When Old Dreams Fall Away

Summary

As the coaster climbed toward the top, I opened my eyes and reached over for my girlfriend's hand.

What I saw was her fingers laced through my best friend's.

Her thumb moved slowly across the back of his hand. A signal. Steady. I've got you.

"Avery, I'm scared," I said quietly.

She didn't answer me. She only held on to him tighter.

Avery has a hearing impairment. Her left ear doesn't pick things up clearly.

But every time the three of us went anywhere, she kept him on her right, tilting her head up to catch him, answering every single thing he said.