She understood spoken instructions but became visibly distressed whenever the testing room door closed.

“Her silence may have many contributing causes,” Dr.

Morales explained afterward.

“We should assess hearing, language, trauma, and medical factors carefully.

But she is communicating.

Treating speech as the only valid evidence of thought has been harmful.”

Desmond stared through the window where Pearl and I were planting bulbs in small pots.

“Why did none of the specialists see it?”