The Safe House | TFIL

36 - Happy Birthday To Me

Sorry for the late update, I had a family emergency that needed to be taken care of.

- Chris

Tomorrow was the day

The trial

The case

But today

Today was different

Today I gained a part of me

And somehow felt even more lost in myself

Lost in space

Falling and falling

I can't breathe

I stared at the candle in front of me

How could I blow this out when I can't breathe?

It didn't matter

I took in my breath

Rigid and shaky

But

As I let go

And blew out the wind

And the flame dispersed

And the clapping started

I felt myself breathe again

Smile

"Happy birthday, man." Jack said

He patted my shoulder

A faint smile on his face as he stuffed his hands back in his pockets

Meadow was getting so excited

But so annoyed

She was anxious to get a piece of cake

I'm patient

I let her get the first piece

Joel and Joshua next

Then Jack and I

Lastly Ms. Kat

I looked over to the corner of the room

My smile fading from Jack's joke

I saw Ora in the corner

By herself

Just sitting by the fireplace

Reading

I smiled a tad bit and got out of my chair

No one minded

I wasn't yelled at or looked at funny

Everyone else just went back to talking

I managed my way over to Ora and hovered over her

Stuffing my hands in my pockets like Jack

She looked up at me

"Whatcha reading?" I asked

She showed me the cover

It read "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl"

"Good book?" I asked

She only nodded

"You want some cake?" I offered

She politely shook her head no

I awkwardly nodded back and rocked back and forth

I was just trying to talk to her and she wasn't even doing anything

Conversations take two

"So, how long have you been here?" I asked

Ora shook her head and placed her book down

She then mouthed to me

'I'm mute.'

I then decided to take my chances

'You know ASL?'

And I earned a suprised smile

I quickly smiled back

'That's a first.' She replied

I nodded with a smile

'Orabelle.' She spells out her name and then does her sign name

'Nate.'  I spell my name out and also show my sign name

'So, let me guess, deaf foster parents?'  She asks

'Close. Deaf foster brother.'  I reply

As I say those words I can't help but frown

Reminding me of how much I missed Tarron

I was almost positive I'd see him tomorrow at the trial

But that didn't stop me from missing him

I missed his laugh

His humor

His presence

His smile

God did I miss his smile

'Hey, you alright?'  Ora snaps me back

I don't sign back

I just nod with a fake smile

I'm good at faking

Ok, so side note, I apologize if the way I portrayed Ora or any female in this story is just terrible. I'm a cis straight male and honestly I have trouble portraying anyone that's not cis, male, or straight. Mostly because I can only go off my own experiences. Even with Jack, I don't have much of an example. I have one gay friend and he acts just like me, not flamboyant, do I make Jack similar. Same thing with the Deaf Culture. Three of my friends are deaf, I'm fluent, I have an experience to the culture, but that's only my perspective. Point is, if anyone has any advice or tips for other characters of different genders or sexualities or anything, please comment down below.

Also, two more chapters after this and the book is done guys!

- Chris