That evening was the beginning of something wonderful, because Jim and I met often after that. Sometimes he went out with his friends or stayed at home to study. But we saw each other as often as we could.

We met in cafes or in bars, or we just went for walks. Sometimes we used pen and paper to talk, but usually I read his lips. I showed him some more sign language too. But often we didn't have to talk at all. We just liked being together. When we weren't together we sent each other text messages and emails. In this way we spoke to each other every day. Sometimes I felt I was living a dream, a very good dream. I was in love and I was very happy.

Until the day I met the girl in the red dress again. The girl from the party.

It was a Monday morning and I was on my way to work. Mum had left early to meet a new parent, so I was walking. It was a sunny day, and I was feeling good. I went to the shops to buy food for the children's lunches and then I walked through the park. I was probably thinking about Jim, because I was always thinking about Jim.

I didn't see the girl with the red dress until she stood in front of me. She wasn't wearing a red dress that day, of course, but I knew who she was.

'Hello,' I said, but she didn't say anything. She just stood there and looked at me. Then, when she started speaking, she talked really quickly. Too quickly.

'Please,' I said. 'Can you speak more slowly? I can't understand you.'

She looked cross. 'What?' I saw her say. 'I can't understand you!

My face went red, but I tried again, speaking carefully. 'Please speak more slowly so I can read your lips. I'm deaf.'

When she spoke again, she spoke very slowly. Too slowly. I could understand every word. 'Jim was my boyfriend before he met you,' she said. 'My boyfriend. We were very happy together. Very happy. I'm good for him in a way you can never be good for him. How can you be good for him? You can't hear his music!'

'His music?' I didn't understand what she meant.

She looked at me. 'Don't you know about his music?' she said. Jim plays in a band! I can't believe you don't know that! The band means everything to him. Everything. And he needs to be with someone who can hear his music. Jim writes songs. Didn't you know that? You really don't know Jim very well, do you? He writes songs and he plays them to me before he tries them with the band. He could never do that with you, could he? So stay away from him, understand? You'll never make him happy the way I do.'