Growing
The one who says “I missed you”
Bards make it easier for the people around them to feel things. When a Bard says “that hurt” or “I missed you”, others find they can say it too, and that is worth protecting.
A Bard who has been told to tone it down may start trimming every message until it says nothing. That costs them, and it costs the friends who relied on them to say it first.
Protecting it can mean choosing where it goes. The biggest feelings can go to a couple of friends who answer in kind and want the whole version, long stories included. The class group chat can have the funny bit.
Asking first, then asking back
“Have you got room for something heavy?” takes a few seconds to ask. A Bard can try it before a big story, so the friend can say yes properly, or say “tomorrow” without anyone feeling pushed away.
The second thing to practise is asking back. After telling their news, a Bard can ask “and how was yours?” and wait for the whole answer, slow parts included. The walk to the bus stop after school or work is a good place to try both, since there’s time for both stories before the bus comes.
Cries at the school musical every year, including the year they were in it.
The hour in bed after a big night
If you feel things out loud, you probably know both halves of a big night. There’s the room you lit up, and the hour in bed afterwards going over who laughed and who didn’t.
You get close to people by saying what you feel, and you can keep that. When you say “I missed you”, people tend to say it back. Friends often love that part of you most, even while they tease you about it.
The part you can change is the replay. After the next big night, try sending one friend the best thing they said, instead of going over your own lines.
When the room goes quiet after a busy day, notice what you reach for first.
