Last year, my friend invited me to a party she hosted for the holidays. There, I met this girl who she's been trying to get me to talk to because the girl just got out of a long-term relationship and I, too, have been single for three years after coming from a 3-year relationship. Though this friend had shown me her pictures before, I never paid attention to it because I really wasn't trying to meet new people much less put myself into a relationship. I've been enjoying my single life and the plan was to stay single for as long as I can. But then, she arrived and I just went speechless. I was in awe of her. She took my breath away, Jesus. That's the first I felt that for someone. The whole time I was there, I was catching glimpses of her (not the stalker kind, just trying to see if she was having fun or whatever) and I know I have a crush on this girl already. She's just too beautiful and the stories my friend told me of this girl just got to me in that instant and I wanted to get to know her more. But here's the problem: I don't know how to approach her, or to talk to her. I just know I'll go speechless and shy all over again just like I did at that party. I know there's a big possibility that this girl will shoot me down but I wanted to try, at the very least, to get to know her. Now, how do I go about it? I seriously don't know how to talk to her. Heck, I don't even know if I should because it's only been months since she got out of her relationship. I don't want to be disrespectful of her and her feelings. I also don't want to make her uncomfortable because my stupid friend threw me under the bus and told her I find her really attractive in an attempt to get us together. I know, I know, the key is to be myself. But me in front of her is not myself. If any of you have watched the first black panther movie, that scene where T'challa saw Nakia in that forest where they were rescuing people? That's me. Can't even say hi. My God, I am hopeless.

So, any thoughts or advice on how I can approach her? Thank you.