Oftentimes it seemed as though people thought that I didn’t really exist. My classmates would pass me on the streets with not so much as a nod. My teachers would skip over my name by attendance as if my very name was contaminated. Oh how I yearned for a smile for a friendly greeting for a compliment. I may not be able to talk in public but that doesn’t mean I can’t listen!

At some point in high school things changed somewhat. No I didn’t start talking but for the first time in my life I had a friend a real friend. Her name was Esty and when she joined our class for ninth grade she instantly took a liking to me. Why Esty would want to befriend me Mute Mirel the girl who didn’t talk was beyond me — but you know I couldn’t ask her why. That would require talking.