Can't we give ourselves one more chance?

Trying to sign to them in hopes maybe one of them knew sign, he tried to get them to leave him alone. Parker tried to point to his ears when he felt someone grab his bag from his shoulder and tear it off of him, pushing him to the ground. When he tried to grab for it back, the group started to kick into him, smashing their shoes into Parker’s body. They continued as Parker reached out, trying to crawl away. The leader couldn’t help but smirk and he and another from the group stomped on Parker’s hands over and over until all that was left was mangled hand-like shapes. They smirked as they hit Parker a few more times before running off, taking everything Parker had on him with them. 

Laying on the ground for a moment, Parker lifted his head slowly, trying to figure out how to get help before he saw someone running over to him. He flinched slightly before the other person kneeled down before calling for help. He was taken to the hospital with no way to communicate effectively with them to even tell them who he was. He could tell that someone was talking with them as he saw their lips moving but he was having trouble reading them. They were speaking quickly plus his vision was a bit blurry. It wasn’t until a nurse noticed he wasn’t reacting to sound that he was deaf. They grabbed a sign and he was able to point to letters and spell out his name. They found Andie’s phone number and dialed, waiting for her to pick up. Once the nurse heard someone on the other end of the line, she started talking, hoping his wife was hearing or they would have to figure something else out.

“Hi, I’m trying to reach Andie Wheeler? I’m Melissa Lee. I’m a nurse at the hospital and a Parker Wheeler was brought in and we need you to come down here.”

@magicalxengineer

Andie closed the door of her car, watching as the camera crews were piling out of the apartment building where she and the other contestants of the show were staying. She waved by at them before jogging into the building and taking the elevator up to the floor where her apartment with Parker was. They had spent the day apart, Andie being sent with a separate camera crew to visit family. The newlywed was happy to just get to be normal with Parker for the rest of the day. She opened the door to the apartment and shut, her eyes scanning for her husband. When she finally spotted him and his attention turned to her, Andie smiled at him. 

Putting her things down, Andie signed “Hi, how was your day?” It’d been a couple of weeks and she was slowly picking up some of the signs. Between him teaching her and the classes she had taken, she was getting there. She could hold somewhat of a conversation but she still often forgot signs or messed them up or didn’t understand him. She approached Parker, wrapping her arms around him and pressing a kiss to his lips. @parkerxwheeler​

Parker was scheduled to shoot his family shots in a couple of days so he had been spending the day working on his company while he was not in front of the camera. He had been engrossed in the work he was in the middle of so he hadn’t noticed anybody coming in until he happened to turn to see Andie and he got a huge smile on his face. He waved and watched her sign. “It was okay. Just got some business done. What about your day with your family?” He replied, hoping that she would understand everything he signed. He knew she was still learning so he kept his phone near him. He honestly couldn’t believe that she had done so much to learn the language that he spoke and it made him fall even more in love with her every day.

Though he had once had his doubts in the show and how successful it would be, Parker found himself head over heels in love. He set his work down and stood from his spot on the bed, going over towards Andie. He wrapped his arms around her in a hug and leaned in for a kiss.

There was a happiness that came over Parker’s feature when Andie asked to be taught sign language and she wondered how many people had disregarded that or hadn’t even tried to learn to communicate with him in his life. She would have to ask him more later on. The smirk on his lips caused one of her own to form as nerves began to ebb through her. It had been a forward question and she was just happy that he was okay with it. They were complete strangers but they were married now and there was a real connection between them, it seemed. Plus, it didn’t hurt that her husband was attractive as hell. She observed the sign, committing it to memory before Parker moved forward to kiss her. She smiled into it, only opening her eyes when he pulled back slightly. The connection between them was palpable, the air charged and she couldn’t help but think how right the experts had been to pair them together. Despite the obvious differences, it already seemed like such a good match. Andrea hummed happily as he kissed her again, her hands trailed up his arms and curled around his shoulders, her teeth nipping at his lip teasingly before she broke away. There was a big smile on her lips as they parted, and Andrea rested her forehead against Parker’s. Her eyes stayed close for a few seconds before she opened them, one hand cupping his jaw as she pressed another gentle kiss to his lips. “We should probably get some rest. Big day tomorrow.” She said once Parker was looking at her so he could understand what she was saying. Tomorrow, the show was flying them out to their honeymoon and it was sure to be an exhausting day. 

Parker had become accustomed to working around other people’s refusal to learn even a simple sign. It was something that happened every day it seemed so when Andie had asked to learn even one sign, it made him fall in love with her just a little bit. Their connection already seeming strong, stronger than he had thought would be possible between him and a complete stranger, even with the communication barrier between the two of them. He smiled against her lips as they kissed once more before he focused again on her lips, nodding his head slowly. He slowly led her over towards the bed, their bags set next to it and he pulled them both up, opening his so he could get his tux off. He grabbed his phone and typed into it quickly. ‘Do you mind if I sleep shirtless? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or anything.’ He turned the phone around to show her.

Andie watched on curiously as Parker pulled out his cell phone and understanding flooded her features as a automated voice flowed from his cell, speaking what he couldn’t so that she could understand him. It caused her to grin and though she didn’t want this to be their permanent way of communication, she was thankful they had a interim solution. “Okay, I will…but I’d like you to teach me some sign language.” She confessed, the urge to be able to communicate with him in his language  deep and convicting. She didn’t want to rely on technology to be their source of communication and she would do her best to learn ASL for him, for them. 

When Parker grabbed her hand, the tension that had riddled her body eased and she found herself relaxing, squeezing his hand back. It was unspoken, but she understood. It was his way of assuring her that he didn’t expect anything of tonight. While Andie wasn’t opposed to it if things happened organically, it was nice to know that there was no pressure, married or not. They did just know each other for a few hours, after all. She hummed at his words, before remembering that he wouldn’t be able to hear her. “Do you want some?” She asked, making sure to speak slowly and clearly so that he would understand her before tugging on his hand and leading him to champagne. After the champagne was poured, she held up her glass for a toast, smiling at her husband. “It a surreal day and to the adventure that will be our marriage.” She toasted, the smile on her lips growing into a bright grin as they clinked glasses and took a sip. She let her chocolate gaze find his, captivated for a second before she inhaled sharply, dipping her eyes down to his mouth and back up to his eyes. “How do you sign kiss me?” She asked, pink dusting along her cheeks as she spoke but not wanting to take her question back. 

Parker nodded as he read her lips. ‘of course’ he signed and then typed it into the app, letting the voice speak for him. He could feel the happiness radiating through him as she told him that she wanted him to teach her sign language. It meant a lot that she wanted to learn as he had met some people who didn’t even try to learn or show any interest, expecting him to adapt to them instead of the other way around. He took the glass and signed ‘thank you’, hoping it would be obvious before watching her lips once more, nodding his head in agreement. When she asked about the sign of kiss me, he couldn’t help but smirk slightly, giving her the sign before leaning forward, pressing his lips against hers. He pulled back after a moment and looked into her eyes. He could feel the connection that they already seemed to have and he pressed his lips against hers again, setting the glass down as he let his hands fall to rest on her sides.

And just like that, they were officially married. 

The reception went by in a blur and Andrea was still spinning from all that happened in a span of hours. Memories of the night played through her mind – everything from dancing with Parker for the first time, to eating the cake and watching their families interact and get to know each other.  It was crazy to think that just yesterday she was single and alone and now…well, now she was entering a honeymoon suite she was about to share with her husband. 

The door of their suite closed and snapped Andie from her thoughts and with the camera crew finally leaving for the night, Andie turned over to look at Parker. The energy around her was nervous and she felt jittery around him because now they were alone. There was no Mike to interpret for them. There were distractions. No camera crews. It was just them. And Andrea had no idea what to do or say.”I…I can’t believe that this is our wedding night.” Andrea sighed, looking at her husband to try and see if he could even make out what she was saying. How was this supposed to work. “I’m sorry, I know I’m really awkward right now but can you… can you understand what I’m saying.” She winced as she said it because it could be taken the wrong way and she didn’t want to make him feel bad but this was entirely new to her and she wanted to figure out how he wanted to communicate.

Parker couldn’t believe he was actually, legally married. There were a lot of things he thought he would be feeling but honestly, all he could feel was happy. Even though he knew next to nothing about his new wife and sure, they were going to have to figure out how to communicate effectively, he was still happy. He had followed Andie into the honeymoon suite and offered her a smile as he watched her lips move, glad he ha been facing her. He pulled his phone out and opened up an app that his organization helped develop. He typed into it, letting the voice come out from the phone. 

‘I can read lips, just make sure to talk slowly and let me know when you are saying something so I know.’ Parker looked up once he had typed the last word, waiting for her to say something back to him. He could feel the energy of the room, the nerves hanging in the air. He reached out and took one of her hands in his and he tried to calm any nerves that she had. ‘So, this is a nice room. Looks like there is some champagne over there.’ He typed out, not wanting to push anything onto her as far as traditional wedding night activities.

There was sincere shock that covered her features when it dawned on her that the man before her, the man she was supposed to be spending the rest of her life with, was deaf. She turned to look at the interpreter as he spoke, translating the signs that Parker was making before her eyes landed back on him. For a moment, panic welled inside of her. Communicating in a marriage was hard enough when both parties could speak to each other but how were her and Parker supposed to communicate when they couldn’t understand each other? She didn’t know ASL and he couldn’t hear her. How was this supposed to work? But the panic lessened momentarily when she caught the eyes of her father, soft and patient and sure. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had to trust that the experts had put them together for a reason, that God’s hand was in all of this.They would figure it out. With a smile on her face, she opened her eyes and let them meet Parker’s with a small nod, hoping to communicate silently that while yes, she was nervous, she was also okay with this. She wasn’t going to run or back away. She was ready to figure this out with him.

The ceremony continued and Andrea paid close attention to each word being spoken, taking in everything that was being shared because this is was important. This was the marriage they were cementing. When it was time for the vows, Andie faced Parker. Though Mike was speaking, Andrea was giving Parker her full attention, watching his signs as he spoke to her and laughing at his comment about rambling. And as he finished, Andrea smiled at him and offered him her hands for  him to grab. When it was her turn, she took a deep breath before starting to speak, keeping her focus on him even as she watched his gaze drift to see what his translator was signing. “I’ve had vows in my head since I was old enough to understand the concept of love and marriage but that all seems so fantastical now that I’m standing here…ready to marry a stranger. Marriage is hard and it’s going to be harder for us because we know nothing about each other, so I won’t promise you a fairy tale or anything of the sort. I do promise to stick by your side, through the hard times and the bad times. To learn with you and figure out how we can make this work. Supporting, caring, helping each other as we learn about each other, this marriage and where we fit in this crazy world. I promise to make you laugh, and I promise to make you cry. I promise to make you smile and make you ask yourself why you go into this’.” She chuckled, flashing him a grin at the poor joke she made before sobering up and looking sincerely and genuinely at him. “I promise to try my very best to be a good wife and your best friend.” She finished, hoping he had liked her vows as much as she had appreciated his. 

As she finished, the officiant started speaking again, coming to the point where they exchanged rings. As per tradition, the officiant addressed Parker first, introducing the exchange of the rings that was about to happen. The nerves that had never quite left her were  building in strength. She fidgeted, hoping that he wouldn’t back out in the last seconds, that he wouldn’t care that she didn’t know his culture or his world or that they were going to have a hell of time communicating but would rather choose to stick through this and work on it together. 

Parker knew going into this endeavor, this marriage, that it would be hard no matter what, but even more challenging because he can’t hear her and she most likely didn’t know sign language but he was determined to make it work. He looked at Mike as she said her vows and he couldn’t help but smile, looking towards her once the vows were done. He couldn’t help but smile from the beautiful words and the beautiful woman that was standing in front of him, trusting him to be in this with her and to work on building a relationship. He didn’t know why he was so confident with this marriage working but somewhere deep down, he believed that they could make it, that the process was going to work. He looked over as the rings were brought forward before looking back towards his bride. He looked into her eyes, reaching forward and grabbing her hands, he gave them a gentle squeeze, trying to get her to understand that he was here and he wasn’t going anywhere. He offered her a smile, trying to reassure her before turning back to the officiant and taking the ring he had picked out for her. 

Looking back to Andie, Parker slid the ring onto her ring finger and then signed the words back to Mike and smiled back to his bride, giving her hands another gentle squeeze. He watched Mike as she did the same as he had just done and he grinned, the officiant saying for him to kiss the bride and he gave her a look, as if asking permission from her give her a kiss. He slowly leaned in, pressing his lips to hers for just a moment, eyes closed as he felt fireworks going off somewhere as if this was the person that he was meant to find. He pulled away a moment later, looking her in the eyes for just a moment more before he turned to face the gathering of people. He took her hand and carefully led her down the isle, 

The bundles of nerves in the pit of her stomach grew and tangled with every step she took and after only the initial glance at her husband, Andrea had to lower her gaze. It was as if her father could sense how nervous she was getting because he squeezed her hand in assurance and it gave her the strength to take a deep breath and center herself. Andrea lifted her head once more and chosen to focus her attention at the man waiting at the alter for her. There was a smile on his face which helped ease some of the nerves in her stomach because at least he didn’t look disappointed. She tried to figure him out, her ever inquisitive mind already working at trying to unravel who he is by simply taking him in. He seemed kind, Andrea deduced. There wasn’t coldness in his eyes and instead she found warmth in his smile. He was obviously loved, if the family on his side was any indication. And he seemed as nervous as she did so that least he had real human emotion. The show could have paired her off with someone a lot worse so for now, she remained thankful and hopeful.

It was only then that her eyes travelled away from him and to where she was to be standing across from him. There was a momentary look of confusion that crossed her features when she saw a man she didn’t recognize standing there, across from the man she was to marry. Andrea turned to meet her bridesmaid’s eyes, trying to see if they could somehow tell her who that was but before she could read too much into it, they had reached the altar.  She turned to face her father and he pressed a kiss to her cheek before giving her away to the stranger she was about to be married to. With a final deep breath, Andi turned to face the man standing with and offered him a bright and nervous smile as she smoothed her hands down the white lace of her dress. “Hi.” She breathed, letting her eyes take him in and wondering if he was as nervous about this as she was. “ I’m Andrea, nice to meet you.” She introduced herself, chuckling lightly – mostly because of the nerves- but partly because they were about to be married and yet, somehow, they were literally just meeting. It was a little surreal but with a shake of her head and the smile still on her lips, she reached out one of her hands to shake his.

Parker had no clue how he was supposed to let her know he was deaf before she got up to the alter so he just let her walk up. He smiled nervously as he watched her for just a moment, reaching out to shake her hand when she had offered it. He looked passed her for just a moment to see what his translator was signing and nodded as he signed back, the translator saying out loud what he was signing. ‘Hi, I’m Parker. It’s nice to meet you too. I’m deaf, this is my translator Mike. He comes along for special occasions.’ He signed, waiting for Mike to finish talking and he looked at Andrea, hoping she wasn’t freaked out or anything. He knew it could take someone off guard, especially if they knew nothing of deaf culture or how to interact with someone who was deaf and here she was about to be married to someone who couldn’t hear a word she said. He watched her for a moment, looking up to the person doing the ceremony for a moment before he looked back to his bride. 

The adrenaline was coursing through his veins as Parker cleared his throat, rocking slightly on his tip toes and heels. The officiant started the ceremony, Mike signing all the words and Parker watched, taking in every word. It became time for vows and Parker looked straight at Andrea, signing his vows to Mike could say them. ‘Wow. What to say to the person you are to marry but have never met. There are so many things people say in these things but they’ve known each other for a long time. I’m rambling, sorry, bad habit. I promise to take care of you, to learn, to show you the world and everything it has to offer. I promise to prove to you how good of a husband I can be. I promise to do my best to be good for you.’ He finished. He had never been a good writer so he hoped that she liked the vows that he had managed to come up with having not known her before.

This was it. Andrea smiled nervously up at her father as her small hands smoothed the lace material of her wedding gown. “I’m nervous.” She admitted, her breath picking up slightly as she met her father’s gaze. His strong and comforting hands reached out and gripped gently at her arms, giving them a squeeze. “So am I, mija, but this will work out.” Javier Morales sighed, shaking his head briefly before meeting his youngest daughter’s gaze. “I know I haven’t always been supportive of the decision you made in doing this. I’m traditional and this… it’s a little out of the normal but I’m here for you, mi nina.” There was a sadness in his eyes, the same sadness that flooded Andrea’s gaze. “Your mother and sisters may take a little time to warm up to it, but I’ll be there for you.” It was the exact words that Andie needed to hear on this day. A wedding day was many girls’ biggest day. For Andrea, she had been planning it since she could understand the concept of falling in love and committing yourself to another human being. The wedding day she was in the middle of, however, was so far from what her younger self had envisioned.  Andrea Haydee Morales had pictured her wedding with the man of her dreams, ready to walk down the aisle with all her sisters as her bridesmaids, her mom helping her get ready and her father more than approving of the man she chose. She pictured beautiful white and pink lilies lining the aisle of the church she had grown up attending and her pastor at the end of the aisle, reassuring her of God’s full blessing on the union that was about to be made in His presence. But that wasn’t where she was now.

Behind the closed doors of the venue they were in, was the man she was marrying, and Andie didn’t even know his name. The twenty-five-year-old woman had no knowledge of any details of her future husband. Two of her sisters were not speaking to her and her mother was in the audience, but she would be lucky to make eye contact with her for even a second. The brunette didn’t regret being part of the show Married at First Sight, but she didn’t expect everything that had gone down since she had broken the news to her family. With a sigh, Andrea turned to give her attention to one of the crew persons that was letting her know they were ready to roll.  With a final squeeze from her father’s hands, Andrea took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Okay… I’m ready.” She said and opened her eyes as her father and her got in position in front of the closed doors. On the other side of those doors stood her future husband and the fate of her future. It could go either way, but she was positive everything would work out. It had to. And as the doors open and familiar notes of the wedding march began to swirl around her,  Andrea lifted her gaze and immediately found the man she was marrying, and her heart leaped in her chest. This was it. Looping her arms with her dad’s Andie took her first step down the aisle, finding the eyes of her future husband and offering him a nervous but equally excited smile of her maroon painted lips.

@parkerxwheeler​

Parker had never really thought about marriage, which he supposed was normal, or abnormal, he wasn’t sure. It was just not something had been rushing to think about. He thought that his deafness might of had something to do with it but it’s not like he hated his deafness. He had never hated that, he was just scared, maybe, that he wouldn’t find someone who was willing to go through that with him. He was the only one in his family that was deaf which was a dousy when they first brought him home as a baby. The time was coming though when he was getting lonely, the longing for someone to share his life with now that his organization was just taking off and finding it’s feet. He had tried the dating scene but wasn’t having much luck. He decided to sign up for Married at First Sight, much to his parent's dismay. Though they weren’t thrilled at the idea, they went along with it and he didn’t even think he would be picked but here he was, staring at himself in the mirror as his father finished tieing his bowtie. 

Though Parker was confident in himself and his deafness, it was a whole other thing to ask somebody else to be confident with it, especially if they had never even met before, which was still running through his mind. He normally found his way to communicate without an interpreter with him but this was important and he thought it would be smart to bring one along to make things run smoother. He let out a breath as he was told it was time and he turned to walk out of the room, being led to the alter and he stood in place, the interpreter standing across from him. He stood with his hands clasped together, nervous for how this was going to go and how the other would take his deafness. He looked over as the interpreter signed that it was starting and he smiled as he saw the person he would be married to walking down the aisle. 

Parker Wheeler ll 26 ll Photographer & founder/creator of the organization and app/website called one house, two ears. ll FC: Nyle DiMarco

Parker Wheeler was born deaf, from the start. The doctors could not tell anybody why he was born without hearing. He is the only one in his family who is deaf but they didn’t love him any less and they all learned sign language so they could communicate.

He had no interest in any type of hearing aids or cochlear implants. He either has an interpreter with him, uses his phone, old school paper and pen, or even reading lips if it came down to it. There was always a way to work around communication. 

He is fairly well known in the photography world, something he is passionate about because it is something that didn’t require hearing to do. He enjoys being able to capture moments, people, animals, nature, anything.

He has a french bulldog named Kronk, like from The Emporers New Groove. He loves his dog a lot and will do anything to make sure the dog is spoiled.

Parker has come up with an organization to help families who have found themselves with a deaf family member learn how to parent and basically incorporate them into the household. It offers sign language classes and everything from tips on decorating and electronics that are helpful, to a forum where both family members and those who are deaf can go to connect. 

Last year they came out with an app to make their services more mobile and accessible when people are out, including the service of mobile translation if there are any of those issues.