BROADLY: How did you realize that most people don't hear in color?

Melissa McCracken: I used to think my synesthesia was normal and that asking anyone about it would be like asking them if they could smell the coffee in a coffee shop. At 16, I found out that it wasn't when I was trying to choose a ringtone. My phone was blue and I told my friend I was going to pick an "orange" song to match it because they're complementary colors. He seemed really confused and I thought there was something wrong with him. It finally clicked in a high school psychology class. It was shocking because I'd never thought it was unusual.