Frankie
She smiled at him biting back tears. She was really happy for him but now she was the only one deaf in the family. What would he want with her now he could hear again? They'd been so close because she was helping him get used to being deaf now he could hear again.
It only reminded her her hearing was never going to come back. The doctors had told them there was no hope she would ever hear again when she was deafened. She'd thought she'd got over it but now her stepfather could hear again it felt like all the wounds had been re-opened.
Before the tears threatened to spill she ran to her room and broke down in there. She knew she should be happy but it felt so unfair. His hearing had come back and hers never would.
She looked up to see him in the doorway and looked away as she didn't want him to see her cry. She'd always been strong for him. He couldn't see her crack.
He saw her tears and couldn't help but feel sorry for her. It felt like a dagger to his heart to see her cry. Why did the world have to be so cruel? It was so unfair that this young angel would never hear again and his hearing had come back. If he could give up his hearing so she could get hers back he would.
He sat down next to her and she looked away desperately not wanting him to see her jealousy and pain. He put his hand on her shoulder and she tried to shake it off shouting, "What would you want with me now? You don't need me anymore!"
He gently grabbed her by the shoulder s and turned her to face him. "I am always going to need my daughter," he said pronouncing each syllable clearly then hugged her.
"You love me like a daughter?" she asked.
He pulled gently back so she could see his lips again and added, "Of course I do. You're Emily's daughter therefore you're mine and I am so grateful to have you in my life. You've helped me so much. You helped me adapt to being deaf and taught me sign language without ever once losing your patience with this stubborn old fool. You're my hero, Frankie..." She smiled at him with tears in her eyes.
"Really?" she asked.
"I wouldn't lie to you," he replied kissing her forehead. She smiled up at him and they hugged close to each other again.