A nice boy saw my tears today, and he took the time to ask me why I was crying. He saw me lying across the windowsill staring blankly at the sky and he wanted to know why. So I told him. I told him how useless I felt, how untalented and stupid and pointless I was. How every pianist in the school has more talent, more motivation, just plain MORE than I do. How my piano exam tomorrow is stressing me out more than anything has ever stressed me out before.

And that nice boy, he did something. He didn't just say "don't worry, it'll be okay" and walk away. He stood there and he looked at me with his big pale eyes and he explained to me that music is a gift, a privilege that I am entitled to and that no jury panel can take away from me. He told me how he feels about music and how he is happy everyday because he is doing something that other people can only dream about. He told me that all I had to do was go in there and have fun, and that maybe that was easier said than done but that life is hard, and you have to take it lightly or it'll crush you.

That beautiful, caring, nice boy, he stayed with me and he talked to me until my eyes were dry and I was laughing again, and I sat there on the windowsill, frozen, not knowing exactly how to respond because this has never happened to me. No one has ever taken the time for me. Even Steve left me alone when I was acting this way, and I thought it was better like that, but this nice boy made me realize that it's always better to have someone who knows just what to say.

And then that gorgeous boy had to get going, and I reached for him and he wrapped his big strong arms around me and for a few wonderful seconds I felt peaceful, mellow, relaxed. And then he smiled at me, a smile so warm and sincere it made me want to melt, it made me want to follow him wherever he was going, it made me want to climb to the top of a mountain and scream til my lungs were empty.

But instead I thanked him and waved him off, and he gave me another smile and then he dashed off, his trombone case strapped to his back, and I sighed.