As orphans at the Taizhou Children's Welfare Center, we learned not to be silent. To be silent meant to be neglected and to be neglected meant to go unfed.

After I was adopted at four years old, my new parents had my cleft palate surgically repaired. What's referred to as hypernasal speech plagued me, but did not still my voice.

Now, lying next to you in a bed neither of us owns, you shush me. Have I said something wrong? Or is my imminent starvation unimportant?