I could tell she was stressed and upset.
She had the beginnings of tears in her eyes.
So I gave her a hug. She asked me,
“What do you do when you are upset?”
So I told her: “I sing.”

I sing like I’m not afraid.
I sing like I have the most beautiful
Voice on earth. I sing like nobody
Can hear me, but if they could,
Like everybody’s listening
And cares what I have to say.

I sing like I mean it, like I can’t speak,
Like singing is my only means of
Communication, like the love of my life
Is right there in front of me, about to leave,
And I just have to tell them how I feel.
I sing like I would to cheer up my best
Friend when they are having a bad day.
I sing about my sorrows, my regrets, my
Disappointments, apologies to someone
I’ve hurt, someone I’ve tragically lost.
I sing what I’ve never been able to put into
Words.

I sing until my throat is dry, until I have
No voice left, until I choke on my own spit.
I sing like I want my voice to be carried off
On the wind, up to the heavens, with all
My heart and soul. I sing so that everybody
Will know what I’m feeling. I sing until
I can’t stop singing, until I can’t sing
Anymore.

She smiled.
She had the beginning of a smile
On her lips, and she pushed away the tears.
She thanked me and said,
“Now I understand.”