I have never heard a spoken word. I have never spoken one myself. I was born this way.

I was finishing my grocery shopping and pulling out the correct bills to pay when I spotted an old friend sitting down to eat some fast food from a chain that took up residence inside one space of the front of the grocery store.

I drove my cart over and waved frantically. Her face lit up in a smile, her eyes opened wide in recognition. Her hand waved frantically back. Her mouth moved, making no sound, but shapes that I recognized. Her hands then flew to create the shapes I knew as, How are you?

I showed her the sign for Fine. She said “good” and formed that sign. Then she asked me about work, her hands making the two fisted symbol, and her mouth making an “o”. I told her it was hard, hot, and sweaty mopping floors at the college. She nodded. I smiled.

She asked me about my home, using her hands, though I saw her mouth ask too. We talked, as only we can, until I hadn’t any more to say, so I waved goodbye and left.