Elisabeth sits in front of her computer, watching blankly at the screen

"Best careers for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing"

Elisabeth sighed, why did all those lists where the same? She was not interested in Social Work, or Education….

Web Developer, at least that one was not as clichéd. It was only in 20 of the 30 lists she had read those last few days.

She looks across the table and Yassin is typing furiously. She almost feels bad of cutting his inspiration when she reaches and waves her hand in front of his screen.

Did your school answered?

Yes, he smiles; it seems they do have a disability department. It is basically a done deal.

Elisabeth hated him a little bit for being so sure. Career chosen, school chosen, living situation chosen.

Elisabeth wished she had at least one of those questions answered. She didn't know what she wanted to study, where or if she was even going to a campus or doing an online course.

She didn't even knew if she wanted to drink.

Since that first time Elisabeth had come to the coffee shop with Franziska a week and a half ago, she had come back 3 times, all with Yassin, and both had spent some time on their computers planning and organizing for their start of college next fall, and a while just chatting . While he had been incredible efficient, e-mailing several universities with a number of questions, she had spent most of her time, trying to choose what to study. The last time she even tried to find where to study and then with that information choose a career.

A terrible idea.

A hand waved in front of them and both turned to see Mikkel Nielsen standing there. A piece of paper that read "Tell Me Your Wish" on his hand.

Between the first a second time she and Yassin had been there Mikkel had started working on the coffee shop, the last waiter gone. And since Mikkel had been working there Hanno had never went to the table to pick their orders.

A small tragedy

Because she didn't like Mikkel very much, not because other reasons.

Yassin turned his laptop to Mikkel, where he had written French Press and Mikkel gave him a thumbs up, Elisabeth made a "T" with her hands

"Iced Tea?" another piece of paper read and Elisabeth nodded.

She had to admit Mikkel was very efficient in that regard. One of the perk after years of knowing each other he wasn't awkward trying to communicate like the other waiter. Plus, his signs to ask for their order were fun.

But Hanno was still preferable, since he actually knew how to sign.

How did you do it? Elisabeth asks Yassin, Choosing law? How did you do it?

Yassin shrugs. I found an article online and liked the idea. Elisabeth had read a bunch of articles at that point and had not yet being rewarded with the inspiration like Yassin Maybe you need to look in different ways.

Elisabeth gets an idea. Not a "career" idea, but an idea.

She spends the next day at her grandfather's old cabin in the woods. Her parents had been saying how they should clear up the cabin since her grandfather had died, but never really had gotten to it.

She wondered if her parents had hoarder tendencies.

Elisabeth took a couple of boxes and started rummaging among her grandfather stuff, separating actual trash and stuff that could be donated, things that could be useful.

She stayed hours there, until she had made a good amount of progress clearing stuff out.

Now she was kicking herself for not staying longer or leaving earlier.

The first drop of water fell on her at a point where she was too far to simply walk back to the cabin to wait for the rain to stop, but there was no way possible that she was going to manage walking home and not end up drenched to the bone.

and she was just wearing summer clothes.

"Damn, damn, damn" she thought, as she remembers her mom warning her in the morning it was going to rain that day. "Damn" she starts running for a second without direction, but then she remembers the caves are not that far away. She could wait there until the rain stopped. The drizzle turned into rain, her hair was sticking to her face as she run. She spots the cave.

She slips and falls.

She has no idea how it happens, but in a second she is on the ground, sharp pain comeing from her leg. She gives a quick peek and notices she is bleeding, probably cutting with a stone on the ground. She tries to ignore it as she limps to the cave, once inside she sits, her back on the wall and checks her leg. She had some blood on her shin, nothing too alarming, but a pain nonetheless. She sees some more half washed blood on her leg, and assumes it comes from her knee. She looks outside; it seems she is going to be there for a while. She spots someone running to the cave, he has a hoodie on and Elisabeth doesn't recognize who it is. As he enters she presses her back to the cave, nervous for a second.

The figure takes the hood of his jacket off and shakes his head like a dog. Elisabeth feels her body relax when she notices is Hanno, and not some stranger, well, a stranger-stranger

She waves at him and is about to greet him but stops at the look of horror on his face.

In a second he is kneeling in front of her, one of his hands cupping her cheek and his other hand wiping the hair out of her face, she can see his lips moving, but it takes him a moment to remember signing

What happened? Do you need hospital?

What?

Hanno raises his hand, the one that was cupping her face, blood staining his thumb.

YOU ARE B-L-E-E-D-I-N-G.

Bleeding Elisabeth corrects, using the proper sign, and Hanno just gives her an incredulous look, after a second he signs at her again

What happened?

It probably happened when I fell, it doesn't hurt.

Hanno, looks at her, or her forehead more specifically and quickly he pulls his messanger bag and looks for something in it,

What? Elisabeth tries to call his attention, but he keeps looking until he finds a package of paper tissues. He offers them to her.

Is it that bad? Elisabeth asks, and Hanno takes his phone out and puts the camera on selfie mode, she didn't look like a character of a horror movie, but if Elisabeth saw someone with that amount of blood on their faces she would assume they would be in at least some pain. Thanks. It really doesn't hurt, my knee hurts more, to be honest.

Hanno stands and takes off his jacket, he kneels infront of Elisabeth again and offers his jacket to her are you cold?

Thank you she signs as Hanno covers her with his jacket. Are you sure you don't need it?

No, I am not wet, you are.

Hanno finally sits on the floor, giving Elisabeth more space.

She didn't hate him being so close, tho.

You were on your way to the coffee shop?

No, today I don't work.

Day off? She signs and he just shrugs

I don't know that sign

D-A-Y O-F-F Hanno gives her a half smile and nods who covers you? Elisabeth asks, not really interested in the answer, but just hoping to chat a little more with Hanno.

My Aunt, and Mikkel can do without me for one day. Even if I am the actual barista.

Do you like it? The coffee shop. He doesn't respond, just seems to think about the question. For some who barely emotes, Elisabeth thinks he has a very expressive face.

I do. I really like coffee and I've worked with Aunt Erna since I was 15. When I went to college, I worked at a coffee shop there, and learned a lot about coffee, but it is not the same than working here.

Where did you go to college?

Berlin, A-N-T-H-R-O-P-O-L-O-G-Y . I just came back past month.

Are you staying in Winden, for good?

Hanno just shrugged, and Elisabeth nod. She couldn't blame him for not having a plan for his short term future.

Have you chosen yet? Your major?

Elisabeth stared at him, slightly confused

I saw you and your boyfriend talking about it. About you not knowing. He looks uncomfortable of telling her this, even guilty.

No, I don't know yet.

It is OK. Sorry for spying.

It is OK.

Something seems to call Hanno's attention and he looks outside the cave the rain is stopping. He tells her. He stretches his hand so Elisabeth can take it. Come, I will walk you to a doctor, he signs when Elisabeth doesn't take his hand.

Doctor? I am fine

You don't know that, you hit your head.

We have been here for a while. If I had something I would have noticed, don't you think?

Doctor.

Elisabeth considered challenging him, a little bit more but decided not to

Again, she didn't mind him being close to her.

Hanno walks her to a doctor and stays with her, helping her translate even if Elisabeth is quite sure there must be a nurse or someone that can help with that.

She waits for her father who is picking her up, since the doctor does ask her to take it easy and Hanno can't walk her home.

Thank you for the help

It was nothing

Seriously, thank you.

Your signing is good.

Hanno laughs. Don't need to lie I know I am rusty and choppy

Most people's signing is choppy, you just need some practice.

He stares at the distance again; his face doesn't change but his eyes looked defeated, and a practice partner

You didn't have to ask.

The fifth time Elisabeth enters the coffee shop, she sees a girl on the counter. She is chatting with Hanno who is smiling at something she is saying. She is tall and pretty, with dark hair just barely past her shoulders.

Hanno spots her across the room and waves at her, a warm smile still on his face; still there from whatever the dark haired girls had told him.

The dark haired girl grabs a to-go cup and makes her way to the door. She gives a small smile to Elisabeth when they cross paths.

The fifth time Elisabeth goes to the coffee shop she sits on the counter where she can chat with Hanno.