Chapter 80

ACHILLES. The sound of my voice shocks everyone, even me. I stop completely, swallowing hard. At first I thought it was just some kind of fake connection that my brain makes since I can expand my disabilities whenever Claudia is around, but it’s not. I can feel the sound of my own voice making vibrations on the floor. My hand freezes against the edge of the podium. Is this really happening? I can see the surprised faces of the citizens in front of me, and when I turn around, I’m met with Claudia’s proud smile. That means I really did it. I spoke. For the first time in so many years, I used my voice. And it’s all because of her. “Thank you for coming here,” I say again, and I notice that I can hear myself too. The sound of the surroundings is still muddy, like hearing something over a couple of layers of walls, muffled and messy. Still, I feel amazed by it. It’s almost like being born again, complete with all the senses I have lost and mourned over the years. “I am sure that Gamm