A world of .s i l e n c e.

[Melanie]

He listened quietly to her words, nodding softly when she spoke. He wasn't a sociable guy, but he was trying his hardest. He dind't really know what to do now that Sam was gone. She had seemed to be the one that had started the conversation between him and Rae...and now that she was turned towards the window, he couldn't do anything. He took a deep breath and exhaled, and didn't notice her watching him through the window. But he was aware of the bruise on his cheek, which was fading softly. He was glad it was, because it drew too many stares. He went to the kitchen table and sat down in a heap, wondering what to do now that he couldn't go outside. He only had to rest and relax.

[Raelynn]

I felt the vibrations in the floor, he was moving around. I turned around, watching him for a moment.

So, how long have you been here?

I questioned, trying to possibly start a conersation with Aidan. I raked my fingers through my blonde hair. I seen the bruise on his cheek, but it was none of my business to question how he had got it.

[Melanie]

Hearing her voice, he looked up with his blue grey eyes, wondering what she was asking. When he deciphered it, he thought a moment. He understood her perfectly, which was sometimes odd with people who couldn't hear. SOmetimes they dind't always make sense. But she was different..and he liked that. He took a deep breath and answered quietly.A little more then a week. They found me in the hay loft. He explained. Why was he telling her so much? It was like it was easy to open up to her, and he found it odd, but he enjoyed it. He spoke slowly and made sure she could read his lips, and then waited.

[Raelynn]

I read his lips easily, glad he was speaking slowly and clearly. I knew how to speak audibaly since I had only became deaf a few years ago. Why had he been in the hayloft? I wanted to know, but I knew that I it was past my limit. I nodded, walking over to the table, pulling a chair out and sitting down. I was seated at the opposite end of the table. My gaze shifted to Aidan, a small smile curved my lips slightly. For some reason I wanted to know everything about him. But I only knew what he wanted me to know, I didn't force him to tell me anything. Today was my first day, yet it felt as if so much ahd happened.

[Melanie]

He took a deep breath as he watched her read his lips. It was a talent that he wished he possessed, becasue it would be itneresting. But if he had to do it all of the time and miss out hearing thigns that people take for granted, he knew it wouldn't be as interesting. He felt bad for her, and he wanted to help in any way that he could. SHe seemed like a nice girl, and he found he wanted to get to know her better..when he dind't want that with anyone else. He looked back at her, smiling his own grin when she smiled.Is there anything you wish to know about me? It was best to get it out in the open now, and just let her know about his past so she would understand why he was so hesitant and frightened of people. He was still careful around her, and seemed as if he was ready to dart away at the first possible sign of something bad. He waited patiently though.

[Raelynn]

I read his lips, smiling and nodding. I paused before speaking, my lyrics smooth yet had a certain hoolwoness to them.

What brought you here?

I questioned, emerald eyes dancing with sparked interest. Would he ask me something? I hoped so, I wanted him to understand me. But why did Ifeel this way for him? Oh well, atleast I was willing to share informaion with other people. Learning to read lips had been tough, but most people didn't know sign langauge, and it took to long to write when you were trying to have a full conversation.

[Melanie]

Aidan knew sign language...it was one of those things that he had learned while living on the streets. He saw her nod and listened carefully, surprised at how clear her words were. But when he heard the question, he looked down, a bit uncertain. He took a deep breath and looked back up, meeting her green eyes with his bluish emerald. He would tell her...somehow...I didn't really have a reason. I needed a place to sleep...so I found the hayloft. What about you? Why did you come here? He was still speaking ncie and slow, and making sure his syllables were well seen. He took a deep breath and exhaled, wiating for her reply paitnetly.

[Raelynn]

I listened intently....well read his lips... After he spoke I thought for a moment and took a deep breath. Looking people in the eyes didn't intimidate me or make me embarrassed for I usually had to do that so I would know who the person was talking to.

My parents don't think I should ride anymore. They blame horses, but they can't keep me out of the saddle. I came here hoping to find somewhere that will let me ride even though I am deaf.

It didn't bother me at all saying I was deaf. In fact, I almost liked saying it. I liked when people knew I was deaf and seen how independant I was. It was true, my parents did blame horses, they think I should mope around all day and expect help. But that wasn't me. But one thing I was reluctnat about wastalking about that memorible day. The only people who knew were the ones that were at the show.

[Melanie]

He listened quietly, now knowing her accident had something to do with horses. It must have been frightening, but she had obviously learned to deal with it, and was now taking her disability...which he didn't want to call it..in stride and learning how to live with it. And he admired that about her. He offered her an easy smile, and then his features sombered.Is it alright to ask how it happened...or is that crossing the line? He asked her softly, wondering what her answer would be. He wouldn't be offended or anything if she said she didn't want to talk about it, he would understand. There were a lot of things he dind't want to talk about either.

[Raelynn]

When he asked I looked down at my hands, wondering if he deserved to know. I had never told anyone before. But he looked at me as if I was a nomral person, and I respected that. He deserved to know.

No, it's fine.

I paused, looking back up at him. I seen his small smile and couldn't hold back my own. I took a deep breath and began to explain that day.

I was at the State show, it was 3 years ago. I was the youngest competing at my level. Toaro had been skittish that day, it was the last class of the day and I just needed to place 2nd or higher to go on to Nationals. Our first couple jumps were fine, but after that Toaro began to hesitate, reluctant to go over the low jumps. We were competing in show jumping, the highest jump on that course was 3' 2", I had jumped much higher. On the 7th jump Toaro unexpectedly refused, I had already perched forward in two point position. I was thrown forward, landing on the ground roughly. I don't remember anything else.I was taken to the hospital, that's what I was told, I can't remember anything. At the hospital I responded to touch, but not to speech or sound. The doctors said I was in a slight coma. My parents said they talked to me for 3 days before I woke up. I remember laying there in bed, watching as my parents lips moved.... yet I heard nothing. I could speak, but I couldn't hear my own voice. I was deaf. The news had been hard to accept but I really had no other choice.....

I trailed off, my gaze shifting to my left. Would he understand? But what was there to understand? I looked back to Aidan, managing a small, weak smile.

[Melanie]

Aidan nodded softly at her first set of words, and then looked over at her with eyes that showed only concern and worry when she spoke. He was used to her tone by now, and he was glad that she was opening up to him. He listened quietly, his eyes widening when she reached the last part. He unexpectedly reached across the table and gave her hand a light squeeze.I'm sorry you had to go through that Rae. He told her gently and then let go, realizing what he had done. He reddened instantly, and then felt it only right to tell her what happened to him. He adverted his gaze, but remained so that she could still read his lips. It was agonizing to have to explain it this slow, but he had to so she could understand.When I was three...my mom died because of cancer. My dad thought it was my fault, he said I had put too much stress on her so that she couldn't recover. And I believed him. It all started that night. He hit me, just across the face, but it turned into habit. He would come home drunk from the bar every night, and take out all of his frustrations and anger on me in any way that he could. Whether it was with the old tire chains he had in the garage, or the bat he had bought me for my birthday when I was two...it didn't matter..it was all the same to him. He finally hospitalized me after he went to heavy with the chains. I kept running away after that night, and went to a stable not far away. They taught me how to ride english, and jump and everything like that. They gave me a new start, and never asked me questions. And then he found me. I didn't expect it. He dragged me out of the stable so quick, I didn't know what was happening. He beat me worse then he ever had that day. And then I ranaway to here. A week before I found this place, he came after me and beat me one last time. But he was arrested, and I'm sure that he died in jail. Sam and Jay and their dogs found me hiding in the hayloft, looking for someplace warm to sleep. They've been earning my trust ever since. Then..last week I had a heart attack, and ran away from here becasue I thought I had caused too much pain and trouble. Josh found me and brought me back...and now Sam and him are teaching me how to ride western. And that's it. He said to her and stood up, the pain and misery evident in his eyes. He went to the kitchen counter and leaned agaisnt it, looking out the window, wondering why he had just poured his heart out to her.

[Raelynn]

I slightly blushed as he gave my hand a encouraging squeeze. As he spoke the color left my face. I only thought these things happened in horror books, or the ones where someone is always trying to kill someone. But Aidan was living prof that these things happened. I didn't speak. I followed him as he moved about the kitchen. I thought Ihad it rough, but now I valued my life and accepted who I was. I felt guilty, that must have caused him much pain to tell me that. I watched him, almost wanting him to say something.

Aidan....I'm...sorry.

Was all I could manage. And yet that didn't seem like enough. But we shared something in common. We planned on starting anew here. And we both were originally taught to ride english. What could I say to make him feel better?

But everything is different now. Everything will change. You have started anew.

I hoped I was right. Emerald eyes scanned his face, easily seeing that what he spilled to me had been difficult to tell.

[Melanie]

He took a deep breath and heard her follow him around the kitchen and to the window. He looked over at her as he heard her first words and shook his head, shrugging slightly. He looked back outside and spoke, his voice reserved. But he turned to her once more, so that she could see what he was saying.It doesn't matter... He said, not able to get over it in the least. He listened as she spoke her last words and nodded softly, unsure of waht to say now.

[Raelynn]

I looked down at my boots, I had failed in helping him. I walked to the fridge, opened the door and grabbed a water. I sat back down at the table, just staring at the bottle of water. I looked up at Aidan,

Have you ridden any horses since you've been here?

I questioned, opening the bottle of water. I took a sip, placing the bottle back on the table. I sat the cap on the table and pushed it from one hand to the other using my fingers. It was a mini game of hockey. In the recent years I had learned to occupy myself with everyday items. A small, amused smile curved my lips as I continued to watch the lid slide back and forth across the table.

[Melanie]

He hadn't wanted to hurt her or anything but his lack of response, but he had nothing else to say, nor the want to talk about his past anymore. It was something he was fighting hard to get over, and he knew it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and then heard her question. He nodded.Yeah..I rode Sam's paint mare...Shady. What about you? Shady was just beginning to help him get over his troubles. But it was a long and slow process, and it depended on how Aidan responded. He watched her as she occupied herself, rolling the cap back and forth. He caught himself mid stare, turning around for a moment, and then once again so that he was facing her, his arms crossed.