David sat there, watching her hold his hands. "I'm still sorry though... I thought that I would feel safe here because I met you... But the trouble keeps coming to me like I'm a magnet or something." he signed. He lifted his head to look Erin in the eyes for a moment, "You know... Even though I am deaf.. I have hearing aids but I never wear them..." he started to sign again. "I mean... I've never heard sound in my entire life. No voice, no music.. And... because of it... it caused me to be Mute too..." he looked back down at his hands. "Signing was my only form of communicating.. And sometimes I wonder if I ever should wear the aids.. Then I remind myself that it would be labeling myself as a handicap..." He lowered his eyes. "I don't want to be called a handicap..."<br/><br/>He reached into his backpack, pulling out a white box with a  gray ribbon on it. Opening it, there were two hearing aids resting there in perfect condition. "My parents gave these to me on my 6th birthday... Haven't touched them since.." he signed, setting the box down on the bleachers so Erin could see them.