93 words: Every word counts

The phone rings, and I pickup with lots of hesitation.

“Yes Mom. I am fine”’…. “Love you”

That’s about 7 words.

I can only speak 100 words in a day.

I suffer from a strange disease that allows me to speak for only 2 mins/day

So that about 100 words/day.

After that I cannot speak. No effort will bring out any words

Trust me, I have tried

So, I count every word like a greedy smuggler counts his diamonds

I have built my life around this

I have also learnt ASL

But if anyone hears me speak a few words and THEN USE ASL they think I am a fraud.

I have been refused service at many places because of this confusion

All of this is very hard to explain to someone new esp. someone you like.

This is why I like Tinder and all the new dating apps

Just Swipe, exchange more pics, and endless texts

But now she wants to meet

She is cute and hot. Don’t want to mess this up

Will she understand my problem?

I snap out of it when the phone rings.

It’s her.

I let it go to Voice mail.

Can’t waste my precious voice over a phone call. Need to save it for the “date” later tonight.

I respond to her VM via text adding something naughty.

She sends a wink

93 words to go.

Wish me luck. I need it.