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.