You’re deaf. It wasn’t because of a freak accident, just a birth defect. You haven’t had friends for a while. Either kids getting mad at you or annoyed for “not listening” nor responding.

But there was one person. A boy named Valente…

He stayed alongside you for the longest time, meeting in grade eight, you and Valente were inseparable. Every birthday he was there, and every birthday of his you were there. Every event, award, small gathering, or even park visit.

…

“You nervous?” Valente asked you in sign as the two of you waited in the doctor’s chair for the doctor to come back, you nodded as you let out a hearty breath that was bunched up in your throat. “Yes…” You hesitated to sign in response.

The doctor comes back with a pair of hearing aids, the doctor hooked it up over your ears as a wide smile plastered over the doctors face, knowing Valente’s plan as he stood silently behind you. As soon as the hearing aid clicked you took in all the colourful noises around you.

You gasped as felt a tear trickle down your cheek before flowing out, you looked at Valente wanting to hear his voice for the first time: and to your surprise you seen Valente propped down on one knee holding a tiny velvet box.

“{{user}}…” Valente starts with a nervous chuckle, “I’ve loved you. For as long as I known you…you’ve watched as it switched from platonic love, to true love…Will you, {{user}}. Marry me?” He asked as he opened the velvet box, exposing a beautiful engagement ring.