Listen // Lams

Chapter 2

- John -

Dropping Alex off at therapy was not an easy task for me.

I hid my fears for his sake, knowing that he'd worry if I worried. But I had a valid reason to be afraid. We're in a brand new city, he doesn't talk, and he hates being alone without anyone he knows.

I walked down the street, away from the large building. I resisted the urge to go back there and go inside, telling them that I couldn't just leave him there. But I know that this is something he desperately needs to get better, so I kept walking.

I wandered around the area for a while before I found myself back at the apartment. I figured it was probably a good idea to unpack and set up our bed and everything, seeing as we slept on an unmade mattress on the floor last night. Plus, I think it'll be nice for Alex to come home to a furnished apartment.

I spend the next couple of hours setting up our bed and desks, as well the TV stand, bookshelves, and putting the couches where we decided we wanted them. I put the table together and set up the chairs, and unpacked the dishes into the cabinets.

But once I finished all the furniture, I began to grow bored, so I decided to leave clothes and decor stuff for later or tomorrow.

I scrolled through Twitter while I ate a sandwich on the couch, absentmindedly listening to some random movie that was playing on the TV in the background.

I still had an hour until I had to go get Alex. What am I going to do?

Usually, school takes up all my time during the day. On the weekends, Alex and I are always together or with friends, so there's not really a time where I have absolutely nothing to do.

Except for right now, apparently.

I rolled around on the couch (and ended up falling onto the hardwood floor - ow), trying to think of something to do.

I settled on just making dinner for when Alex came home, so I went into the tiny kitchen and pulled together asopao, since he told me how his mom used to make it for him when he was younger and it seems like a good comfort food to come home to.

I was just finishing up when my alarm went off on my phone, letting me know I had to go get Alex from therapy. I turned off the stove and set two bowls on the table before grabbing my key and phone, dashing out the door.

I practically ran to the therapy center, a huge smile filling my face when I saw Alex waiting in the lobby for me.

"He did absolutely amazing for the first day." A nurse passing by told me. I nodded and smiled at Alex, who returned it a little bit.

"Ready to go? I've got asopao waiting for us at home." I said, offering him my hand. His eyes lit up for just a moment and he nodded, taking my hand and squeezing it as I signed him out and we walked back home.

He picked at his food as we ate but that was expected. Recovery isn't a one day thing.

"So do you wanna talk about anything at all? Nurses, other people there, if you're liking it? If it's really bad, we can always see if there's another program, just say the word and we'll look into it." I said for probably the tenth time this week. He shrugged and set aside the napkin he'd been wringing in his hands (a random habit he'd always had).

We're not really allowed to talk about other patients, but they're all nice. No one else is mute, though. But there is a girl who's deaf, and a few others who know sign, so I'm not totally alone. The nurses are fine, like the other patients, they're really nice too. I like it there so far. He signed. I nodded.

"That's really cool that other people know ASL. I'm happy that you like it there. I'm so proud of you, baby." I said, leaning across the table and kissing his forehead. He lit up from that and grinned widely. It made me so happy to see him smile like that.

This New York thing isn't getting off to that bad of a start, if I do say so myself.

a/n: i have so much planned for this book, I can't wait for you guys to see what I have in store!