Drowning In My Silent World

Summary

After I lost most of my hearing, the specialist gave me one cardinal rule: avoid high-decibel environments at all costs. My eardrums were a fragile ecosystem, and any sudden shock could collapse them entirely.

Hailey, my supposed best friend, treated my disability like a new toy. She had this unsettling habit of leaning in to whisper secrets directly into my boyfriend Ethan’s ear whenever she knew I couldn't catch the frequency.

I would stand there, my eyes glued to the shape of her lips, a hollow ache in my chest. "What did you just say?" I’d ask, trying to keep my voice from trembling.