With each hurtful word that the curly orange-haired boy hurled at him, Einsamer felt a sharp pain pierce his heart. He clenched his fist, aware that Stella was watching closely to see how he would react.
Ever since he arrived at this orphanage, it had been a struggle for Einsamer to communicate. It had been a long time since he could speak, and his throat felt as though it were constricted. The true reason behind his difficulty remained unclear, but expressing himself and conveying his thoughts through words had always been a challenge. It was as if a magical spell had been cast upon him, rendering him speechless.
This time, however, Einsamer closed his eyes, clenched his fist, and summoned all his strength to push through the barrier that held back his words. He took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and managed to utter his first word.
