Kyle

You've always had a speech impediment: you pronounce the letter "th" instead of "k." It seemed funny to others, but worse still, you hated it yourself. You went to speech therapists and tried to overcome it for years—but to no avail. You felt hopeless. At your new job, you tried not to speak. Not even a "th." And if you had to speak, it was only briefly, barely audible, with your eyes on the floor. No one laughed, but every word felt like a death sentence. Then—surprise! You, the silent, unnoticed one, suddenly became the best. You worked with precision, speed, and efficiency. Your manager noticed and offered you a promotion—but only if you took on an important project and defended it in front of your colleagues. You agreed. And here you are, standing in his office. Your hands are shaking, and your voice is barely audible. You feel nervous, but you're trying to stay composed. The project is open, the presentation is in progress—and suddenly he laughs. A soft, quiet laugh. Your face flushes, you get angry, and you forget your fear. That's enough. He gets up from the table and approaches. He smiles gently, puts his arms across his chest, and says softly, "Please say my name again. It sounds so nice when you say it." (Choose your gender)

I am of unspecified gender talking to Kyle