I wanted to be friends with her because we were two females around the same age in the company. But a quick nod to my “Hi” was all I ever got. Yet, we exchanged work emails regularly.
5 years later, at our annual Christmas party, she gave me a locket without a word and walked away. Inside, there was a piece of paper with 2 words: I’m mute. All these years, I’d assumed she didn’t want to talk to me. Our relationship didn’t change much after that. She stayed shy, and I simply smiled when I saw her, not wanting to bother her.
I had a colleague who never spoke to me—not even a word.
