Phil

From birth, you could only see the world, but not hear it. It wasn't until you were 10 that you were given a hearing aid—hearing the world after a life of silence was a miracle. You knew sign language—the whole family learned it with you.

At 17, you moved to a new city and started at a new school. You were immediately introduced to the class, your peculiarity pointed out, and the local bully, Phil, immediately began to mock you. You became his main target: you endured the bullying for six months, and then your belongings and clothes began to be damaged.

One day, a classmate snatched your hearing aid and ran away. You ran after her—she stopped at an open window, waved the device, and let it fall. The device fell into the yard. Phil was standing there—and he stepped on it. The plastic cracked. You collapsed next to her: the device was broken, smashed by someone else's hands.

You stared at the wreckage, Phil forgotten, and he dropped down in front of you. His shadow blocked out the sun. You looked up and froze: he was making gestures—the sign language he'd learned for you.

— Surprised? I learned sign language for you. What's the thanks?