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into this world. He s the sweetest little miracle God ever did make.
Hopefully, in just a little bit, I ll be able to hear Blake s voice for the very first time.
Hope. That s the backbone of this entire operation which spanned the rejection of both of
my parents health insurance policies, three time zones, and over twelve thousand miles
when you log all the back and forth travel. The pessimist in me keeps rearing her
practical little head, reminding me that there is a chance the implants won t work. The
surgery was risky to begin with. Being profoundly deaf didn t exactly make me the most
lucrative candidate for the procedure. It also didn t help that insurance balked when we
begged them to cover it. This was all cash. Cash. One Excel Implant for both ears. The
price tag was daunting, but my parents generously insisted I get them both at once. They
emptied their 401Ks of sixty five grand as easy as shaking out a few coins from a
porcelain piggy bank. They did it with joy, with hope there s that tricky word again. If
this doesn t work, it will break my heart for far more reasons than just my inability to
hear.
Blake was kind enough to fly out for the surgery last month as well. I don t think I
could have done it without him holding my hand right up until they wheeled me away. It
turns out the nanny Wyatt hired is phenomenal. Not only that, but, it turns out Roxy,
Baya, and Izzy all have a sweet spot for babies. But that little boy is all mine. I love Benji
as if he were my own. And when Blake holds him, feeds him, changes his diaper like it s
second nature, my heart expands to the size of the universe. Just when I didn t think it
was possible, I fall in love with Blake Daniels even deeper than before.
We take a seat near the back in the busy office and wait for what feels like a
thousand years before the receptionist calls me.
My phone vibrates. It s a text from Kaya. Can you hear me now?
I text back. You re not funny. And, no, we haven t turned them on yet. Soon!
Finally, Mom signs that it s time to go in.
 This is it, I give it in an excited whisper, my hands just as animated as my heart.
This is going to be so great! I hop to my feet and twirl into Blake.
 It s happening. My teeth graze over my lips as a sad realization hits me. If it doesn t
happen, there will be quite the ledge to fall from. I d better lower my expectations in the
event nothing happens at all.
Every one of those hearing aids, those strange barbaric devices I ve tried in the past
come flooding through my mind. We walk down a maze of hallways to the heart of the
facility as I recall the dull roars, the low-toned warbles that I opted out of before. What if
that s all I get? Worse, what if the world sounded that way all along, and I had just
painted some rosier picture?
 Take a seat in the chair, Dr. Vance will be right with you. The nurse s aid both signs
and speaks. I watch as her lips move and wonder if it s the last time I ll have to focus so
intently on someone else s mouth with the exception of Blake s of course. His mouth I
can stare at all day preferably in bed with my fingers outlining his lips.
We try to file into the office as one giant mob, and she s quick to hold up a hand.
 I m sorry but only the patient is allowed inside during the adjustment. The rest of you
can wait out here if you like.
Great. I swallow uneasily as I follow her to my seat. After a small eternity and signing
I love you to everyone at the door for the hundredth time, Dr. Vance comes in with that
same easy smile he had right before the anesthesiologist knocked me out.
 You okay? He dips his chin as if it were more rhetorical than anything else.  Let s get
this party started, shall we? The deep baritone of his voice trembles through me. I can
always feel when Dr. Vance is speaking. And now I m hoping to hear him.
He busies himself with the computer in front of him, and my anxiety hits an all-time
high. My palms sweat. My body temperature spikes so fast, I slip my hand over my
forehead to cool me.
He reaches into a tiny blue box and pulls out a small, silver square.
 This is your remote, Annie. I m going to position this to your ear to turn on your [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]