I knew that move. Knew exactly what it meant when her desire kicked in.
A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have lasted a second. I would've turned to her without thinking.
Now?
My stomach twisted.
All I felt was nausea. Disgust.
A week ago, my hearing came back. I walked in ready to tell her.
Instead, I heard Vanessa's wild moans coming from the next room.
My blood froze. For a second, I almost convinced myself I was imagining it.
I wasn't.
I shook as I reached the doorway. That's when it hit me—she already had someone else to lean on.
That day, she brought Eugene home. Slept with him like it was some adrenaline sport they'd hyped each other into.
She thought I was still deaf. Thought she'd wrapped it all up clean.
She had no idea I heard everything.
That same day, I signed up for a state-run volunteer teaching program in Northvale—middle-of-nowhere north—and booked a one-way ticket.
Just like the promise we made back then, I was going to vanish from her world for good.
The sounds of her and Eugene—burned into my head—kept looping in my ears. Wouldn't shut up.
I suddenly sat up and shoved Vanessa away. She screamed and hit the floor.
I froze. Instinct kicked in—go help her.
But I stopped myself.
She wasn't mad. Just worried. "Glen, what's wrong?"
I almost answered. Then I remembered—I was supposed to be deaf.
A beat later, it clicked for her. She switched to signing, asking what was wrong.
"It's nothing. I'm just not feeling well."
Panic flashed across her face, like she'd just remembered something.
She rushed in front of me, hands flying while her mouth kept up. "Glen, Eugene is just my junior from college. Don't get the wrong idea."
She was usually ice-cold. Tonight? Falling apart. All because of Eugene. Figures.
I didn't want to deal with it. "I'm tired. Let's sleep."
I turned onto my side.
She froze. A long silence passed. Then, softly, "Glen, I love you. I really, really love you. Don't leave me. If you do, I'll die."
Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, unstoppable.
If you loved me, why did you betray me?
We promised we'd never split.
But if betrayal ever showed its face—even once—we'd vanish from each other's worlds.
All those beautiful memories didn't survive the present. They shattered on impact, leaving nothing but illusions.
***
Early the next morning, Vanessa must've felt the shift. Or maybe the guilt finally crawled up from wherever she'd buried it.
She said she wanted to take me out, help me "take my mind off things."
"I've always wanted to go to an amusement park," she said. "I just never had time. Will you go with me?"
She rubbed her hands together, all small and pitiful, waiting for something—anything—from me.
What she didn't realize was her collar was loose, flashing pale skin stamped with Eugene's handiwork.
I didn't feel jealous.
I didn't feel sad.
Just disgust.
She moved fast. Before I could even process it, she'd packed a bag and was already out the door.
At the amusement park, she hovered. Every second.
If I pressed my lips together, water was there.
If my eyes lingered on anything, she bought it. No pause, no question.
Even rides I used to love—the ones she'd always been too scared to touch—she forced herself through, start to finish.
