Chapter 1

“So you all think this union should be hers. I have no objection to that.”

Mom was the first to react, turning quickly to gather Mia into her arms.

“Mia, sweetheart, don’t cry. Mommy’s with you.”

Dad let out a clear sigh of relief. “I’m glad you’ve finally come to your senses, Elaine.”

I stood rooted to the spot, a sense of bitter irony washing over me.

Looked like l’d lifted a burden off everyone’s shoulders.

Ethan pulled a vinyl record from his bag and held it out to me. “Come on, stop making a scene. This is a limited-edition press of my new award-winning album. Consider it your compensation.”

I stared at the vinyl, too shocked to move.

Before my twelfth birthday, it was my dream to study music in a conservatory.

But after that life-changing incident, I’d been left to feeling rhythms through vibrations alone.

How was a deaf person supposed to enjoy a vinyl record?

Samuel knit his brows in irritation. “Ethan’s being more than gracious. What more do you expect?”

I cracked a dry, humorless smile. “Oh yeah? So gracious of him.”

With brimming eyes, Mia shrank back behind Brian.

“Elaine, I never meant to take Brian from you. It’s just... He’s the last thing I can give up.”

Mom’s arms tightened around Mia. “Your sister’s been living in your shadow all these years. She’s suffered enough.”

There was nothing more to say, so I turned on my heel and headed back to my room.

“Finally, some sense from her.”

“Never mind her. Make sure Mia’s okay.”

“This union can’t be dragged out any longer.”

I sat at the edge of my bed and signed in a spare Instagram account I rarely used.

Mia hadn’t blocked this one yet.

A post from last month caught my eyes.

Iceland. Northern lights. Hot springs. Snow-capped peaks. A family portrait.

The caption read: “Mom and Dad said they want to make up for every year of missing love.”

The photo showed Dad with his arm around Mia’s shoulders and Mom wrapping a fluffy scarf around her neck. My three brothers surrounded her with doting smiles, while Brian held her close, a steaming cup of hot cocoa in his other hand.

That was after they told me they were heading out of town for a business trip.

My ears were ringing with pain that night. I was left lying in the dark, gritting my teeth through the agony alone.

Another post was at a private riding club.

Ethan and Samuel were riding on her sides.

This one was captioned: “My loving brothers passed on contracts worth millions to spend time with me.”

That day marked the ten-year checkup for my ears. There was a heavy rainstorm raging outside.

I stood drenched at the hospital entrance, unable to hail a cab. My calls went unanswered. In the end, I had to walk all the way home under the pouring torrent.

The latest post was just uploaded yesterday.

Brian was leaning over to fasten a pink diamond necklace around Mia’s neck.

The caption for this one read: “He said I’ve always been his beloved.”

Six months ago, the Fergusons sent their staff over to take my measurements, saying it was for the wedding preparation.

So I waited half a year with starry-eyed anticipation, only to realize it was never meant for me.

I came out to confront them with the photos.

“A family trip, a day out riding, a pink diamond necklace.

“And you say she’s been living in my shadow?

“Aren’t you all tired of your act?”

Josh was the first whose face turned grim. “Have you been stalking Mia’s Instagram?”

Ethan set the record back on the table, his tone ice cold. “Mia has been walking on eggshells for ten years. What’s wrong with us taking her out for a nice time?”

“What’s wrong?” I shot back. “Where were you all on the day of my checkup?”

At that Samuel snapped, his patience threadbare. “Can you stop making a fuss over every little thing? Have we not given you enough these years?”

Then it was Dad’s turn. “You’ve enjoyed the best this family could offer—the house, your tuition, your hearing aids. What was ever denied you? And you’re doing this all for a man? How heartless can you be?”

I turned my gaze toward Brian.

“Do you share their sentiment?”

At that he lifted his eyes, in which something flickered.

Then, he raised his hands and began signing.

“Elaine, you have everyone in your debt.

“I’m all Mia has.

“I’m sorry.”

I watched his gestures as they spelled out the bitter conclusion.

When I was twelve, newly deaf in both ears, I learned to read lips.

When I was thirteen, I finally accepted that I would never hear again and learned sign language.

Brian said then he was afraid my lip reading couldn’t catch up, so he learned it with me.

Turned out none of that was meant for comforting me. It was so he could sign my death sentence with his own hands.

There was no point in arguing further. I walked back to my room and pressed reply to the recruitment email for volunteer teachers in a remote mountain region.

I submitted my application.