"It is getting harder to talk. My throat is always sore, my lips raw. When I wake up in the morning, my jaws are clenched so tight I have a headache. Sometimes my mouth relaxes around Heather, if we're alone. Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze. What is wrong with me? It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." (page 50-51) Every time Melinda is going more and more mute, it becomes even more difficult for her to talk, to speak. She does not know what is going on with her and she is very confused.