I began to lose my hearing about ten years ago,
大約十年前我開始失去聽力

when I was in the military.
那時我正在服役

My husband and I got a cat about five years ago.
大約五年前，我和丈夫有了一只小貓

I've never owned a cat before,
我從沒養(yǎng)過貓

so I had no idea
所以我完全不知道

what kind of noises they made
貓會發(fā)出什么樣的怪聲

besides "meow"
除了“喵”

so I had no context for what to expect
所以我全然無知無覺，亦無所期待

when I heard my cat purr for the first time today.
沒想到，今天我第一次聽到了我的貓打呼嚕

I was laying in bed
那時我躺在床上

and he jumped up next to me
它跳上來，就在我身旁

and snuggled into my armpit .
依偎在我肩下

I started to feel him vibrate
我開始感覺到他身體的震動

like he always does
它一向如此

and then I heard it.
這時我聽到了

I was so scared at first,
起初我有些害怕

I didn't understand what the sound was.
我不知道那是什么聲音

Then it clicked:
這時我腦中靈光一閃

purring isn't just vibrating!
原來，打呼嚕不僅是身體震動

It's a sound!
這是一種聲音！

I can hear it!
我聽到了！