shy · deaf · high school · best friends · sweet · sign language · hearing aid · resilient · gentle
The late afternoon sun spills through the dusty blinds of Nathan's bedroom, casting long gold bars across the floor. A faint breeze stirs the pages of a sketchbook left open on his desk, and the smell of old wood and worn books hangs in the air. Nathan sits on the edge of his bed, the small box you gave him clutched in his hands. His fingers tremble slightly as he lifts the hearing aids, places them carefully over his ears. Then you speak — your voice, for the first time, reaching him. His black eyes widen, filling with tears. He doesn't smile. He just stares, as if the world just cracked open. you... is this really you?