Chapter Text
7 Years Previously. . .
"Miss Woods, we've diagnosed Alexandria with bacterial meningitis. I know that is very scary to hear, but I assure you we have already given her the proper medication to aid her recovery." The doctor glanced subtly at the small 10 year old child nearby and looked back to her towering mother. "It appears our diagnosis is too late however, usually if the infection is caught in the first 48 hours it is reversible and any symptoms are easily treatable. With Alexandria though, she is showing signs of prolonged sickness and-" Alexandria's mother, Emori, snapped then. Spit flying off her snared lips.
"What are you saying Dr. Jackson? What's happened to my daughter!" She demanded, now looking to her ten year old daughters big green eyes and seeing no recollection as she watched the two argue in front of her.
"Miss Woods... Alexandria has suffered hearing loss. It is most likely irreparable damage, even as she heals she will probably not gain the sense back. It is common in children who are illed by meningitis-" Emori turned on her heel then, snatching her oblivious and stoic faced daughter's wrist, leading them out and not looking back.
4 Years Later. . .
Emori had been drinking ever since Alexandria had been sick and gone deaf. It was as if her daughter had been meant to be deaf because as quiet as she'd been before, she embraced her new silence and even seemed physically silent too. Her daughter always had a guard up and didn't smile much. She never spoke, laughed or even hummed. Though she obviously spoke aloud fluently before at age ten. Emori assumed it was because she could not hear her own self and now couldn't tell if her words sounded right. She missed her daughters voice and going on 4 years of this new Alexandria, had resigned herself to the quiet air of the house and drank instead. Some nights she'd find herself so uncontrollably angry at her little girl for getting sick and becoming deaf. She had left Emori alone in this world, essentially checking out of reality even though her mom still needed her, still wanted her. Those are the nights she'd be in the kitchen breaking all the glassware they owned, screaming along to the shattering echoes. Alexandria upstairs unknowing. Then Emori would cry and drink as she cleaned up the pieces. One time Alexandria came down for a snack while Emori lain on the floor, holding glass to her neck and drinking out of a bottle. Her daughter spoke then, breaking through the wall of silence built in her mother's ears. "Momma, stop." She'd pleaded. She reached for the shard and the liquor bottle. That was the last night Emori smashed things out of anger and gave in to just drinking herself to sleep most nights.