Chapter Three: Adam

This is Chapter Three. It's in Adam's perspective.

Do you know that moment where you know that the place where you are standing is the place you are exactly supposed to be? That is how I felt when I was at the movie theater with my buddies Milo and Bennett.

            “Adam, what is this movie even about?” Milo asked me.

            “I don’t even know, but it’s the first ASL film an actual movie theater in the area is showing, and I want to see it,” I said jokingly.

            “It’s probably going to be awful, but that’s OK!” Milo exclaimed. We walked around the lobby of the theater while we waited for Bennett to buy our tickets. This was the big night for everyone from the Deaf community; so naturally, every Tom, Dick, and Harry was here. It was always the same boring people with always their routines. I recognized every face in the lobby except for one.

            “Milo, who’s that?” I gestured to the tiny angel with flowing gold, wavy hair and crystal eyes, “She’s…beautiful”

            “Hey, Cupid, I think you’re in love,” Bennett walked up to us with our tickets, “Bennett! Guess who’s in love?” He gestured to me.

            “With whom?” Bennett bantered. Milo pointed to her, “You have awful taste, Adam! She’s a little scared guinea pig! She has no idea what is going on! Then look at her! My grandmother has a better fashion sense! You’ve dated better.”

            “If they were so much better, why did none of the relationships work?” I barked, “She looks nervous.”

I found myself wondering to her. I lightly tapped her on her shoulder and said, “Hi.” She was a deer caught in the headlights when our eyes met. After the moments of awkward silence, I said,

            “How are you?” She placed shaky hand in front of her chest, “You don’t seem fine. You hearing?”

            “Is it that obvious?” She said.

            “A little. So, what is a hearing girl doing at the theater on a day the theatre is only showing ASL films? You can’t be a CODA because they are more comfortable.” I could see her eyes try to keep up with my hands, so I slowed down for her, “The trick is to look here,” I pointed to my eyes, “rather than these,” I lifted my hands.

            “Then how will I know what you are saying?” She focused on the formation of every word, so I gently pushed her hands down,

“You’ll just know. It comes from the heart not the head. And you never answered my question. What are you doing here?”

“Extra credit. I want to be an interpreter, and my teacher assigned a film review as extra credit.”

“No offence, but I don’t think you’re particularly ready for a film yet. Many times the hands are barely visible,” I joked to her.

“Well, than maybe I should use my heart,” her smile lit up the entire room. Her teeth were a string of pearls that was worth more than gold. She was a beautiful girl, but her oversized tee shirt and khakis did nothing for her beauty.

“Or maybe we could do something else.”

“But what about my extra credit!”

“Relax, I have a couple buddies that are seeing the movie. We can just ask them about it later. Look, how about we go have some real fun.” I could see a hesitation in her eyes.

“Maybe later. My boyfriend is picking me up and I don’t think he’d enjoy coming somewhere different.” Her eyes screamed when she mentioned him and I noticed her body sinking a bit when she spoke of him.

“Just say you met a friend and you decided to get some coffee with him and he’ll take you home-” This time she stopped me,

“You don’t know my boyfriend. He wasn’t even happy with coming here. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t even have come here.” She turned around to leave when I turned her around to me.

“May I please have at least your name?”

“Daley Espoire.” She turned around and called him. I could see Daley’s lips tremble as they formed pained words. Her face turned a bright red as she ended the conversation and moved outside to wait for him. I grabbed my business card out of my wallet and ran to Daley who was crying on the curb. I walked up to her and tapped her on her shoulder.

“Daley, what’s wrong?”

“Go. See the movie. It’s starting soon and you came with friends. They are probably wondering where you are.”

“They can wait, but I don’t think you can. What’s wrong, Daley? I know something is wrong.”

“I’m fine. Please, just go.” I handed her my card and got up.

“If you ever need me.” She touched my leg,

“Wait! Adam, you’re an artist? What do you draw?”

“Anything. Landscapes, still life, people-”

“Do you think you can draw me sometime?”

“Well, that depends.”

“On what?”

“If you want me to leave or not.” I gave her a goofy smile and sat back on the curb with her.

“You are such a pain,” she said with a smile on her face. A compact car sped up to the front of the curb and a tall, muscular man emerged. His lips forcefully moved and Daley obeyed them like a puppy obeyed his master. He pushed her into the car and as the car sped off, I could see him slap her with his free hand. How could she let anybody treat her like that? I sat on the curb for a while, then made my way back into the theater and met Milo and Bennett in the theater

Author's Note

What did you think? I know it's an awfully short chapter, but all of the pre-apocalypse chapters are nice and short for a reason. When the full book is posted, I believe all of you will know why.
Please give honest opinions and honest critiques. All criticism is warmly welcomed.