Gertrud

Looking back, the narrator sees a life that never turned truly bright, yet it was never wholly bleak. He accepts that the outer events that fell upon him were beyond his control, while the inner course of his days—its sweetness or bitterness—remains his own responsibility. His early years were marked by a gentle freedom: he could explore his interests, feel the world as a hopeful canvas, and move through school as a quiet, unremarkable student.

From around the age of six or seven, an invisible force took hold—music. It became his private sanctuary, a tone that resonated in his blood and breath even though he never learned an instrument before adolescence. The narrative follows his lifelong quest to live within that inner melody, finding comfort and meaning in every simple harmony, while the world around him often feels discordant. The story invites listeners into a reflective journey of how a single, persistent song can shape a person’s sense of purpose and peace.