A World of Silence

Chapter 1 - Understand Me, Please

Levi POV

As I raced down the stairs to get to the breakfast table I tripped and fell but luckily it was on the last step. My shoulder length brown hair got in my piercing green eyes, which I brushed away quickly. I got up only to face my mom with an unhappy expression.

"No running down the stairs, Levi." She said angrily. I had to read her lips since she didn't like using sign language often. I was sent to speech classes but I never use my voice because last time I did my oldest brother, Marcus, punched me and said I sounded like freak. It took me months for me to learn to say 'I love you' to him but Marcus didn't care.

Shaking my head of my thoughts I got up and walked to the breakfast table. My parents both knew how to sign but they rarely ever did because they wanted me to get better at reading lips.

They always spoke too fast when I was at any meal so I didn't even try to follow along anymore. I just sat silently and ate until I got to go to school. As if not having anyone use sign language in my house was punishment enough, my parents make me go to a hearing school. I get that they want me to be normal but I can't help it. I'm deaf and I just want some understanding.

I obviously didn't fit in with my family. Sometimes I questioned if I were adopted because all my siblings had blonde hair and blue eyes while I had dark brown hair and green eyes. The only similarities I had with any of my family members were my freckles that I shared with Maya. I don't remember Maya as a kid with freckles but she has them now which confuses me.

Ryan once told me she drew then on which confused me even further. You can't draw on freckles. Can you?

I finished my eggs and got up putting my plate in the sink and grabbing my backpack.

I waited at the door for Marcus to drive me to school with my brothers Ryan and Alex My sister, Maya, always went to school with her boyfriend but they were on a 'break' whatever that means, so she was gonna ride with us today.

As soon as Marcus saw me waiting at the front door he walked past me and hopped in the car. I quickly followed him. Last time I didn't notice he left without because I had my eyes closed but I learned my lesson after having to walk three miles to school.

Maya hopped in the car along with Ryan and Alex just as I buckled my seatbelt. She looked back just to call me a freak and then she turned up the radio to her music. Marcus didn't mind the music as his girlfriend got into the car next. She sat next to me as Maya took the passenger seat and was not about to give it up. Kendall, Marcus's girlfriend glared at me once I turned to look at her so I stuck to looking out the window.

The music was giving me a headache and I couldn't take it anymore.

I tapped Maya. 'Can you turn down the music?' I signed. She looked at me confused before turning back around. I brought out my notepad since she didn't know sign language after taking it for only 3 months.

I showed her the words I wrote on the notepad and she glared. "Why does it matter? You can't hear anyways." She sneered. I admit that hurt my feelings but I could still feel my seat vibrating and it irked me to no end. I quickly wiped away my tear before any of them could tease me about it and turned towards the window.

After getting a headache in my siblings' car I was immediately put in a bad mood, but I was not allowed to let that show.

Stepping into the building I tried my best to make it by undetected but I failed as I was shoved against a locker by my bully Lucas and his friends. I don't really catch what he says about me half the whole time because I'm always trying to protect my head and ribs as he beats me up but I'm pretty sure they are not nice words.

My head hit the locker and I could feel my eyes begin to unfocus as if I were in a daze. He didn't stop there as he punched me in the gut and as soon as I fell he took that opportunity to beat the shit out of me. I stayed still and silent until he finished. I looked at my watch and saw that he cracked it for the seventh time this month.

It was my favorite watch. My neighbor, Noah bought it for me. He is around Marcus's age but he acts nothing like Marcus which makes him like an older brother to me. He gave the best advice and made me feel better when I was upset which was mostly because of Marcus. Alex and Ryan we're horrible too but no one was as scary to me as Marcus.

The only downside of having Noah as my neighbor is that Lucas is his younger brother which means they live together.

I still love Noah though. Noah made me feel like I mattered. Ever since he went to join the army his words mean less to me as if they were all lies because I know I don't matter. I know that if I disappeared right now my family would be happier. My parents wouldn't argue about getting surgery to help me hear or about my speech therapy not going so well. My disappearance would bring our family closer. My siblings already love each other and everyone loves them they just don't like me.

I sighed and got up. I planned on going to the nurse's office but at this point I didn't care. I just wanted school to be over so I can hide in my room all weekend.

By the time school was over I was relieved. I only had a few bruises which meant I could easily cover them up and hide them from my parents. I don't know why I did though. I knew they wouldn't care but maybe covering them up won't let me face that reality.

I walked to Marcus's car to wait for him. I saw him approach with three of his friends and his girlfriend. My other brothers were already glaring at me as soon as they saw me.

"You know the deal. You walk home on Fridays. I have friends coming over so you better stay in your room."

I sighed and nodded. He literally just made up that rule now. I was just so tired of this. I was just tired in general. I had no other plans besides staying in my room anyways.

My family doesn't know I can talk and I don't plan on them ever figuring it out. They would want me to talk and I don't want to do that. I'm not looking forward to more reasons to get beat up.

I started my journey home but stopped halfway at a park to rest. I wasn't tired of walking yet I just needed to take a breather before I had a panic attack.

I sat on the swings for awhile and started breathing heavily. I wanted so bad to just be home and in the solace of my room but for some reason I just felt like I couldn't go on. I wanted to sit here and wallow in my self pity forever. I always felt like crying and when I didn't feel like crying I felt numb. There was no in-between. There was no happiness. There was just nothing.

I fucking got myself together and started walking home again.

By the time I got home I was drenched. I knew it was gonna rain today, the clouds showed that but for some reason I didn't care.

I saw one of Marcus's friends in the living room so I assumed they were all there so I walked to the kitchen. I wanted an apple so I that I had no reason to come back downstairs.

My assumption was wrong as Marcus and most of his buddies were in the kitchen. Instead of facing him I turned and walked away. Apparently Marcus saw me and I felt him behind me. I ran into my room but I couldn't lock the door on time as he burst through.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in your room!!?" He shouted. I could only guess that he shouted.

I nodded staring blankly at him. He grabbed my wrist and gripped my watch off. In fear and anger I bit him.

"What's wrong with you? You freak!" He said ripping his hand away. His wrist was bleeding but I couldn't care less. I was tired and wet.

I pointed to the door gesturing for him to leave.

Instead of following my instruction he shoved me and tackled me down. I hated when he did that. It scared me as he blinded me by holding my eyes. It was my only other sense that allowed me to know what was going on and without it I felt scared and vulnerable.

I was about to scream as panic took over before he finally let me go. Tears were streaming down my face as he slammed my door.

His friends didn't know I was his brother and he didn't want them to know. I was an embarrassment to my family. When I was a kid I didn't think me being deaf would mean anything. My family was nice as I was growing up but ever since I started school it's been different. It's too much stress on me as a ten year old and sometimes I can't take it.