Monday Flash Fic: He Talks With His Hands

He talks with his hands
I can’t believe we’re here.
I met Carlos on Facebook two years ago. He was a friend of a friend of a friend – you know how it goes.
One comment led to another and within a few days we were chatting whenever we were online together. It wasn’t easy. Time zones are a bitch, especially with Carlos living in America and me on the other side of the world, in Australia. But we managed and got closer. Common interests, similar views; we exchanged pictures and dreams while making tentative plans to get together one day.
Carlos told me he’d lost his hearing a few months after we’d started chatting online. He thought it would put me off, but I told him it didn’t make a difference to me. He was still the same Carlos and if he never got his hearing back, I would still want to know him, meet him, and be with him.
And now I’m here. Carlos is talking to me. His words are soft and hesitant; his hearing returned a few months ago and he’s still getting used to talking and listening again. I hear his words but concentrate on his hands. He doesn’t know this, but I learned American Sign Language as soon as he told me about his hearing loss.
His mouth tells me how glad he is to see me and that he hopes I can stay so we can get to know each other better. The words wash over me, almost unnoticed, as I watch his hands. I love you. Please say you’ll stay, his fingers plead with me.

“As long as you’ll have me.” I whisper the words before I press my lips to his wrist, while savouring his surprised gasp.
****
295 words.
As always more stories inspired by the same picture can be found in the Monday Flash Fic Facebook group. Enjoy!