永恒在他們的眼中英語美文
Forever in Their Eyes
Early one morning, I witnessed romance at one of the least-expected places in the world - a long-term care facility. At the time, my father shared a room with three other gentlemen. While it wasn"t an ideal situation, it was the best the administrator could do at the time.
A few days before this particular visit, an elderly couple was admitted to the facility. Since there wasn"t a double room available, they were forced to separate the couple. The gentleman, Mr. West (name has been changed) was placed in the bed beside Daddy. His wife, Mrs. West, shared a room with several other ladies down the hall.
When I went to see Daddy that morning, I met Mr. West. Three employees were working with him. He hadn"t eaten a bite of food since he was admitted several days earlier. I could tell by the expression on the nurses" faces that they were worried about him. While one nurse was trying to get him to open his mouth with spoonfuls of gelatin, another nurse was trying to coax him to drink a health shake from a straw. The third nurse was standing nearby with a cup of water. Mr. West refused to open his mouth for any of them.
"Let"s try this," one of the nurses said. She pulled out a lollipop, tore off the paper and offered it to Mr. West. His lips were clamped together tightly. He refused to listen to reason. Finally, he uttered something about his sweetheart, who was resting down the hall.
"Go get Mrs. West," the nurse instructed her helper, while handing her the lollipop. "Maybe Mr. West will eat for her."
In a few minutes a kind-looking lady was wheeled into the room. She held the lollipop in her hand. Her smile was contagious and Mr. West smiled brightly. I felt as though I was intruding on a private moment, but I couldn"t take my eyes off the couple. The love between them was obvious, as Mrs. West patted Mr. West"s hand and then caressed his forehead.
With a soft voice, Mrs. West convinced Mr. West to eat. To everyone"s surprise Mr. West opened his mouth and began to enjoy the lollipop and his wife"s company. While the nurses fed him, he stared at his sweetheart with a smile on his face. Mrs. West began humming a tune to him. The expression on his once solemn face became even brighter.
Tears filled my eyes. The nurse then pulled the curtain around the couple to give them some quality time alone to visit. I discovered that romance doesn"t only exist when we"re young and in love. Romance lasts a lifetime and grows stronger with age. Before long I heard snores of contentment coming from the bed beside me.
Today, Mr. and Mrs. West reside together in a place where there are no limitations, nursing homes or wheelchairs. There are no tears in their eyes or rooms dividing them. I am convinced that the West marriage went well beyond "till death us do part" and will last throughout eternity. Not only did I witness a memorable romance that day, I saw a glimpse of forever in a loving couple"s tired and worn-out eyes.
一天早晨,我在一個世界上人們最不愿意呆的地方-長期看護所-目睹了一段浪漫故事.當時,我父親在哪里和另外三位先生共處一室.盡管條件不是很理想,但在那時,這已經是管理員所能做到的最好了.
在那次特殊拜訪之前幾天,一對老年夫妻被送進這家看護所. 由于沒有空余的雙人間, 他們不得不被分開. 那位老先生, 維斯特先生(假名),被安排到我父親的旁邊. 他的妻子, 維斯特太太, 則在大樓的另一側和其他幾位女士住一間房.
那天上午,當我去看我父親的時候,我遇見了維斯特先生. 當時有三個護理人員正在護理他. 自從幾天前進入看護所以來,他沒有吃過一口食物. 我從護理員臉上的表情可以看出她們正為他的健康擔心. 當其中一個護理員正拿著一勺膠狀食品并嘗試讓他張嘴的時候,另一個護理員也在哄他用吸管喝一種營養汁.第三個護理員則拿著一杯水站在旁邊. 維斯特先生拒絕為他們任何一個人張嘴.
"我們試試這個."其中一個護理員說. 她取出一只棒棒糖,撕掉糖紙然后遞給維斯特先生. 他的雙唇緊閉著. 他拒絕聽任何人的勸說. 最后,他念叨著什么關于他甜心的話,當然就是指在大樓另一側休息的妻子.
"去把維斯特太太找來,"護理員吩咐她的助手,并將棒棒糖給了助手."也許維斯特先生會為她而吃東西."
幾分鐘后,一位慈祥的老太太被推了近來. 她手上拿著剛才的那只棒棒糖. 她的微笑是那么富有感染力,維斯特先生也燦爛地笑了.我突然覺得我正在侵犯一段屬于私人的時間,但是我卻無法將目光從那對夫妻身上移開. 當維斯特太太輕拍維斯特先生的手并輕撫他的.額頭時,你可以清晰地看到他們之間的那份愛.
維斯特太太用一種溫和的聲音勸說維斯特先生吃點東西. 在我們驚訝的目光中, 維斯特先生開始張嘴吃那只棒棒糖, 與此同時也享受著他妻子的陪伴. 當護理員喂他食物的時候, 他一直微笑著注視著他的甜心. 維斯特太太則開始為他輕聲哼著什么. 他曾經嚴肅的臉看起來更加明亮.
淚水盈滿我的雙眼. 護理員為他們拉上了圍簾, 以便給他們一段單獨的時間. 我發現浪漫不單是在我們年輕戀愛時才存在. 浪漫會陪伴我們一生,并隨年齡增長而更富內涵. 不一會兒, 我聽到了從旁邊的床上傳來的愜意的鼾聲.
現在,維斯特先生和維斯特太太住在一個沒有限制,看護室和輪椅的地方. 不再有房間將他們分開, 他們眼中也不再淚水. 我深信他們的婚姻遠遠超出了"直到死亡將我們分開"而將持續成為永恒. 在那天, 我不僅是目睹了一段難忘的浪漫, 我從一對相愛的夫婦的疲倦而憔悴的眼睛中,看見了永恒的瞬間.(：夏根建)