Lip Reading (full, unedited)

I woke up this morning with a dull ache in my left ear, and a tiny spot of blood on my pillow. By the time I got to the bathroom, the pain was gone and the blood had already crusted over. To be honest, I didn't really think much of it. I had been dealing with a sinus infection, and figured the pressure had caused my ear to pop. Wouldn't be the first time.

I continued on with my morning routine -- showered, brushed my teeth, got dressed. You know -- what most people do before heading out to work. My next stop was the kitchen, to turn on the coffee maker and grab something to eat. I live with a roommate, Yvonne, and I felt her enter the room behind me as I was spreading cream cheese on a bagel. I say "felt" because I'm deaf. Not hearing impaired, or hard of hearing... stone deaf. Have been since birth. So, I felt the vibrations of her footsteps on the floor and turned to greet her with a smile. She smiled back, and I went back to preparing my breakfast.

You need to brush your hair.

I froze.

"What?" I asked in my halting voice, turning to face her again. I wasn't used to speaking out loud. "What did you say?"

Did you hear me? Did you actually hear me? her lips read. She looked as startled as I was.

"Not that. But what you said before that."

WOW! She smiled broadly, but I didn't hear her voice again. We both broke into a flurry of ASL for a moment, but then she tried speaking again. I couldn't hear her. Maybe I hadn't heard her before, I began to think. I mean, I'm deaf. How would I even know what sound... sounded like? It was bizarre. We decided it was time to go to work. She turned around and walked toward her bedroom. That's when I heard a second sentence:

You're going to make us both late because of this.

I opened my month to respond, but closed it again, frowning. Why was Yvonne being so rude?

Later that morning, we had both arrived at our shift at the coffee shop where we worked. I had heard a few things from people on the street, but none of it seemed to be directed at me. Which is good thing, because everyone seemed to be in a foul mood. If this was how folks spoke to each other, I didn't think I was missing much.

Eric, another employee, was setting up the till and Yvonne and I put on our aprons.

Could you get some more sugar packs from the back? Eric asked Yvonne.

Why don't you make her lazy ass do it?

That's what I heard her reply. But it's not what she said. It's not what I read on her lips. What Yvonne said out loud was, I think we need more stir sticks, too.

I stood there, gape-mouthed, wondering what the hell was happening. Yvonne looked at me, her head tilted to one side, her eyebrows furrowed in the middle.

What's wrong with you, you dumb bitch?

This time her lips didn't move. It finally dawned on me. Her thoughts. I was hearing her thoughts. How on earth could someone be that good an actress? I had lived with the girl for years -- she was my best friend. She learned ASL for me. Why? Just to get cheaper rent? Eric touched me on the shoulder.

Are you alright? I saw him say.

"I'm fine. I'm just not feeling well."

Bullshit. She's fucking crazy. I'm so sick of her crap. Maybe I should throw this coffee at her face. That way can be deaf and blind.

A wicked internal laugh welled up as Yvonne picked up a pot of steaming coffee from its perch.

It was at this point that I grabbed a knife from the sandwich station, lunging at her and screaming obscenities. All I remember after that was a sudden, searing pain in my head, darkness.

At about 4 o'clock that afternoon, I woke up in a hospital bed with Yvonne by my side. My head still hurt, but my ear hurt even more.

Can you hear me? she asked, speaking out loud.

"No. What--?" I had the impression I had done something terribly wrong. Then I remembered. "Why do you hate me? Why were you thinking all those horrible things?"

What are you talking about? Is that what you heard? she switched to ASL. You weren't hearing anything real. You were... you had... She was desperately trying to find the words when the doctor walked in. He carried a small jar in his hand.

Feeling better? he asked. Do you lip read? Yes. Okay. So, no charges will be laid. Thankfully we got this out as soon as we did. He held up the jar. It had burrowed quite far into your ear. I can't even imagine what kind of damage it could have done. We, uh... we've sent off a portion of it to be examined. We're, uh, not sure what it is. But it's out, and that's the main thing. You said you were hearing voices?

"Thoughts," I replied. "I thought I was hearing thoughts. All the thoughts from everyone were bad though, so... I guess they weren't real." I wasn't sure I believed myself as I said this. "Can I see it?"

He handed it over to me and I peered inside. Held in the viscous liquid was a worm. A maggot. About half an inch long and covered in greyish scales. There was a stripe of red around one end that seemed to ooze a brownish goop. A toxin, perhaps? I gagged at the thought of that thing being in my ear. I handed it back to the doctor, and he left, with an index finger in the air.

Phone, Yvonne signed. I nodded in understanding.

I'm sorry. I so, so sorry. I can't believe I nearly--

It's okay. You were sick. She shook her head, and placed a hand on my arm.

So that's the end of it. That brings us up to the present. I just have to get the doctor's permission to-- oh, he's just come in now. He doesn't look happy. I read the single word on his lips:

Eggs.