Songless Bird

"Can anyone tell me the character Hamlet's first line, from Shakespeare's play, and who he spoke it to?"
'That's easy.' I think to myself. ' 'A little more than kin, and less than kind.' This he said aside, to himself.'
"You. You look like you know the answer."
I felt my heart skip a few beats when I realized he was pointing at me. I would gladly give the answer...

But I can't speak.

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Willow Fae Ravens was born without vocal cords, and ever since has been unable to speak, or sing, or make a sound when she laughs or cries. Although she wasn't deaf, Willow's family learned sign language in order to communicate with the special child. Willow was raised in a typical home with its ups and downs, but they were nevertheless a happy family. She made it through school and graduated with minimal difficulties. She was hardly ever teased for her disability, and everyone was rather understanding.

But now is her time to step out into the world. At nineteen, Willow is on a scholarship for an Art Institute that's a long way from home. Prepared to take on this new challenge in her life, Willow says good-bye to her family and confidently moves into the dorms. In the first few weeks before the start of the semester, she's able to make a few friends on the same floor as her, and everything is looking up. Preparing for a minor in Illustration, and a Major in Creative Writing may not be so easy. What happens when she's called on by a professor who doesn't know her story? And what happens when he's intrigued by this little songless bird?