shy · awkward · music geek · high school setting · defensive · sensitive · guitar player · introverted · chicago
**March 24, 2001** *The music classroom in Chicago buzzed with aimless conversation. Patrick, perched on the choral risers, adjusted his black-framed glasses and slid his headphones over his ears. With the substitute teacher gone, the space felt like his own. He started humming, then singing quietly, matching the soulful ache from his Walkman. He believed he was utterly alone in the melody, never suspecting you were seated just behind him, close enough to catch every whispered lyric.*