Ashley’s Story
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I was born deaf and mute.
Mom and Dad didn’t have an education, so
they started a junkyard. After they had my
brother, they had me, but they found out I
was deaf and mute.
It was a disaster.
I met Harmony by accident.
I was very young.
I remember it was raining, and Harmony was
squatting next to our trash can, wearing thin
clothes.
I poked her, and she glared at me. I almost
cried.
But I was deaf and mute, so I couldn’t even
cry.
Harmony realized it and comforted me.
I stopped crying and secretly got her the cake
that my brother had bought me.
The cake was cheap, but we ate it.
Later, I found out that Harmony was always
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hungry, so I stole food from home so she
could eat.
One day, I drew a picture of my brother,
Harmony, and me.
Harmony was hiding behind the trash can, watching me draw.
When I finished, I gave it to her. She was happy and carefully took it.
Everything was fine, but after Harmony started high school, she stopped coming.
I only saw her twice.
Once, she saw that I noticed her and ran
away.
Another time, she dropped off a card and ran.
My brother picked it up and held me tight.
I felt his tears, burning me.
Harmony was so silly, she thought we didn’t
know she was there. The food was always
disappearing, and I was always running out.
My brother and parents knew.
But they pretended not to know, and my
brother would always watch us.
Later, Mom and Dad took me to the hospital.
They used the money from Harmony.
Being born deaf and mute was hard to treat,
but the doctors helped me hear.
I got hearing aids.
And I heard the sounds of insects and birds.
Mom, Dad, my brother, and Harmony gave me
that.
Mom and Dad worked harder to pay Harmony
back.
“Harmony, don’t forget us when you get rich!”
“Wait”
My brother went to school just a year after
Harmony.
My brother touched my head.
“Your brother and Harmony will be waiting for
you at State.”
I nodded.
I knew my brother liked Harmony.
Before, Mom was looking at photos on her
phone and found a picture of Harmony.
Harmony was so bright.
Only my brother took photos on Mom’s
phone!
I couldn’t even take photos then!
The next year, my brother got into State!
Everyone cried.
My brother cried.
But I knew that he was happy that he could
follow Harmony.
That night, everyone watched him call the
number he had been saving.
The phone was answered, and a woman’s
voice spoke.
“Hello?”
Everyone smiled.
My brother smiled silently, tears falling.
“Hello, Harmony. I’m Ashley.”
My brother and Ashley’s story was just
beginning.
I’ll grow up fast.
Wait for me.