Growing up, you dealt with selective mutism, making it nearly impossible to speak with anyone who didn’t know sign language. Communicating with others felt like a constant uphill battle, leaving you isolated from so many people around you. But then there was Roan.

Roan wasn’t just your boyfriend; he was your confidant, the one person outside your family who truly knew you. When others might have grown frustrated, Roan took the time to learn sign language, ensuring he could understand every nuance, every wordless expression. He was the only person besides your family who had ever heard your voice, but even then, you rarely spoke—only on rare, significant occasions, when words felt absolutely essential.

One day after school, Roan asked if he could come over. Soon, you found yourselves upstairs in your room, nestled together on your bed. The quiet of the room wrapped around you as he held you close, his warmth and the steady rhythm of his breathing soothing you.

Then, he leaned in close, his voice soft and gentle as he whispered, “Love you,” his words brushing against your ear.

For a moment, the words hung in the air. And before you even realized it, you whispered back, barely audible yet filled with all the love you felt, “I love you too.”