Deaf Ears Hearing in the Middle of the Night
I gasp and sit straight up in bed.
What is that noise?
I grab both sides of my head and curl my fingers behind my ears.
……………………………..
No. My bionics are asleep in that little gray box.
What is that noise?
I clutch at my chest and listen closely, breathing in and breathing out.
…………………………….
My eyes leak; tears running down my face and soaking my nightshirt.
What is that noise?
A sob chokes at my throat and I gasp, fisting my hands under my chin.
…………………………….
I stretch, clutch and fumble for my phone, almost out of reach.
What is that noise?
No messages, no texts, I search in a panic, swiping through every screen.
…………………………….
I feel my faithful service dog flop his tail; fluffy, golden feather brushing my leg.
What is that noise?
I collapse back down on my waiting pillow, peering into the darkness.
…………………………….
My eyes adjust, I turn my head just so and find the florescent numbers on the clock.
What is that noise?
I cannot hear anything. I’m very deaf, truly, and completely in this moment.
…………………………….
What if… what if I woke to my mother’s goodbye?
Was THAT the noise?
My heart pounds, the tears leak, a tail flops against my side.
Hearing Elmo 