Chapter 35
Ashby
As much as I wanted to be alone with Milow, I was okay with the others coming home with us. Once we got inside, we said hi to Mom, who was on the couch reading, and then we headed downstairs to the basement. There was more space down there, and we could all hang out without feeling crowded.
Everyone took a seat on the couches while I paced the floor, rubbing the back of my neck.
I was so fucking angry. Bennett had no right to say shit like that.
He demanded that Milow start talking, just because he was too ignorant to put in even the smallest amount of effort to accept her for who she was.
“Ash,” Stan said, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked up at me. “Come on, dude. Don’t let him get to you like that.”
“He was being an asshole,” I muttered.
“He was. We all agree with you on that,” Stan stated. “But you told him exactly what you thought. Now it’s on him if he wants to apologize. We’re all on your side.”
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before finally sitting down next to Milow on the couch.
I looked at her, and like always, she wore that soft smile that told me she wasn’t even half as angry as I was.
I knew I’d have to learn to live with that, with how easily she forgave, even when people hurt her.
“You okay?” I asked quietly.
She nodded, wrapping her hands around my arm and leaning into my side.
“Please don’t let what Bennett said affect you, Milow,” Scottie said. She was still visibly upset, and I knew she wouldn’t let this go anytime soon. If anything, she’d be even more protective now. She wouldn’t let anyone talk to Milow like that again.
“And don’t ever feel pressured to talk,” Jasper added, smiling at her gently. “It’s your choice alone.”
Milow stiffened. She straightened up and dropped her gaze to her hands, fidgeting with her fingers. I watched her closely, noticing the shift in her posture and the worry settling over her face.
I wanted to ask if she wanted to be alone. If she needed space. But when she looked up at me, I saw something else in her eyes. It looked like desperation.
She was asking for help.
“What is it?” I asked softly.
Her gaze fell back to her hands. I didn’t rush her. None of us did. We sat there in silence, giving her all the time she needed. Then, finally, she looked back at me and signed, [Can you tell them?]
I frowned, trying to understand what she meant. But then it hit me, and my chest tightened so hard it hurt.
She wanted me to tell them about her past. About why she would never speak.
“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice low. I hated that this was coming up because of Bennett. I hated that she had felt forced to share something so personal.
[I’m sure,] she signed, her smile tight.
I took a deep breath and nodded, taking her hand in mine.
“Okay.”
I cleared my throat and gave her hand a small squeeze.
As I searched for the right words, I looked at Milow, taking her in.
She was so damn strong. She hadn’t deserved any of it.
None of what had been said and done to her.
None of it had managed to break her, no matter how much it had tried.
She stayed strong, and she grew from the pain I knew she still carried deep inside.
And somehow, she always put everyone else first. She never let her trauma spill onto others. Never made it their burden.
“Last Friday,” I started, still looking at her, “Milow had a doctor’s appointment.”
The room went tense instantly. When I glanced at Scottie, terror flashed across her face. She was already thinking the worst. What I was about to tell them wasn’t easier to hear—but it wasn’t what Scottie was thinking.
“She’s okay,” I said quickly.
Relief washed over their faces all at once.
“But—”
“Ah, dude. Don’t ‘but’ us,” Stan complained, dragging both hands through his black hair.
I pressed my lips together and looked back at Milow, checking in with her. Making sure she still wanted me to go on. She nodded and smiled softly, her fingers brushing against mine in a calming motion.
It almost made me laugh. I was about to talk about the worst parts of her past, and she was the one soothing me. She was so incredibly special.
I took another breath and turned toward the three of them on the other couch. “But Milow found out something that day. Something that… isn’t easy to swallow.”
I knew that firsthand. I’d fallen apart when I found out. I hadn’t been able to stop myself from breaking, and again, she’d been the one holding me together.
“Whatever it is,” Scottie said, her voice tight with worry as she tried to stay steady, “we’re here for you, Milow.”
Milow signed a quick ‘thank you,’ then she looked back at me, ready for me to continue.
With a tight smile, I looked at the others again.
The right way to tell them still wouldn’t come to me.
How could it? There was no easy way for something like this.
No way to soften what had happened to her.
Still, I tried. I chose my words carefully, making sure not to dump everything on them at once. I needed to ease them into it.
“You see…” I started, my body tense. “Milow didn’t choose not to speak.”
I saw the questions forming in their eyes, but no one interrupted me. They waited.
“She doesn’t speak because… well. Because she can’t.”
Scottie’s brows pulled together, her gaze snapping to Milow, and back to me. “What do you mean?”
I sucked in a ragged breath and tightened my fingers around Milow’s hand. She leaned into me a little more, almost like she wanted to disappear into my side. But she didn’t want to stop me. She was just steadying herself.
“Milow can’t speak,” I said, forcing the words out, “because she doesn’t have vocal cords.”
Jasper sat up straighter, his blond head tilting slightly. “I’m so sorry, Milow. And you’ve never known?”
Milow shook her head.
“So you were born without them?” Scottie asked, her voice already shaking.
“She was,” I said. “She, uh…”
It got harder then. My lungs suddenly started to ache. I lifted my hand and rubbed the back of my head, buying myself a second. My other hand stayed locked with Milow’s, and she gave me a small, encouraging nod. She didn’t want me to stop.
“Before Milow was adopted,” I continued, “she lived in a house here in Bowen with her father. Her father…” I swallowed. “He wasn’t a good man.”
Scottie’s eyes filled with tears immediately. Out of everyone here, she had probably already imagined the worst. And I hated knowing that some of what she was thinking wasn’t wrong.
I cleared my throat before I went on. “He was a surgeon. And when Milow was little, he… shit. He—” I paused, my voice breaking despite my effort. “He removed her vocal cords.”
Their reactions hit all at once. They gasped, and shock washed over their faces.
“What the hell?” Stan said, his face twisted with horror and confusion. “What… the fuck…”
A sob slipped from Scottie as she shook her head, disbelief written all over her face. “That’s so fucked up. Why would he—oh my god, Milow. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m going to kill that motherfucker,” Stan growled, his hands clenching into fists.
“That, uh… that won’t be necessary,” I said quietly.
“Is he dead? Good. I mean—shit. I’m sorry, Milow. But that wasn’t your father. That was a monster.”
I agreed with him, even if I didn’t say it out loud. I looked at Milow, unsure if she wanted me to go on. For a second, she didn’t look sure either.
“No more?” I asked under my breath.
She slowly shook her head.
“Okay.” I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “No more.”
More sobs came from the other couch. When we turned, Scottie was sitting there, tears streaking her face, and looking overwhelmed and helpless.
Milow, being who she was, stood up and went straight to her. Scottie got up and wrapped her arms tightly around her best friend, crying into her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Milow. You didn’t deserve that.”
Stan got up next and joined them, putting his arms around both girls, his own eyes glassy. “I’m so proud of you, Ace. You’re one of a kind.”
I smiled at the sight. After exchanging a look with Jasper, we both stood and stepped into the hug too.
“We’re here for you,” Scottie mumbled into the group. “You’re strong and beautiful and the best friend I could’ve ever asked for.”
“Yeah,” Stan added, resting his chin on Scottie’s head. “And you’re so freaking smart. You always help me with my math stuff. You’re heaven-sent. A literal angel.”
I couldn’t stop the smirk. Even now, Stan found a way to lighten the moment. Not to take away from the truth, but to keep us all from drowning in it.
I patted his back, then squeezed his shoulder and Jasper’s. “She’s grateful to have you guys. Couldn’t ask for better friends.”
“We’re grateful to have her, too,” Jasper said quietly, smiling.
As the hug slowly loosened, Milow looked up at all of us, tears still in her eyes. She’d cried too. But she was trying to stay strong for us.
[I love you guys. I couldn’t have asked for better friends.]
“We love you too,” Scottie said with a shaky voice.
“And hey,” Stan added, wiping at his face, “we speak a language not many people do. I might be stupid and can’t solve simple math problems, but I know sign language. All because of you.”
Milow smiled and leaned into his side. I had always loved their bond, even if they had a rough start when they were little.
Back then, Milow needed time to trust him fully, but over time, she learned that Stan was just a big goof who loved with all his heart and fiercely protected the people he loved.
“I’m definitely going to learn ASL,” Jasper told us with a proud smile. “I saw there are videos online to learn.”
“I can teach you,” Scottie suggested.
“Sure, thanks.”
I smiled at Milow, watching her admire our friends with wide eyes. And when she looked at me, I winked. She immediately blushed, her gaze staying on mine before a shy, secret smile bloomed on her lips just for me.