CHAPTER 1:
Tiny but Mighty.
Quinn

"Is that the song you plan to sing one day?"

I nodded yes as Eli pointed to my favorite song on my Playlist, Hopelessly Devoted To You.

"If therapy goes as planned, I should start to become comfortable with talking in a few months," I signed to him.

"I can't wait to hear your voice," Eli smiled. He's been my best friend since elementary school, and has been waiting patiently for me to feel comfortable enough to finally speak.

But, the thing is, I don't know if I even sound good.

What if my voice sounds raspy? What if I'm not even a good singer? What if my voice isn't as feminine as I like? Or as everyone else would like? So many questions threatened to hold me back.

"How is Demetri? You didn't talk about camp," I asked.

"He's fine, he wanted to rebuild our robot and went straight home to get started."

"I'm so nervous."

"About the new year?" I nodded.

"Me too. Yasmine and the others are going to be there," Eli let out a shaky breath.

He's terrified, like me.

"We'll make it through. Kyler can't come anywhere near me, so just stick with me and we should be good," I referred to the restraining order I had on Kyler after he tried shoving his hand down my skirt to get me to use my voice.

Cruel, I know, but that's a boy with rich parents who doesn't have to deal with consequences.

"That's impossi-" I put my finger over his lips.

"Nothing is impossible. Not with us."

"Eli! Your mom is here to pick you up!" Mom called from downstairs and he started to get up, but I grabbed his wrist.

Just say it, Quinn.

Surprise him.

"What? What's wrong?"

Just. . .speak.

But as always, my throat constricted  and I gave in.

"When I speak to you, for the first time, I'm going to tell you something and you need to have an answer for me. Okay?" I explained, playing with my fingernails after I finished signing.

"O-okay. Is it bad?" He stuttered, getting nervous.

"Depends. But promise me we'll still be friends."

"I would never leave you, Quinn. No matter what," He responded and my heart started to slow down, thankful that I had a friend as great as Eli.

And hopefully, something better than a friend in a few months.

"I know."