Tom was waiting at the fountain in Kiru City's main square. His friend should have been here long already, but a girl was allowed to be late. Still, she had invited him, so she should have the courtesy to show up on time.

There was a gentle tap on Tom's shoulder.

"Hey," he said with a smile as he turned to see a girl his age with dirty blonde wavy hair. "I was wondering where you were."

The girl sat down next to him. She wore a blue and white knit ski hat, a white long sleeved shirt, a light blue vest, and jeans. Her blue eyes sparkled at seeing her friend.

Hi, Tom. How are you? she signed with her hands.

"I'm great," said Tom. "How are you, Ashleigh?"

Fine.

"So what's up?" asked Tom. "I'm surprised that you wanted to meet here."

I know. Not my first choice, but I thought I would try something new. Besides, you're always in Kiru. Helping Bodel, yes?

"Not today," said Tom.

There was a loud noise across the square that grabbed Tom's attention. He looked over and saw that it was just a broken wagon wheel. The owner was less than pleased. Everyone had turned to see what had happened. Everyone, except Ashleigh.

Tom turned to her and frowned. "You didn't hear that?" he asked.

Hear what? asked Ashleigh.

"You don't have your hearing aids in, do you?" asked Tom.

Not here. There is too much noise. You may be able to pick out a sound, but I can't with my hearing aids in. Everything sounds gargled to me. Ashleigh lifted a flap of her hat and showed Tom that she did not have anything in her ear. I'm reading your lips now.

Tom smiled. I can sign.

Ashleigh's face brightened. "Oh, Tom," she managed to get out of her mouth.

I've been learning since I met you. Just in case I would have to sign when you couldn't hear. Tom easily signed.

Thank you so much! Ashleigh signed. You do not know how much this means to me!

Tom saw there were a few happy tears in her eyes. Don't cry! There's nothing to cry over. He smiled.

There was another outburst from the Creature with the broken wagon wheel. Tom cringed at the commotion.

Lucky. You can't hear this. Tom signed. Let's go someplace quieter.

Okay.

Tom led Ashleigh down a back alley where it was much quieter and more private. Tom skipped ahead of her and began walking backwards, signing with his hands.

So why did you want to talk to me? Couldn't you have just showed up in the Port Court and told me there? Tom asked.

I thought I would come to you. Ashleigh answered. More convenient for you.

Liar. signed Tom.

Ashleigh stopped and hung her head. True.

Tom thought for a moment. Let's go to the library.

Why?

Tom took her hand and tugged her in the direction of the library.

They sat on the low wall at the back of the library where they would have plenty of privacy.

What is it? asked Tom.

A lot of things. Ashleigh replied. Home. School. I'm so mixed up.

Tom put a hand on her shoulder. Ashleigh turned to him with a few tears in her eyes.

Start from the beginning. Tom signed.

Ashleigh nodded and wiped her tears away. I am the only one in my family without most of my hearing. I have some of it, but I am legally deaf. A noise has to be very loud for me to hear it without my hearing aids. I did not hear whatever happened in the square earlier.

She took a moment and gave her fingers a rest. I go to a school with deaf students. Everyone is like me. When I came to Chaotic, I was so scared. I had my hearing aids, but I thought that wouldn't be enough. Then I became the Creatures and I had my hearing back. A few tears slipped from Ashleigh's eyes. To me, that's enough. To hear for a little while, that's enough for me.

What are you saying, Ashleigh? asked Tom.

I'm a good candidate for a new surgery, one to restore hearing.

Tom beamed. "That's great, Ashleigh," he said, forgetting to sign.

Ashleigh, who had been looking at him to see his reaction, shook her head. No, it's not. Well, maybe it is. I don't know. She put her head in her hands.

Tom coaxed her into looking at him. There were large tears falling down her cheeks now. You're scared, aren't you?

I'm terrified, Tom. said Ashleigh. If I get the surgery and I get my hearing back, I'll have to change schools. I'll leave all my friends behind. The deaf are a community, a family. They can understand each other. I don't know if I can be part of the world of the hearing. But my parents want me to have the surgery. They want me to be able to hear, to be normal. Tom, there's nothing wrong with me.

What do you want? asked Tom. That's the real question.

I don't know. answered Ashleigh.

Don't you think it would be nice if you could hear without the hearing aids? asked Tom. To be able to truly hear me, to hear another person? Your parents love you, Ashleigh. They just want you to be happy and have a full life. They want you to experience everything.

Is there something wrong with me, Tom? asked Ashleigh.

Depends on who you're asking. Tom answered.

I'm asking you.

"Oh, boy." Tom blew a breath up to ruffled his bangs. "Way to put me on the spot." I don't think there's anything wrong with you. You're happy with yourself, right?

Ashleigh nodded.

Then it shouldn't matter what I think. Tom went on.

Ashleigh put her head down and let his words sink in.

Tom glanced over Ashleigh's shoulder to see a friend of his.

"I see you made a new friend, Tom Majors," said Najarin. The old muge observed Ashleigh's posture. "Is there something wrong?"

"She's had a rough day," said Tom. "Maybe a rough few days."

"What has happened to you, girl?" Najarin asked Ashleigh.

Ashleigh, unaware that Najarin was standing behind her, said nothing.

Tom gave a small smile. "She can't hear you," he told Najarin. "Ashleigh's very hard of hearing. She doesn't have her hearing aids in at the moment. We were actually just talking about that. There's an experimental surgery that can possibly restore her hearing. Ashleigh's parents want her to get it, but Ashleigh's not sure what she wants."

Ashleigh looked up at Tom and frowned. She turned and let out a scream, slipping from the wall. Tom caught her by the arm and laughed. She looked from Najarin to Tom.

How long has he been there? she demanded.

Not long. answered Tom, still snickering.

Stop that! It's not funny. You know Najarin has a rep among the players. Some of us don't even go to the same location where he is if we know about it. Ashleigh signed frantically, glancing at Najarin every few signs.

"What is she saying?" asked Najarin.

Tom looked up at Najarin. "Some players fear you. Ashleigh's one of them."

Ashleigh punched Tom in the arm. Don't tell him that!

He asked. defended Tom. Besides, he's not going to hurt you.

Najarin put his hand on Ashleigh's shoulder. She flinched and looked up at him. Najarin's blue eyes flashed briefly as he established a mental connection with Ashleigh.

It took a moment to find Ashleigh's consciousness. Her mind was a dark room of fear. There were damaged mirrors that reflected her life. Najarin could see Ashleigh was torn between her current life and a life with hearing.

"This is much simpler than using Tom to translate what I say," Najarin said.

"What do you want?" asked Ashleigh.

"Nothing," said Najarin. "I only want to put your mind at ease. I like having Chaotic players respect my wishes of not being scanned, but I do not go out of my way to harm a player. Never once have I harmed a human, only scared them. And you are a friend of Tom's. Harming you would be the same as harming Tom."

Najarin looked at the mirrors. There was also a small glow to one of them, a light of hope to have both things. "There is an alternative to this," he said to Ashleigh, gesturing to the mirrors.

"And what's that?" asked Ashleigh.

"If you have the surgery, you can still be with your friends," said Najarin. "Fearing that you will lose them should not hold you back from what you want to do. And if they reject you for being able to hear, then perhaps they truly are not your friends."

Najarin left Ashleigh's mind.

"What just happened?" asked Tom, confused.

Ashleigh blinked and put her hand up to her ear.

"Ashleigh and I simply had a chat about what she should do," said Najarin.


Later, when Tom was getting ready for bed, his scanner rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Tom," said Ashleigh. She had her hearing aids back in.

"Hey, Ashleigh," said Tom. "How are things?"

She smiled. "Better. That talk with you and with Najarin really helped me out. And you were right. I want to hear with my own ears, not with a Creature's. I'm going to tell my parents I want the surgery, so I won't be around Chaotic for a while. I'll see you when I'll see you."

"Okay," said Tom. "Good luck. And the next time we talk, you'll be able to hear me."

Ashleigh smiled and the screen went black.


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