Hiding Places There was a girl in high school that I was not interested in. Many others were, but I had my mind set elsewhere. One day we were waiting for the bus, and we talked. At some point, I made a joke - something mean - at myself.

She said, "You shouldn't beat yourself up like that. You're cute."

That was the most we ever spoke. I was awkward then, not quite grown into my personality, and what she said then carries with me a decade later. It made me realize that just because I felt unnoticed didn't mean I was. It's harder to hide than that.  ¶ 9:41 PM