I jump. I can hear Darien's voice slightly. I read half his lips, but I can hear him.

"CHRis CAn YOU HEar ME?"

I wince at his voice. The hearing aid starts ringing.

"CHRIS CAN YOU HEAR ME?" Darien says again with his Southern Californian accent while adjusting the hearing aids.

"Chris?"

"I c-can," I say. My voice sounds weird. You can tell Darien, and I have different views.

His eyes grow wide, "Close your eyes I need to see something."

I close my eyes.

"Okay, I'm going to snap, and you tell me what side I'm on."

He snaps....I raise my left hand.

"Good."

He snaps again. I raise my right hand.

"Good."

He snaps again, but not in my ear.

"In front of me."

"Great God above we did it."

I open my eyes and Darien comes over and hugs me. I feel my eyes start to water. I cried, and Darien did too.

"Y-you did it," I say into his ear.