Chapter 44

• Tanner had recently moved in to the two bedroom townhouse at Providence Hill. She had been assured this was a great location to live in with it being one of the closest to campus. As a graduate student, she just wanted to finish her Master's Degree in Medical Science and Technology so she could move on to something better and help find new breakthroughs for patients. A couple of years ago, she never would have thought she'd return to her home town to finish grad school, but low and behold, here she was. Setting a photo frame on her desk, she sent a silent 'thank you' to her grandmother who left her a trust fund. The photo sported a younger version of Tanner in a high school cap and gown next to an elderly woman proudly kissing her on the cheek. She smiled at the memory of her grandmother who always believed in her and supported her. She sighed, as she had just finished unpacking the last of her boxes, and figured it would be nice to go for a walk in the neighborhood to see what it's like, especially as it was a mild winter day. The row of townhouses was typical of the cookie cutter architecture that Tanner didn't care for. The number one thing which concerned her was the possible noise level of anyone in the community, and especially that of her neighbors. She sighed, thinking of how much she hated the fact that she had a rare health condition. In some ways it made her feel like a freak, which was rather exasperating. She pulled the two tiny RITE hearing aids out of the small case in her pocket and inserted them into each ear. With jacket on, she walked down the path to discover her new surroundings.
• As she made sure the volume level was accurate, she found that it always amazed her how people automatically thought she was deaf upon seeing the devices. It wasn't until someone got to know her and actually ask that they would find out she had Hyperacusis. Explaining it, though it should be simple, never really was. Most people couldn't fathom actually having sensitivity to sounds. In fact, her little devices were an experimental blessing in disguise that actually helped Tanner keep her sanity and live amongst society because it greatly reduced and filtered out the noise. **************** Casey just got off an early shift at the library. Grateful to be home, she kicked off her shoes on her way into the kitchen. Emerald green eyes turned angry when she didn't find the one drink she swore was available just yesterday. Turning around, she found the sink still full of dirty dishes from last night. "Goddamn it. Mouse!!!" The shaggy strawberry-blonde yelled as she stomped through the townhouse. She knew her big sister was home, and she was determined to give the woman a piece of her mind. Upstairs, she barged right through the open bedroom door and yanked the headset off the sandy blonde playing on the laptop
• "What the fuck?!" the startled older sibling cried out. "Why do you always drink the last of the beer and I always have to buy more?!" Casey yelled. "Oops," Mouse smirked as she grabbed the bottle and took a swig. "You're incorrigible! I don't know why I put up with your ass." "Cause you love me?" Mouse questioned hesitantly. "By the way, you agreed to clean the kitchen this morning." "Oh yeah," she looked at the time on the screen. "I must have lost track." "Why don't you lose track of the house key and go live somewhere else?" Casey sarcastically commented. The older woman grabbed her shorter sibling in a tight bear hug, lifting her off the floor. "Because then you would miss me and I wouldn't be able to hug you and pet you and call you George." "Ugh! Put me down you Neanderthal. I hate you!" Casey yelled as she struggled to free herself. "But I love you Green Bean." "Ack!! Put me down you whore!" "Fine." Mouse deposited the woman and began to walk off.