Shyness

Someone speaks to you, and in that same second something happens in your body that you cannot control. Your cheeks grow warm, then hot. You feel the blood rushing into your face, and while you are still trying to form a sentence, you already know that your counterpart can see the blushing. Your voice becomes quieter, sometimes squeaky. Your throat dries up. Your hands do not know where to go. Your gaze drops to the floor, to your own shoes, to a point on the wall — anything is better than the other person's eyes. In between rises a fine sweat that has nothing to do with warmth. It is the sweat of being watched. You feel yourself, as you are being observed.