Walking through the crowded streets he hangs his head low, covering his face with the hood of his coat. Hands shaking as tears fall down his face onto the sidewalk. People stare his direction and move past him, believing he is someone else. His hearts racing with anxiety, he turns a corner quick to escape the stares and whispers. He runs as fast as he can to get away, stopping at a café window to check his reflection. He looks exhausted, dark bags under his eyes. Dropping his head he hears a knock. Looking up again he sees a little girl looking at him through the window. She looks to be about 3 months old and her hair was in these tiny adorable pigtails. She smacked the window gently with her small palms, there was something about the way she looked at him made him give a small smile. She giggled and pressed her face and arms to the window almost like she was giving him a hug through it. He wanted to laugh at her cuteness but couldn't which caused him to close his eyes and slowly walk away. He could have sworn he heard the little one begin to cry but maybe it was just him. Time passes as he walks.
Now on the street where his house is he hears a cry. A little child's cry. He turns his head for just a quick second to see that it's the little girl from earlier.
"Oh, River what's the matter?" The woman holding her cooed lifting the girl from her stroller. He felt the need to go over and apologize, feeling as though he was the cause of the babies tears. The little one caught a glimpse of him when her mother lifted her up and her crying ceased. She reached her small arms forward in his direction. He found himself walking closer. He didn't know what to do once he got over there, he couldn't speak his voice was gone, completely gone. All he could do was look down at his feet. He felt embarrassed and upset. He was planning to turn back around but two tiny arms wrapped around his neck and hugged him.
He was caught off guard at first but a smile tugged at his lips.
"River Ann! I'm so sorry, my daughter..." The young woman looked at him, he held the little girl gently and hugged her. She was giggling and squeezing him tightly not wanting to let go.
"...She seems to really like you." She smiled at him. He smiled back but then felt sad again. He wanted to speak and say hello, but still nothing.
"Are you alright?" She asked as he handed the baby back to her. She cried and cried. He felt himself crumble and cry along with her. Unsure what to do the young mother placed her hand on his and ran her thumb over his knuckles. Somehow it managed to calm him down and he looked up again wiping his tears away with his hands.
"Can you speak?" She asked politely and he shook his head. Being able to see his face more she realized who he was, his face was just about anywhere and everywhere.
"My apartment is a few buildings down if you would like to join us?" He didn't know how to react to the sudden kindness but chose to nod not really wanting to be by himself right now. The three of them continued on reaching the apartment complex. They lived pretty high up so the trip on the elevator was quite awkward.
"If you want, i have some notebooks I could lend you to write down anything you'd like to say to or ask me. Does that sound good?" Dimash nodded.
They finally reached the apartment and stepped in she put the baby who was now fast asleep in her crib in the other room and told him to have a seat wherever he would like. Dimash chose to sit on the couch. She handed him a pen and a note pad and sat alongside him. "I'll let you start." She said sweetly. He began to write.
I'm so very sorry if I startled you earlier. I'm having a rough time right now, and as I was headed home your daughter was crawling around a café chair acting silly through the window. She's a very sweet child, I can see who she got it from.
He handed it to her and she laughed while she was reading it.
"That sounds like her alright." He saw a slight pinkish hue appear on her cheeks.
"Her names River and she's a month old." The woman spoke.
What's your name?
"Madeline. My names Madeline."
Is it fine if I ask where's her father?
"Let's just say he was more interested in my body than anything else." Her tone was low and emotional. Dimash felt bad for asking.
He crept his hand over hers and held her hand like how she held his earlier.
He was a fool. You're very kind, and I think you're very beautiful.
She saw what he wrote and she blushed. "Why thank you."
I'm being serious you are very beautiful. Just seeing you smile is making me feel better.
Is it ok for him to act this way? He just met this person and already is being quite flirty, although he doesn't mean too. In his mind he was thinking of what else to say.
My names Dimash. I don't know if you've heard of me or not but I'm a singer. Well at least I used to be. I lost my voice. I don't know how or why, but I can no longer speak or sing. It's tough cause it's something I love so much.
"I know how you feel believe me."
Dimash seemed a little surprised by her words but not severely. He picked up the pen and paper and began to write out another page. "When I was younger I never spoke. People always assumed I was mute, but the truth is I never spoke to anyone but my mother and my father. Once I left the house or was anywhere besides home I wouldn't speak."
Dimash was blown away. He had never heard of someone who kept them self quiet, for so long. He crossed out everything he had written and wrote done something new but she read his scribbled out sentences anyway.
Can you help me? I feel lost without my voice, music has always been apart of me so not having it feels lonely. How did you do it how did you stay quiet for so long? Please help me get my voice back.
Madeline felt her heart fall. "Of course I'll help you. That's what friends do." She gave him a smile and he felt his entire world freeze. His heart was pounding, his head spinning. He couldn't keep himself still. He reached forward and hugged her tightly. He mouthed a thank you into her hair, and although he heard nothing. She could have sworn she heard the faintest of whispers run through her ear as his breath hit the side of her neck.
They stayed that way for quite some time.
