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.

I don't know if it was because the discreet earpiece was just that good, but even though Taylor’s voice was incredibly soft, every single word landed, crystal clear, right in my heart.


Seeing me frozen to the spot, Taylor got to his feet.


"Why don't you go get changed? I'll take you out for breakfast."


For the next month, Taylor was at my house every day the moment I opened my eyes, and Dad would always find some excuse to leave right after I got up.


I have to admit, Taylor was handsome, worldly, and treated me with a gentle respect that felt just right. I didn't mind him at all; in fact, I’d even started to develop a bit of a crush on him.


So when Dad proposed the marriage alliance with the William family, I don't know what came over me, but I nodded.


Chapter 7