The Newcomer and First Encounter
Noah steps into the school for the first time, feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar faces and classrooms. As he walks through the hallway, his eyes catch on a girl sitting alone by a locker—Maya. She’s sketching in a notebook, headphones in, but her eyes lift occasionally to observe the people around her. Noah notices that she doesn’t speak. He wonders if she’s just shy, but he can't shake the feeling that there's more to her than meets the eye.
More quietly, to himself.
“Okay, maybe not shy... but there’s definitely something different about her.”
He pauses, chewing on his lip, trying to figure it out.
“It’s like... she’s here, but not fully. Like there’s a part of her I can’t reach, something hidden behind those eyes.”
He sighs, shaking his head as if trying to shake off the curiosity.
“It’s magnetic, though, that silence. It pulls me in, but I’m not sure why. I want to know what’s behind it, but I don’t want to push her.”
His fingers drum on the table, his thoughts racing.
“I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but at the same time, it’s like... something’s calling me to figure her out.”
He glances at her, his gaze lingering for just a moment before looking away.
“But how do you even approach someone like that? Someone who’s so quiet, so... mysterious?”
He breathes out slowly, frustration creeping in.
“I have to know, but I don’t want to break that quiet. If I do, will she even want me to?”
In class, Noah is assigned the seat next to Maya. He attempts small talk, “Hey, I’m Noah.” But she doesn’t respond with words. She simply looks at him, then raises her hand and signs something. Noah is confused and slightly embarrassed.
Signs, slowly. “Hello.”
Noah stares at her, unsure of how to respond, then quickly looks around for help. The teacher explains that Maya is deaf and uses sign language. His embarrassment turns to curiosity.
Attempting small talk, nervously.
“Hey, I’m Noah.”
Maya glances up at him, her expression calm but distant. She doesn’t respond verbally, instead raising her hand to sign something. Noah watched her fingers move, his brow furrowing in confusion.
A little unsure, leaning slightly toward her.
“Uh… what’s that? Is that—?”
Maya raises an eyebrow, glancing at him before signing again, slower this time, but still not speaking aloud. Noah feels embarrassed but tries to hide it.
Signs. “Hello.”
Mumbling to himself, still unsure.
“Okay... um, you… don’t talk?”
Maya shakes her head slightly and signs again, with a little more patience.
Signs, slower. “I am deaf.”
Noah’s face flushes a little as he processes what she’s saying. He looks around the room, unsure of what to do next.
Awkwardly, trying to recover. “Oh… okay. Got it. Um… is there… a way I can talk to you? I don’t know sign language.”
Maya looks at him, assessing his tone, before offering a small, knowing smile. She grabs a pen and writes in her notebook, then slides it toward him.
Written. “You can learn. Or we can write.”
Noah reads it, and his embarrassment begins to fade. He looks at her with a renewed sense of curiosity.
Signing slowly, uncertain but willing to try. “Can I… try?”
Maya watches him, her expression softening. She nods, encouraging him.
Signs back. “Yes. It’s okay.”
