Love Unspoken

"How did you come by that information?" a voice inquired. "The source of my knowledge is Linda," came the response.

"Isn't it a common belief that those who are less intelligent have impaired hearing as well? Is there any truth to that?""Really? But surely, if one is simply lacking in intellect, their auditory abilities should remain unaffected. I've always been under the impression that it's the inability to hear that leads to a lack of speech, correct?""Perhaps you should put it to the test."

Quinn had just completed the task of meticulously cleaning the final basket of dishes. She placed them carefully in the sanitizing cabinet, turning around only to be greeted by the sight of two female coworkers making their way towards her."Hey, are you even capable of hearing our conversation?""Are you, by any chance, deaf?"

The women studied Quinn with a curiosity that was devoid of any ill-intent. After all, they had never encountered someone like her before and were unaware that their words might be considered offensive. Quinn observed them in silence, offering no response. "It appears she truly can't hear," one of them mused."How unfortunate," the other added.

raise a hand.After a mere two hours of rest, it was time to resume her work at five in the afternoon, a shift that would continue until eleven at night.By the

and cloaked in darkness. She pulled out her phone to check the GPS. Her home was thirty miles away, an eighty-dollar cab ride. Her earnings for the day wouldn't even cover the fare.A bitter smile graced Quinn's lips as if the harsh reality of Alexander's words had been reinforced. Leaving him

lacked the funds for a taxi, and the subway and buses were no longer in

thought of walking home alone filled her with fear. So, she remained there, lost and indecisive. The daunting prospect of a future filled with days like this caused the idea of divorce to slowly fade away.Suddenly, a car sped past her. Then, the driver slammed on the brakes and reversed the vehicle, stopping right in front of her.Quinn looked up slightly to see the car window roll down,

and glanced around. "Are you out here dining?"Quinn shook her head and gestured,

at him. Suddenly recalling Alexander's words, she hesitated. Walter offered a reassuring smile. "Come