生活就像车轮一样旋转，从早晨开始，晚上很晚才结束，第二天早上又重新开始。没有停顿，没有休息，没有丝毫改变。生活在其中的你，是否会感到疲惫和乏味？或者，寻找一些浪漫或刺激?
Tanyagotoutofthebedwhilethesunwasstillasleep.“WouldIbeabletowatchsunrisetoday?”Sheaskedherheart.Sheknewtheanswerbutwasafraidtotellherself.Mike,herhusband,wasstillinbedandsowereherfourkids.Eventheirsleepcouldn’tpreventherfromdoingthemservice.Shearrangedherworktothemicroscopic(缩小的)details.Frompressingclothestopolishingshoes,findingsportssockstoputtingschoolbagsinorder,fixingupbreakfasttopreparingsnack-boxes,shewantedtomakeitallhappenlikemagic,Shediditall,likeamagician(魔术师).
Liferanlikeawheel.Thecirclestartedeverymorningandendeduplateinthenight,andthenmorningappearedagain.Therewasnopause,norest,notevenaslightchangetoinsertthecircle.Shecondemnedherselffornotexperiencingevenathoughtofevergettingoutofthiscircle,butshejustcommittedherselftotheorbitoflife.
Comingoutofthebathroom,sheturnedandlookedatherwrinkledfaceinthemirrorandgaspedatiredanswertoherlongaskedquestion,“never,youjustkeepdrivinginthesunset.”Sheshookherheadtowingawaythoseviciousbutterfliesinhermind.Sheknewshecouldn’tjointhemsoshedidn’twantthemtohangaroundhereither.
SheenteredthekitchenandheardMikeyellinginhisuneasyvoicefortheabsenceofhistowelinthebathroom.HeryoungestdaughterKarenstartedcryingthatshedidn’twanttogotoschoolthatday.Nicole,theeldest(最年长的),couldn’thelpherselfbuttoblameDanielfortheovernightfragmentation(破坏)ofherdollhouse(玩具屋)whileRandalregisteredhisprotestfromhisbedthathewasnotgoinglodrinkmilkinbreakfastlikeeveryday.Inthekitchen,sugarhadrunout.Soshewasstilllookingforthatmagicwand(杖).
Shenevergottoknowwhenmorningranintonoon:eventheclockfailedtotellherthat.Mikeleftforofficestillscreamingandshoutingforhistowelandtheschoolbusonlyarrivedafterthekidshadswallowedtheirbreakfast.Theirabsencecouldn’tceaseherworkfortherewastoomuchworktodo.Shewasplanningtosenddirtyclothestolaundrywhenthedoorbellrang.Ithadbeensolongnobodycomingtotheirhomethatshehadforgottenwhattheirdoorbellsoundedlike.Shetriedtoguesswhocoulditbebutnotasinglenameappearedinhermind.Sheopenedthedoorwithanuncertain(不确定的)hopebutonlyfoundthepostmanstandinginthedoortovanishthatuncertainty(不确定).
“HiDavid!Sincewhendidyoustartringingthedoorbell?”Wordsflewoutofhermouthwithoutherownconsent.
“EversinceIwasakid.Inmychildhood1wouldringthebellandrunaway.”Davidwasa
cheerful(快乐的)postman.
“Butyoudon’tneedtorunawaynow.”
“No。notuntilyouhavesignedandreceivedyourletter.”
“Myletter!Whocouldsendthat?”
“Iamnotsure.It’ssomeonenamedL.H.M.Soundslikeapostgraduatedegreetome.”
“Nevermind,I’11signit.”
Tanyareceivedtheletter.Itwasaregisteredletterfromwithinthetown.ShewonderedwhocouldthatL.H.M.be.Sheopenedtheenvelopeandthemysterythatwasenclosedinit.Thehandwritingsparkedamemorybutshefelttoooverwhelmedtoscrapeherpast.Herheartbeat(G"跳)startedflyinglikebutterflywings.
Itwasn’tjustaletterwithordinarywordswrittenonapieceofpaper.Shecouldfeelthosewordsblazingoverherheart.Theyweretellingherstoriesofherlonglostlove.
MyfloweredwishTanya!
Ioncesawmyhomeinthestreetsofyourpalm,mydestinyinthesmilesofyourpromises,andmyshelterintheshadowsofyoureyes.Itreasuredallyourwhispersundermypillow,yourfragranceinmybreaths,andyournameinmyears.Yourfacestilllightens(使发亮)uptheskyinthenight,yourvoicestillrhymesthemrainfall,andyourhairstillsoftenthewind.
Thesunalwaysrosefromthesparkleofyoureyes.
Andthen,timeflewyouawayintosomeoneelse’sworld.ThatsunvanishedandeversinceIhaven’tseenasunrise.
LifeisspendingmeandIamaging.Dayskeepclimbingthemountainofyears.Moondisguisesitsfaceinthecloudsandthenightrefusestobringsleepontomypillow.Ifightyourmemoriesanddefeatmyself.Thepain-wavesofyourabsencestormthroughmystaleheartandleaveitinamisery.
Myfacehaslivedwithmefortencoldwinters,nowlwanttofeelthewarmthofyourface.Bringthesunshineofyoureyestome.MeetmewhilethesunsetsthisSundayattheriverbridge.Myeyeswillbemeasuringthepassageuntilyoucome.
Larry
Theletterendedandleftherstandingatthedoorofhertime-fadedmemories.Larrywasherclassmateincollegedays.Helivedinherheartandshedreamedhiseyes.TheyhadplannedtogetmarriedaftergraduationassoonasLarryfoundagoodjob.IttookhimayeartofindoneandthisexpansionoftimeletMikesurface.Mikewasanelegantandhandsomemanwithalreadyagoodjob.Larrygotafirst-ratejobthedayTanyagotmarried.
Inthenextsixmonths,LarryleftthecountryandTanyamovedtoWisconsin(威斯康星州).Mike’slovescatteredintohisjob,kidsandTanya.Shedidthesametohim,exceptforthejob.Herconcernwastotakecareofthekidsandthehome.“Easiersaidthandone”,shelikedthisphraseeversince.Herhouseworkimprisoned(关押)herwishesandshecouldn’tevenwishforherfreedom.
Andtoday,aftermorethantenyears,alettercameintoherlifelikeabutterflycarryingonitswings,wordswritteninrainbowcolors.ItwasWednesdayandshewishedtojumpoverthosethreedaysintotheSundaysunset.
Shenevergottoknowwhenthekidscamebackfromtheschoolandhowshespenttherestoftheday.Thedayshadstartedflyingwithher.Inthenightshewouldreadthatlettertothemoon,thestarsandthebreeze.Shewouldtellthemstoriesofherlow;thefirsttimeshemetLarry,herfirstwordsandherfirstkiss.Everyinchofhermemoryhadabondtoawholenewmemory.Nowsherememberedeverything;everyraythesuneverendowedonherlove.Shecouldfeelapowerfulfreedomthatwasremovingthosetediousthoughtsfromhermindandthrustinglifeintoherveins.Lifewaswearinghopenow.
ThetimefromSundaymorningtoeveningwashardtospend.TimeclockwassnailingOutofthedayandthesungothungupinmidair.Windstoppedonthesurfaceofwaterandtheshadowsdeclinedtoshrink.Shewishedtimewasahorsewithatailontheforeheadandshewouldpullitfromitstail.Shewishedtimewasadryleafandshewouldblowitinthewindstorm(风暴)ofherheart.Shewishedtimewasaboatandshewouldsailitintheriverofhereyes.Buttoday,timehadturnintoateaser(戏弄者).Shewantedthetimetoflyanditwascrawling.Shetriedtomakeherselfbusyinhousechoresbuthereyesquitsupportingherhandsastheywerestilllookingatthesun.Andthesunalsokeptglaringatheralltheday.Finallythesunlostthebattleandstartedgoingdown.Fromtherimoftheroof,itskiddedtothewindow.
Nooneinthefamilyfeltanychangeinher.MikehadtogotomeetaclientandwasquitebusylookingathimselfandthekidsweretooinvolvedinwatchingtheTV.Itwasanhourtosunsetandshewasready,wearingherbestdressandwrappedinherfavoritefragrance.Shelookedseveralyearsyoungerandbroughtbackacharming(迷人的)smileontoherlips.
“Whereareyougoing,dear?”Herpreparationcouldn’twageenoughresistanceagainstMike’scuriosity.
“Aa,well,actuallyIthoughtLwouldgoforsomeshopping(买东西)”,shehardlyuttered.
“Mom!Iwouldgowithyou.”NicoleyelledastheideaofgoingouthadremovedherattentionfromtheTV.Therestweresoabsorbedthattheydidn’tevenheartheconversation.
“Yeahdear,whydon’tyoutakeNicolewithyou,shecouldbehelpful.”
Tanyadidn’tfeelcomfortablehavingacompanyatthattimebutshedidn’twanttochangeMike’scuriosityintosuspicionsoshesaidOK.
AllthewaytotheCityCenter,Nicolekepttellingherofallthestuffherfriendshadandwhatshewantedtobuyinresponse.Tanyawasn’tlistening.ShewasjustnoddingherheadinapprovalofwhateverNicolesaid.Shecouldn’tpossiblyhavesaidaword.Herheartwasrumbling(发出隆隆声)likeavolcano,hittingtheribcage(胸腔)tryingtogetouttotakealookatitslonglostlove.
Thesunwashurryingdownnow.Shewasafraidofgettinglatesoshespeededupalittle.
“Mom!Aren’twesupposedtogototheCityCenter?”Nicoleaskedseeingherturningtoadifferentstreet.
“YesdearbutIhavetotakecareofsomethingimportantbeforewegoshopping,allright?”Shesaid.
“Allright.”ItwasOKforNicoleaslongasitdidn’taltertheirshoppingplan.
Thebridgewasgettingcloserandsowaslogic.Sanity(理智)hadstartedpenetratingherenthusiasm.Thequestionof“howshouldIdoit?”turnedinto“whyshouldIdoit?”Theeclipseofhermemorieshadstarteddeclining.Shecouldseethebridgenow.Shestoppedthecarahundredyardsawayfromthebridge.
“Honey!Youstayinthecar,I’11bebackinafewminutes.”ShesaidtoNicolewithoutaslighttouchofemotions.Shedidn’twaitforheranswer,steppedoutofthecarinamechanicalwayandstartedwalkingtowardsthebridge.
Larrywasstandingonthecornerofthebridge,withhisbacktoher.Hewaslookingdownthebridgeintotherunningwater.Shewalkedforafewyardsandthenstopped.Larryturnedhisfacetowardsher.Ageseemedtohavewornhimout.Helookedtiredasifhehadtraveledahugespanofyears.Hispresencesentnowavesoffreshairtocleanherheartfromthemistofdissatisfaction.Hedisappointedheragain.Shehopedtofindarayofhopeandhedampeddownherhope.Shelookedbacktowardsthecarandherdaughter.“Ihavelosttoomuch。Idon’twanttolosemytenyears.”Shedecidedandturnedback.Larryranafterherbutshehadreachedhercar.Larrycalledherwithapassionatecry,“Tanya!”Sheopenedthedoorandsatin.Larrystoppedabruptlywithshockinhiseyes.Tanyaturnedtheearback.
“Youaremywish,Tanya!”Larrymurmured.Shesteppedonthecar.Larrysawhergoingintothesunset.
“Whowashe,mommy?”Nicolecouldn’tcatchanyideaoutofit.
“Hewasanobody,mydear.”
Tanyakeptdrivingintothesunset.
注释:
romance
sunrise
microscopic
detailtailor
polish
snack
magicmagic
magician
pause
slight
insert
condemn
commitcommittee
orbit
wrinkle
mirror
sunset
viciousvice
butterfly
yell
uneasy
absenceabsent/present
towel
eldest
overnight
register
protest
milkmilk
scream
swallow
cease
laundry
singlesingle
uncertaincertainly
postmanpost
vanish
uncertaintycertainly
consent
childhoodchild
cheerful
postgraduate
mystery
enclose
handwriting
sparkspark
memorymemory
overwhelm
scrape
blaze
palm
destiny
promise
shelter
whisper
pillow
fragrance
lighten
rhyme
rainfall
sparklespark
year
disguise
defeat
stalestill
miserymiserable
warmth
sunshine
set
marry
graduation
expansion
surface
elegant
scatter
concernconcern
phrase
imprison
rainbow
bond
endow
powerful
remove
tedious
thrust
snail
decline
shrink
forehead
crawl
chores
quit
finally
rim
skid
client
involve
ready
favo(u)ritefavour
charming
preparation
resistance
curiosity
shopping
utter
absorbabsorb
helpful
suspicion
stuff
response
approval
volcano
rib
turn
alteralter
logicdialogue/logic
penetrate
enthusiasmenthusiasm
eclipse
emotion
mechanical
span
presence
mist
dissatisfactionsatisfy
passionate
abruptly
murmur