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“Wille hurry up, we can’t be late for this!” Simon hurriedly signed to Wille, who was still in front of the mirror getting dressed.
“If I get dressed any faster I’m going to trip on my own clothes.” Simon simply rolled his eyes in response, checking the time again on his phone.
The pair had been dating for almost a year and a half and had, as of recent, been talking about moving in together. Simon had been looking around for potential apartments and a few weeks ago he found one that looked perfect. He immediately called and set up a viewing, wanting to surprise Wille with his find.
Now, the day had finally come. After weeks of anticipation and planning, Simon felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. He had envisioned this moment countless times—how Wille would react, whether the place would live up to the photos, and most of all, how this next step might change things between them. It wasn’t just an apartment viewing; it felt like the start of a new chapter in their relationship. Simon wanted it to be perfect, and his heart raced with the hope that Wille would love it as much as he did.
As they approached the building, Simon could feel the excitement bubbling in his chest. Simon held Wille’s hand, his nerves making him fidgety. Wille’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as they walked through the front door, and Simon noticed the slight twitch of Wille’s lips, trying to mask his excitement.
The apartment was on the top floor, and as they stepped out of the elevator, the smell of fresh paint and new furniture greeted them. Simon led Wille down the hallway, his heart racing with anticipation. When the door to the apartment finally swung open, Wille’s eyes widened in amazement.
The space was bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows that framed the city skyline. The living area was expansive, with a high ceiling that gave the room an airy, open feel. The kitchen, which seamlessly flowed into the living space, was equipped with modern appliances and an island bar. The layout was exactly what Simon had hoped for, open and inviting.
Wille’s fingers traced the sleek lines of the countertops as he moved from room to room. He paused to admire the open shelving, the carefully chosen light fixtures, and the way the space felt both stylish and warm. The balcony, with its sweeping view of the city, beckoned to him, and he imagined mornings spent there with a cup of coffee and Simon by his side.
As Wille wandered into the bedroom, he noticed the spacious closet and the large window that offered a view of the sunrise. He could already picture the room filled with their shared memories, from late-night conversations to lazy Sunday mornings. Wille's face lit up with a mix of excitement and contentment.
The bathroom, with its modern fixtures and walk-in shower, was a dream come true. Wille ran his fingers along the marble countertop and peeked into the glass shower, appreciating the thoughtfulness that had gone into every detail.
“I love how open it is,” Wille signed, bumping shoulders with Simon. “I can be lazy and still talk to you all the way from the couch.”
“That’s why I chose this place to look at, silly.” Wille’s head tilted in confusion, resembling every Pinterest photo of a golden retriever to ever exist. “I was looking for places with an open floor plan, so it’d be easier for us to communicate. I wanted a space where you wouldn’t have to move from room to room like we do now.”
Simon noticed Wille’s eyes glistening and for a moment worried he’d said the wrong thing. But when Wille’s face broke into a smile, his worries dissolved.
“Simon…” Wille’s hands trembled slightly as he continued, “No one’s ever put that much consideration into anything for me before.” Wille paused, wiping away a tear that managed to escape.
Before Simon could stop himself, he blurted, “What about your family?” Wille’s gaze shifted to the floor.
“My family…” He paused again, face crinkling with embarrassment, “My family liked to pretend I wasn’t Deaf. They got me a cochlear implant as soon as they could—“ He turned his head to the side and pushed his hair up by his ear showing the small scar where the magnet had been implanted, “And they refused to learn any sign, so I had to learn to lip read if I wanted to speak with them.” Simon’s chest tightened, anger and sorrow curling together as he took in what Wille had shared.
“I don’t know if it’s because they were rich and thought they needed perfect children to fit in, but yeah. My childhood wasn’t exactly the most Deaf friendly. I only learned sign because my brother helped me sign up for classes behind our parents’ backs.”
Simon’s gaze softened as he processed all the new information. He was grateful Wille was willing to share that part of him but he also felt guilty for even bringing it up in the first place; he knows exactly how hard it can be to bring up old memories and talk about them. He hooked a finger under Wille’s chin, lightly nudging his head up so he’d be back in Wille’s line of sight.
“I’m so sorry they treated you like that, love. You deserve nothing short of the absolute best and I am going to do everything I can to do that for you.”
Wille blinked back tears. “You already do, Simon. You have since the first time you took my coffee order.” He brought a hand up to Simon’s cheek, brushing away the tears that had also begun escaping his eyes as well.
“Yeah, well, I’m still going to keep proving it.” Wille let out a soft chuckle before pulling Simon up into a soft kiss. Simon wound up on his tippy toes but he didn’t mind, simply wrapping his arms around Wille’s neck to keep himself upright.
It was a gentle kiss but Simon could still feel all the emotion his boyfriend poured into it—an unspoken language of love. He felt it in the way one of Wille’s hands snaked around his waist, in the way he felt Wille’s eyebrows crease ever so slightly (something he did quite often when any strong emotion occurred), and in the way Wille’s other hand rested against his chest, fingers curled into an ‘I Love You’ directly over his heart. That had quickly become a thing in their relationship; an easy way for either to express that sentiment.
Simon pulled back slowly, resting his forehead against Wille’s. He sighed contentedly, letting the warmth of the moment settle between them. “You know,” Simon began, hands moving slowly so as to not ruin the moment, “I think this place could really be something special for us.”
Wille nodded, his fingers still curled in the familiar ‘I Love You’ over Simon’s chest. “I feel that too,” he signed, then smiled, adding with a slight smirk, “Plus, it has enough room for you to dance around like an idiot when you’re happy.”
Simon chuckled, the sound vibrating softly between them. Wille admired the way Simon’s eyes crinkled in delight and the way his shoulders bounced in tandem with the laugh. “Don’t pretend you don’t love it when I do.” He playfully nudged Wille again before stepping away, looking around the open space. “Seriously, though. I can picture us here. Making dinner, lounging on the couch, just... living.”
Wille’s gaze followed Simon’s as he scanned the room, a soft glow of possibility lighting his face. “Yeah,” he signed after a moment, “I think this could be home.”
Simon’s heart swelled at the word. Home. Not just a place to live, but a place where they could be themselves, together.
Wille turned back to Simon, their eyes meeting in the quiet of the moment. “Home,” he signed again, this time more softly, as if testing the word on his hands. Simon’s smile widened, his heart swelling at the soundless affirmation.
They stood there for a moment longer, soaking in the atmosphere of what could soon be their future—a space full of possibilities, warmth, and love. It wasn’t just the apartment; it was everything they were building together.
Simon reached for Wille’s hand again, squeezing it gently. “Let’s make it ours,” he signed with a grin.
Wille laughed softly, the sound full of contentment, and nodded. “Yeah,” he signed back, his hand resting once more against Simon’s chest. “Let’s make it home.”
As they turned to leave the apartment, Simon’s mind buzzed with thoughts of all the memories they would create together in that space. With Wille by his side, this new chapter felt right—exciting, grounded, and full of promise.
And that was all Simon needed.