wonderful thing it had ever been my fortune to hear, but I couldn't. No one ever can.
To this day, I wonder if she ever did start singing again.