爱能疗伤

廖　恒

四年前，孤儿院的人把鲁克放在我住的旅店门口，他们连一声再见也没说，转头就走了。我收养了他。那时，他大约6岁，可仅仅只有28磅重，瘦小得可怜，他的脸上留有十字图案的疤痕。很明显，他受了惊吓。

鲁克在我的房里乱踢乱叫，我挡在房门口，以防他逃跑。他的哭声，像动物的嚎叫，撕心裂肺。他肯定从未见过镜子，迅速地冲过去，企图穿镜逃脱。为了阻止他乱踢乱窜，我用双臂紧紧抱住他。经过一个小时的挣扎后，他终于累得睡着了。

晚上，我带着他出去散步，他看着天空的月亮，高兴得手舞足蹈。当我给他洗澡时，他又开始不停地哭闹，我便和他一起玩水，这样他才安静下来，乖乖地洗澡。洗完澡后，满屋子都是水，他咯咯地笑了。我拿来止痛的药水，轻轻地涂在他被蚊虫咬过的地方，然后给他全身擦满爽身粉，穿上柔软的睡衣裤。

第二天，我带着他到孤儿院办理收养手续。当工作人员走进办公室时，坐在我膝盖上的鲁克两眼直盯着他们，他突然拉过我的手，将我的手紧紧地环绕在他的腰间，生怕他们会从我的手中将他夺走。

在开始的那些天里，鲁克一直很害怕，情绪十分低落，动不动就哭。他把食物藏到枕套里，还到垃圾桶里搜寻食物，看到这些，我心如刀割。鲁克何时才能忘记孤儿院的生活给他带来的伤痛，开始过正常的生活。

四年来，我一直深爱着鲁克，用我的爱一点点地去改变着他。现在，鲁克已经是一个聪明、开朗、活泼的四年级学生了。他的身上有一种无法抗拒的魅力：永远充满活力，是一个天生的运动员。老师夸奖他，说他在学校行为举止得体，学习也很是刻苦。邻居说从来没见过比鲁克更快乐的孩子了。

每当我回想起这些时，我就会被深深震惊。是什么改变了这个受到如此巨大伤害和惊吓的小家伙。是特殊的治疗，还是专门的心理咨询，抑或奇特的药物？都不是。要真正治愈和转变孩子，只需要爱，爱是一切情感的基础，它给人以同情，关怀，安全和信念。我相信，爱能疗伤。

We adopted Luke four years ago. The people from the orphanage dropped him off at our hotel room without even saying goodbye. He was nearly six years old, only 28 pounds and his face was crisscrossed with scars. Clearly, he was terrified.

Luke kicked and screamed. I stood between him and the door to keep him from bolting. His cries were anguished, animal-like. He had never seen a mirror and tried to escape by running through one. I wound my arms around him so he could not hit or kick. After an hour and a half he finally fell asleep, exhausted.

That night we went for a walk. Delighted at the moon,he pantomimed. He cried again when I tried to give him a bath until I started to play with the water. By the end of his bath the room was soaked and he was giggling. I lotioned him up, powdered him down and clothed him in soft pajamas.

The next day we met orphanage officials to do paperwork. Luke was on my lap as they filed into the room. He looked at them and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist as if they would seize him away.

He was a sad, shy boy for a long time after those first days. He cried easily and withdrew at the slightest provocation. He hid food in his pillowcase and foraged in garbage cans. Seeing these, I trembled. I wondered then if he would ever get over the wounds of neglect that the orphanage had beaten into him and live a normal life.

It has been four years. I tried to change his life with my love because I love him. Now,Luke is a smart, funny, happy fourth-grader. He is loaded with charm and is a natural athlete. His teachers say he is well behaved and works very hard. Our neighbor says she has never seen a happier kid.

When I think back, I am amazed at what transformed this abused, terrified little creature. Was it therapy, counselors or medications?No. It was love. Love is primal. It is comprised of compassion, care, security, and a leap of faith. I believe in the power of love to heal.