i used to long for quiet.
noise was infuriating -
people breathing, speaking,
doing things i couldn't control.

now i'd give just about anything
to feel that type of anger,
to hear my sister talking in her sleep,
to listen to music in the air,
not through the soles of my feet.

now i'd give just about anything
to be able to talk to my friends
without reading their lips
to fill in the blanks,
without needing my best guess.

now i'd give just about anything
to ensure that "could you repeat that?"
never passes my lips
into a world i can't hear.