4
“Yeah, Mr. Sterling said it was better than his
songs, it was so creative.”
“Now, he says that she stole it? Isn’t that a
slap in his own face?”
Liam turned to me, silently asking if I wanted
to continue.
I nodded.
<
Why not?
“I, Liam Sterling, would never be jealous
because someone else made a better song.
“On the contrary, I admire it. But if a song is
plagiarized, or stolen from someone else, it’s
just garbage.”
“The original songwriter is right here beside
me, and she is
“What’s your name?”
He moved the mic and whispered to me.
I signed my name and major.
“Her name is Chloe, a music therapy major,
and the songwriter of “Heart’s Whisper”
<
When I used sign language, the crowd went
wild.
“What? A mute person writing songs? No
way.”
“Is Liam playing some kind of prank?”
“I don’t know, how could a music therapy
major create something this good? If it’s real,
then she’s putting all those songwriting
majors to shame.”
The questions overwhelmed me, and my face
flushed.
I looked up, and their mouths were moving,
saying things,
Like back when I was a kid, and the teacher
<
had asked me to give a speech.
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
They laughed and told me to get off stage.
Why would a mute person give a speech?
Why didn’t I go to a school for disabled kids?
That day, Jake came running to the stage. He
held my hand and said, “Don’t be afraid,
Chloe, you’re not disabled. I’ll protect you.”
I instinctively looked for Jake in the crowd.
I had a terrible thought.
If he came now, I’d get off the stage, forget
this whole song thing.
But I looked around and he was in the
<
audience, coldly watching me.
His eyes seemed to say: See? This is what
happens when you don’t listen to me.
My head dropped, my eyes welling up, hot
and stinging.
I wanted to run. My foot started to move, but
Liam immediately grabbed my hand.
“Don’t be scared, I’m here.”
“Keep going, I’m your voice.”
