A musical theatre junkie and a synesthesian walk into a bar? Jewel and Archie’s love story sounded like a setup for the worst punchline ever. Archie smiled at the patron on his left who glared in response. Embarassed Archie concentrated on the program in his lap. Actually they did meet in a bar, they met during an online group anxiety/depression therapy session. Archie was more of a lurker than a participant but his ears always perked up when Jewel contributed. He heard music whenever he saw her name on his monitor. Specifically, Archie always heard Twinkle Twinkle Little Star when he saw Jewel’s name. It was a little annoying but really sweet. And so was Jewel, funnily enough.

Despite her anxiety, Jewel was a born performer. She had suffered a panic attack during a performance of “Annie.” Each session Jewel updated the group on her auditions and eventually her next show. To celebrate being cast, the moderator allowed Jewel to close out one of the sessions by singing “Tomorrow.” At the sound of the first bar, Archie reached for his headphones. Teal fireworks flashed before Archie’s eyes. He screwed them shut before the nausea hit.

After the session was over, Archie noticed he had a message waiting in chat. Get bent, jerkface from Jewel the message read. Twinkle twinkle little jerkface.

It took three whole sessions before Jewel accepted Archie’s apology. Archie explained how for him sounds came in flavors, colors, scents. He hated to talk about it. He hated being outed as a freak. Archie stood to let a pair of ladies squeeze past him to their seats. It was more crowded than he hoped. Archie eyed the exit. The lights dimmed.

Archie’s hands broke out in a sweat. If he left in the dark maybe Jewel wouldn’t know he left. Twinkle twinkle little coward. Jewel was his girl, kinda. He wasnt an oddball around her. He was just Archie. He was her friend. They held hands in the park. She said she liked how Archie smelt of soap and old books. His day was complete without a good night call from Jewel. Back and forth they texted all day. Always the performer, Jewel could never share her feelings with her family. Her dad always expected her to be perfect. She told Archie he was her safe place. Jewel was a song that he couldn’t get out of his head.

And that is how he found himself in all places an off off Broadway show. Archie had listened to her audition. Well not listen per se. Archie would lay on her lap with noisecancelling headphones while she belted out the tearjeakers. Even muffled the primary colors bleed around the edges of his vision. The house lights dimmed. Archie swallowed hard.

In the dark he slipped in his earplugs to muffle the ambient sounds. Someone was rustling a candy wrapper. Someone else was chewing gum. An usher coughed. The smell of burnt popcorn nearly choked him. He popped an antiacid. A baby spot erupted on the stage. There was his little star.

Her first note was fresh-cut green grass and sun-warmed denim. She was singing directly to him. Even though he knew she couldn’t see the audience pass the footlights. His Jewel was singing to her safe person. And he would be that for her. His belly flipflopped as her song mingled with the nursery rhyme on loop in his mind. By the patrons’ smiles, he could tell she was good. Archie didn’t need to hear the applause he felt it.