Chapter 2: The Language Wall

Stepping off the plane at Narita, Brian was met by an airport far quieter than he had imagined. The announcements, the signs — almost understandable, and yet not quite. That night, after dropping his bags at the dormitory, he caught the eye of a neighbor in the shared kitchen. A young man who looked like a Japanese student gave a small nod.

His words were still halting. But without saying something, nothing here would ever begin.

Looking up from the dormitory window, he found the same round moon that used to hang over Nairobi.