They Said I Was Lying, They Forgot I Couldn’t Speak Chapter 03

They Said I Was Lying, They Forgot I Couldn’t Speak Chapter 03

[Isn’t that Tessa?]

[Wait, Tessa can talk? I thought she couldn’t speak.]

[Her voice sounds great. So why does she spend all day acting like she can’t speak?]

I was about to explain when Derek’s next messages appeared.

[Tessa’s just quiet. She wasn’t trying to mislead anyone.]

[I’ll apologize to everyone for her.]

Derek’s messages stopped me cold, leaving the explanation I’d already typed unsent on my screen.

The channel quickly filled with people praising Derek for being such a stand-up guy while taking not-so-subtle digs at me for not deserving him.

He didn’t correct a single one of them.

The only person who messaged me privately was my department director, who had seen my medical records.

My director: [Did you and Derek have a fight?]

My director: [And who’s the woman in that video? Why does she look exactly like you?]

Me: [How did you know that wasn’t me?]

My director replied: [She’s covered head to toe in designer labels, and even her hearing aids are top-of-the-line. How could that possibly be you?]

My director: [You’re the most frugal person in the whole company.]

My director: [I know you’re saving for treatment. Don’t worry about anything else right now. My friend is excellent at what he does. Just focus on getting better, and I’ll see what he can do about the cost.]

…

His messages kept coming, trying to reassure me, but tears were already running down my face.

For the first time in years, someone didn’t judge me for watching every dollar.

I’d always told myself my parents hadn’t gotten me treatment because they’d spent all their money on Sienna.

That was why I’d been so careful with money since I was a kid.

I used to believe that if I could save enough, Mom and Dad would finally take me for treatment.

Then, when I first came across designer brands online and saw what they actually cost, reality shattered that fantasy.

The money I’d scraped together after a year of living on instant ramen wouldn’t even cover one of Sienna’s dresses.

Even one of my medical exams cost less than a single hair clip she wore.

So I became even more frugal.

I decided I’d earn the money and pay for treatment myself.

Derek, however, always thought I was ridiculously cheap.

“We’re young. We’re supposed to enjoy ourselves. Why are you always pinching every penny?”

“Treatment? Your voice has been like this for years. You really think anyone can fix it now?”

“Baby, you’ve got me. What are you worried about? I’ll be your voice for the rest of your life.”

He always knew exactly what sweet things to say to keep me tied to him.

Then he’d turn around and blow our paychecks on whatever he wanted.

I opened the savings account I’d kept hidden from Derek. The money I’d been putting aside in secret was still there.

At least Sienna’s designer clothes had taught me one lesson early.

The only person I truly needed was myself.

I opened our department’s Slack channel and uploaded years of my medical records.

[I wasn’t pretending. The woman singing in that video isn’t me. She’s my twin sister.]

I typed the message and hit Send without hesitating.

Then I locked my phone, finally relieved.

Just as I’d expected, Derek’s video call came through seconds later.

“Tessa, do you really have to make sure everyone at work knows I’m dating a woman who pretends she can’t speak? Is that what makes you happy?”

I simply stared at him on the screen.

There it was.

He’d finally said what he really thought.

After college, Derek and I started at the same company.

The night before our first day, he’d asked me not to tell anyone at work that I couldn’t speak.

I hadn’t understood why.

His explanation had been simple.

“We’re going to be working with these people every day. I don’t want them treating you differently.”