Dad, Helena murmured, a sudden understanding crossing her face. I think she can’t hear. Thomas approached slowly, trying not to startle.
The little one, the girl, immediately noticed his presence, her eyes moving quickly between him and Helena. There was something deeply analytical in her gaze, a sharp intelligence that seemed to compensate for the lack of hearing. How are we going to communicate? With her? Thomas asked, his voice betraying concern.
We need to know where she came from, who left her in that state. Helena bit her lip, thoughtful. Years of caring for animals had taught her that communication goes far beyond words.
Slowly, she brought her hand to her mouth, making a gesture of eating, then pointed to the tray with bread. The girl’s eyes lit up with understanding. She nodded slightly, and Helena felt her heart clench at seeing the first real sign of understanding.
There was still fear in the child’s eyes, but also a spark of hope. A familiar neigh sounded from outside, and the girl immediately turned her head towards the window. Luce was there, as he had been all night, his white coat now gleaming under the morning light.
Upon seeing the animal, something extraordinary happened. A small smile appeared on the child’s lips. She remembers him, Helena whispered marveling.
Luce must have been the first thing she saw before losing consciousness. The girl tried to get up, but her legs were still weak. Helena quickly supported her, surprised by the confidence the little one showed in her touch.
It was as if, even in her silent world, she could sense the good intentions of her rescuers. We need to give her a name, Thomas commented, watching the interaction. We can’t keep calling her the girl forever.
Helena studied the child’s face, noting the delicacy of her features, the depth of those green eyes that seemed to hold secrets beyond her age. How about… She was interrupted by a sudden movement from the girl, who had managed to sit up and was now pointing insistently to her own chest. Her lips moved, forming a word without sound.
She’s trying to tell us something, Helena realized. Leaning closer, look how she repeats the same movement. The girl continued, her small fingers touching her own chest as her lips moved with determination.
Helena concentrated, trying to decipher the pattern of the lip movements. So… Sophia? She ventured, and the girl’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She nodded vigorously, gripping Helena’s hand with surprising strength.
Sophia, Thomas repeated, his voice choked with emotion. At least now we know her name. A sharp sound cut the air.
The phone in the kitchen was ringing, making father and daughter exchange worried glances. Only a few people had that number, and calls so early rarely brought good news. I’ll get it, Thomas said, getting up.
Stay with her. As he walked away, Helena noticed that Sophia had become tense, her eyes fixed in the direction Thomas had left. Even without being able to hear, it was as if she could sense that something important was about to happen.
Outside, loose neighed again, a low musical sound that seemed loaded with foreboding. The morning was just beginning, and with it, the mystery surrounding Sophia began to unfold like the petals of a complex and possibly dangerous flower. Thomas returned to the living room, his face pale, his hands slightly trembling.
Helena knew that expression well. It was the same one her father had worn when they received the news of the accident that had taken her mother. Instinctively, she pulled Sophia closer.
That was Martha at the general store, Thomas said, sitting heavily in the armchair. Looks like some important people are arriving in town. A wealthy businessman from New York City, he’s here to open the new housing development.
Helena frowned, not understanding the connection. And why did that upset you so much, Dad? Because he hesitated, glancing meaningfully at Sophia, who was watching the exchange of expressions between the two intently. Martha, said the man, arrived last night in a black imported car, and this morning he’s been asking around if anyone has seen… a little girl.
Helena’s blood ran cold. Sophia, sensing the change in atmosphere, clung tighter to her arm. It was impressive how the child, even without being able to hear, could grasp the emotional nuances of the environment with such precision.
It can’t be a coincidence, Helena murmured, her mind racing. The storm, the abandonment, now this man. A sudden movement caught her attention.
Sophia had gotten up from the sofa and was walking, still a bit unsteady, to the window. Loose continued to be outside, his presence a constant comfort. The girl rested her hand on the glass, and the horse brought his muzzle to the same spot on the other side, as if they could touch through the transparent barrier.
There’s something else too, Thomas continued, his voice lower. Martha mentioned, this businessman, Arthur Miller is his name, had an affair with a girl from here a few years ago, Emily Grace, remember her? The one who moved away to the city? Helena felt her heart skip a beat. Emily Grace.
She vaguely remembered the young woman with green eyes, who used to work at the town library, the same green eyes that were now watching her from the window. Dad, she whispered, her eyes, yes, Thomas nodded gravely, identical to Emily’s. The moment was interrupted by the sound of tires on the road.
Sophia, even without hearing, sensed the vibration through the wooden floorboards. Her reaction was instant and revealing. She shrank behind the curtain, pure terror etched on her little face.
Quick! Helena acted on instinct, scooping Sophia into her arms, to the back bedroom. Thomas was already on the porch when an official town hall car parked in the yard. Out of it stepped a man in an impeccable suit, totally out of place in the rural setting.
Helena, watching through the crack in the bedroom door, felt Sophia tremble in her arms upon seeing the visitor. Good morning. The man’s voice was smooth, studdedly cordial.
I’m Arthur Miller. I’m looking for, well, I heard there was some strange activity around here last night. Activity, Thomas replied, his voice deliberately neutral.