When I turned, he signed the phrase Maya had taught him the year Theo was born.

New beginning.

I signed it back.

Then I took my son’s hand and walked toward the sunlight, where the path was ours to choose.

PART 24

The first time I took Theo to the veterans’ hearing center, he was four and convinced every doorway concealed an adventure.

Frank had volunteered there for months, helping families understand hearing aids, access services, and learn simple ways to make conversation less exhausting.

He disliked being treated as an inspirational story.