"mr. and mrs. chalamet, your daughter is perfectly healthily. one of the healthiest kids i've ever seen. but it appears she's deaf, and i don't think she will ever gain her hearing." my heart sunk at the idea of our sweet little ivy never being able to hear.

she will never hear an i love you, a hello, a how was your day, a you're beautiful, a will you be my girlfriend, nothing.

ivy had a big smile on as she sat in the chair, not knowing what was going on. when i finally met timmy's eyes he looked heartbroken. our daughter was only 2, and she would never hear in her life.

"thank you, sir. are you sure it won't change?" timmy asked him quietly.  "it would have to be a miracle. but i wouldn't count on it. i suggest you love ivy whole heartedly as a deaf child." he nodded at us and stood up, our cue to leave. timmy picked ivy up and she giggled, latching her limbs around timmy's body.

the drive home was quiet, and once we got home, timmy went right up into his office. i didn't want to imagine that timmy ever wouldn't want ivy, even with her disability. my body shook as that thought crossed my mind. timmy would never leave us.

i got ivy set up with her toys and started working, paying bills, and getting ready for dinner. i got so distracted i didn't realize it was time for ivy's nap. when my daughter was no longer on the living room floor, i started to panic.

"timmy?" i yelled out. "shhh, ivy is sleeping." i smiled that he had remembered to put her down for her nap, but i got sad when i remembered the way he had disappeared when we got home.

"what's wrong love?" timmy asked me and i shook my head. "nothing, tim. i'm just being dramatic." i told him and started to head towards the kitchen, but he grabbed my hand before i could get there.

"you're forgetting i know you better than anybody. fess up." he told me, rubbing his thumb across my hand.

i sighed, not wanting to tell my perfect husband that the reason i was upset is because i thought he was going to leave me and our deaf daughter, when i knew damn well timmy would never do that.

"i got scared when you ran off once we got home. i didn't know what you were doing. we didn't talk about what happened and i got scared." i admitted, unable to make eye contact with timmy. i was ashamed i felt this way.

"do you want to know what i was doing upstairs?" he asked and i nodded slowly, not wanting to seem too eager.

he let go of my hands and started making movements at me. i looked at him, confused, before i realized what he was doing: sign language.

timmy wasn't running away, he was learning sign language so he could teach our daughter. tears streamed down my face and i engulfed him in a hug, the both of us crying into each other's shoulders.

"i love you, baby. that's what i was trying to say in sign language."

i kissed him on his chin and smiled at him.

in that moment, i knew everything would be okay.