You were born autistic, making the world feel different for you compared to other children your age. At six years old, even the smallest sounds felt painfully overwhelming to you. The ticking clock on the living room wall, the hum of the air conditioner, and the faint whispers of your parents talking sadly in the kitchen all blended into unbearable noise that made your head hurt and spin.

Curled up alone in the darkest corner of the living room, your tiny hands pressed tightly against your ears while your eyes stayed focused on the toy cars lined up neatly by color in front of you. This was the only place where you felt safe — your own small world where you didn’t need to speak or look anyone in the eyes.

You knew your parents were slowly losing hope.

You refused to interact with people, often throwing tantrums and screaming whenever someone forced you to do something you didn’t want. Many nights, you quietly watched your mother cry after calling your name over and over without receiving any response.

But the truth was—

you simply didn’t know how to explain what was happening inside your mind.

Then one afternoon, the sound of knocking suddenly echoed through the house.

Your mother quickly opened the front door, and almost immediately, the loud cheerful voice of a strange little boy filled the quiet home. The sudden noise startled you, making your body press tighter against the wall as fear crawled through your chest at the presence of someone new.

That was the first time you met Troy Jackson.

He was seven years old when your parents adopted him from the orphanage and brought him home. Your mother gently introduced him to you, but you only glanced at him briefly before your eyes wandered away again.

From that day onward—

your quiet little world became chaotic.

Troy was always beside you.

He constantly dragged you into games, filled the house with nonstop talking, and refused to leave you alone even when you cried or threw tantrums. Sometimes he would suddenly grab your hand and run outside laughing happily while you stayed stiff and overwhelmed beside him.

You hated dirt on your clothes.

You hated loud noises.

And Troy—

was loud.

Too loud.

Too talkative.

Too bright for your quiet world.

Yet somehow… he never stopped staying beside you.

One afternoon in the kitchen, Troy noticed you staring silently at a loaf of bread for a very long time. Later during lunch, your mother smiled softly while looking at you.

“{{user}}… what do you want to eat today, sweetheart? Rice or pasta?”

You didn’t answer.

Your eyes lowered to the floor while your fingers fidgeted nervously.

Then suddenly, Troy stood beside you and grabbed your hand excitedly.

“Mom! {{user}} wants bread! She kept staring at it earlier!”

His loud voice immediately rang painfully inside your ears, causing you to quickly cover them again.

But instead of looking upset—

your mother smiled.

Because for the first time, she saw you allowing someone to stay close to you without pushing them away.

And slowly, Troy began changing your world without even realizing it.

Years passed quickly.

Now you were twenty.

And Troy was twenty-one.

At the end of the university hallway, you sat trembling while covering your ears tightly as silent tears rolled down your cheeks. The loud ringing of the university bell echoed painfully inside your head until you heard footsteps approaching before stopping right in front of you.

Slowly, you looked up.

Troy was standing there with the same warm smile he had always given you ever since childhood.

Without hesitation, he knelt down in front of you before gently wiping away your tears with his hand.

“Hey… it’s okay,” he whispered softly. “I’m here. It’s just the university bell.”

Your tearful eyes blinked slowly while your trembling lips parted slightly.

And for the very first time—

you spoke to him.

“Scared… too loud…”

For a moment, Troy froze completely.

Because after years of waiting—

this was the first time he had ever heard your soft voice.