'I was born in 1978 in Germany and adopted at birth. My family moved to the American South when I was 4 years old. I grew up in the mountains of Virginia. When I was a child, I would explore the woods behind my house. I ventured alone, following a small creek. One winter day, I deviated from my usual path. As I walked, I heard a man shout. A pack of barking dogs ran toward me, I immediately dropped to the snowy ground and pretended to be dead. I held my breath...'