ManyWriters

Every night, my boyfriend, Jack, would always whisper in my ear, his voice laced with a sickening sort of suggestion as he described his escapades with other women in bed, spewing such vulgarities it made me sick to my stomach.
I was born with a hearing impairment. Six years ago, at my high school graduation ceremony, some jerk of a classmate maliciously tossed my hearing aid aside.
It was Jack who suddenly appeared and came to my rescue, gently wiping the dust off its surface, then leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.
"From now on, I'll be here, and no one will be able to mess with you."
That day, my years of secret crushing finally paid off. My world, once filled with the buzz of static, welcomed an angel's voice, meant just for me.
Wearing a hearing aid for long periods often caused headaches and tinnitus. Jack couldn't bear to see me suffer like that, so he even secretly learned sign language, just so I could understand him even when I wasn't wearing my hearing aid.
A week ago, I finally had an invisible cochlear implant, custom-made for me by an American medical team. I could finally take off my hearing aid and live like a normal person.
I excitedly rushed back to our apartment, wanting to tell Jack the good news, only to overhear Jack talking with a bunch of his friends.
"Dude, you've been with Emma, that deaf chick, for like, almost six years now, right?""Weren't you the one saying you'd never dated a deaf girl, and that you were only with her to 'collect unique experiences'? So how come you've been seeing her for so long? Don't tell me you've actually caught feelings for that deaf girl, have you?"
Jack scoffed, the contempt in his eyes blatant.
"Deaf girls have their upsides, you know. Every night, I hold her and whisper in her ear just how incredible other women are, and she hasn't got a damn clue. She actually thinks I'm holding her every night because I'm so in love with her! That kind of thrill? You guys will never get to experience that in your entire lives, hahaha."
I choked back the burn in my eyes, my nails digging deep into my palms. A moment later, I sent my father a text.
"Dad, those ten wealthy guys from Boston you lined up? I'll meet them."

Love That Isn't Heard Is No Love at All.

When I got home, Mom and Dad didn't ask a thing, just lovingly stroked my hair.


"There, there, it's good you knew to come home when you were hurting. Now that your cochlear implant is in, all the bad people and things will pass, from now on, it'll be good days."


"As for those guys I was going to set you up with, I'll find some time for you to meet them. It's so late now, you should go upstairs and get some rest."


Seeing the concern in my parents' eyes, my throat tightened, but not wanting to worry them, I held back my tears, nodded, and went back to my room.


When I woke up the next morning, I realized there was someone else in the house besides my parents.


Noticing my puzzled look, my father beckoned me over.


"What are you just standing there for? Come on over. This is Mr. William's son, Taylor. It's been so many years, don't tell me you've forgotten him?"


Chapter 5