You’re going to listen to me, and for once you’re going to hear what I say and not read between lines that aren’t there.

I was a fool, alone, preparing to do what every fool did at such times—I was going to a bar to drink myself smart.

Assumptions are the termites of relationships.

I get a sense that you're really listening and hearing, and I commend you on that.

If I may ride with you, Citizen Evremonde, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid, but I am little and weak, and it will give me more courage." As the patient eyes were lifted to his face, he saw a sudden doubt in them, and then astonishment. He pressed the work-worn, hunger-worn young fingers, and touched his lips.
"Are you dying for him?" she whispered.
"And his wife and child. Hush! Yes."
"Oh, you will let me hold your brave hand, stranger?"
"Hush! Yes, my poor sister; to the last.

An early sign of damaged hearing is temporary deafness after listening to loud music. This is known as the threshold shift and means you have damaged the cochlea in your ear so that your hearing takes time to revert to normal.