“There’s a table in front of you,” Captain Avery informed her, “and you’ll find the brochure for tonight’s tour on it, written in Braille.”
Ilse was startled but pleased. “Thank you.” Erik had obviously gone the extra mile today, and she was now doubly convinced that her friend did see her as an object of pity. As she heard the speedboat’s engine start, Ilse slowly became aware of being the focus of another person’s gaze.
Something about it made her self-conscious, and she awkwardly tucked loose strands of her hair behind her ears. She wished she had thought to ask Captain Avery if she was the only passenger aboard.
Could it be another employee? Or perhaps it was another passenger with a disability, maybe someone deaf this time? It was possible, wasn’t it? Maybe this was a tour specifically designed for people like Ilse, and it could explain why Captain Avery was so adept at handling her needs.
Turning towards where she sensed the other person was, Ilse made herself smile, and then she realized belatedly that she wouldn’t know if the person would smile back or not.
Idiot,she thought.
“Hello?”
She waited for the person to answer, but there was only silence and—-
Oh.What if the personwasdeaf? Then it would mean the person wouldn’t have heard her at all, and her lips twitched as she realized just how absurd the situation was playing out.
Still smiling to herself, she bent forward, her hands moving in the air until she was able to grasp something solid. Her fingers moved over the table until she found the brochure written in Braille.
She ran her fingers over the surface.
I love you.
Ik hou van je.
Je t’aime.
Ti amo.
Ilse’s lips curved. What a nice marketing tactic, to start off the brochure with ‘I love you’ written in different languages. Perhaps she could suggest this to Gloria, maybe make a brochure that spelledGlory Hallin different languages in Braille.
The thought almost made her giggle, and Ilse’s fingers shook a little as she read the rest of the brochure.
Aishiteru.
She sensed the other person aboard start towards her, and Ilse did her best not to stiffen. Surely...surely there was nothing to worry about?
Wo ai ni.
Ana behibek.
She could feel the person coming closer, and Ilse swallowed as her heart started to thud against her chest.
Ich liebe dich.
She turned to the last page of the brochure, and her brows furrowed when nothing seemed to be written. Wasn’t this supposed to talk about the tour? She ran her fingers over the paper again, more slowly this time, and finally she felt it, written in fine print.
I was wrong to walk away, Ilse.
The brochure slipped from her fingers just as she felt the person – no,him—-
Ah.
She felt him moving towards her.
She sensed him kneeling in front of her.
Hands captured hers, and she didn’t resist.
