It was an unusual thought—at least for me—not knowing what you wanted to do with your life. I had it in my mind I wanted to become a respiratory therapist even before I became Deaf. It was just something that had always been there, that ambition, and it was strange to think of what it would be like if I hadn’t had that epiphany that day I spent at the hospital with Connor when he was barely four years old.

“I think that’s okay,” I said to Beau after a moment of thought. “I mean, you’re what, seventeen, eighteen? It’s not like you have to have everything mapped out right now.”

I could tell Beau was laughing again, but it wasn’t a happy laugh like before.

MY FATHER THINK THAT, he signed, his frown deepening. HE WANT ME . . .

Nina mentioned Beau’s dad was more intense about the whole college thing than most parents, but it seemed like whatever it was his dad wanted really aggravated him. Sometimes peoples’ facial expressions said it all.

“Well, you’re the one that’ll be taking out all those massive student loans, right? Might as well go off to college to do what you want,” I told Beau.

“Maybe,” Beau said. “I just . . . to . . . Yale. My dad will . . . if I don’t.”

I’d always had the unfailing support of my mom, which made it a challenge for me to put myself in Beau’s shoes for this.

“So?” I finally said. “It’s not like it’s his life to live.”

Beau’s eyes widened, his lips parting as if he were about to speak. But whatever he was going to say fell short when I gave a yelp of surprise at the hands that suddenly came down on my shoulders.

I tried to break free and whip around to see who was behind me, but I wound up painfully smacking my head on the row of lockers next to me.

Jackson was standing there, and quickly inched back a step at the dirty look I sent his way. My heart was pounding hard, my breathing uneven. I could not stand it when people snuck up behind me like that.

Anytime it happened, it was like one of my biggest fears was being realized. I’d get flashes of this dark scenario—of someone creeping up behind me late at night as I’m walking to my car in some empty parking lot, and I’d never know. I’d never know because I’m never entirely aware of my surroundings without being able to hear.

“Sorry,” Jackson said with wide eyes.

“Don’t do that,” I snapped, using the lockers as support to pull myself up to my feet. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”