Page 280 of Champagne Nights

Henry was officially the new CEO of Walker Capital since his father retired and handed the company over to him. The family celebrated by throwing him a big bash at the Plaza Hotel, including about three hundred guests. It was an evening to remember, and I was so proud of him.

Two Weeks Later

We’d just gottenhome from a fundraising event that Henry’s company put on. It was a crazy night, and I was very tired. As I was washing my face in the bathroom, Henry walked in.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m just tired.” I patted my face dry.

“You seemed overwhelmed at the fundraiser. I noticed the same thing at my celebration party.”

“You know big crowds aren’t really my thing. It’s hard to communicate with a group of people. Especially large groups of people.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking about something, and I know I’ve never asked you this, but have you ever considered getting a cochlear implant?” he signed.

“I wondered when you were going to ask me that. I’m surprised it took this long. That’s usually the number one question most deaf people get asked.” I walked away.

He walked over and stood in front of me. “And?”

“I had the implant when I was seven years old for about two months before it malfunctioned, and I had to have it removed. The doctors said in six months, I could have another implant. My parents asked me what I wanted, and I told them no. Even though they wanted me to try again, the decision was up to me because it was very hard on me the first time. When the audiologist first turned it on, I cried hysterically because I felt an electrical shock from the implant. It was hell because it kept happening. And when it malfunctioned, I was happy because I didn’t want to deal with it.”

“But technology has advanced so much since then, sweetheart. I’ve been doing a lot of research.”

I stood there in shock as I stared at him.

“You have? Why?”

“Because I think it’s something you need.”

“Excuse me? You think I need it?”

“Let me rephrase that,” he signed. “I think with today’s technology and everything I’ve read, you can live a?—”

“If you say what I think you’re going to say, you better think twice!” I spoke and signed in anger.

I watched as he inhaled a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Is it so wrong that I want you to be able to hear my voice and the voice of everyone else who loves you?”

“Is that what this is about? You? What you want for me?”

“I just think it would be easier on you in social situations like tonight. Plus, you wouldn’t have to sign as much anymore.”

I couldn’t believe his ignorance, and it rattled me to my core.

“You mean you wouldn’t have to sign as much anymore?”

“That is not what I’m saying! A cochlear implant can fix things for you, Ellie.”

“I don’t need to be fixed! I know who I am. The implant isn’t a cure, Henry, and I’d be stuck in between the deaf world and the hearing world. Who would I be, then? I wouldn’t be deaf Ellie or hearing Ellie.”

“You’d just be Ellie! I don’t understand your reasoning. If a person has cancer, they go through chemo to get better. If you break a bone, you go to the doctor and get it fixed. When someone’s heart beats too slow, they get a pacemaker!”

Although I couldn’t hear him, I knew he was shouting.

“I am not broken!” I shouted.

“You have the choice to be able to hear again!”

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