一个拥抱一个吻

麦克·艾默特

译/李孟

玛丽是一个失去丈夫不久的五十多岁的祖母。最近在医院检查时她震惊地得知自己患上了艾滋病。

作为慈善机构自愿者慰问团的一员，我的职责是让他们知道，除了他们的家人和医护人员，还有人在关心他们。

在我第三次拜访玛丽时，我礼貌地问：“我可以拥抱您吻一下您的脸颊吗？”玛丽微笑着伸出她的双臂等待着，她的声音低得几乎听不见，“是的，我非常喜欢。”

在我转身离去的时候，我发现她的脸上淌着滴泪花，“您哪里不舒服吗？”我问。

“这是我被诊断患上艾滋病后除了医护人员第一次别人和我接触，”玛丽把头转向一边， 她双手捂着脸痛苦地说，“甚至我的儿子都不允许我见我的孙子，”她边说边呜咽着，“当我的家人来看我，他们坐在病房的一边，尽可能离我远点。”

我默默地坐在她的身边听她倾诉，我惟一能做的就是把纸巾递给她。

几天后，我再去看望玛丽，她的儿子约翰和儿媳萨拉正好去看望她。我轻柔地拥抱着她吻了一下她的面颊准备离开，我发现她的家人担心地坐在离玛丽的床较远的地方。

第二天下午，我再去看望玛丽时，约翰和萨拉也在那里。不过事情出现了奇妙的变化，约翰和萨拉分别坐在玛丽病床边一侧的椅子上，他们握着玛丽的手。我听见约翰非常动情地说：“我想如连陌生人都能拥抱和亲吻我的母亲，我们还有什么害怕的呢。”

幸运地，玛丽又可以和她最爱的孙子在一起了。

Mary, a recent widow and devoted “fifty-something” grandmother.She was stunned to learn of her diagnosis —full-blown AIDS.

As part of a hospital volunteer visitation team, in my role as patient-advocate, I let each person know that someone else cares about them—aside from their family and the medical staff.

After my third visit with Mary, I asked politely, “Would you like a hug and a kiss on the cheek？” Mary smiled, holding out two waiting arms, and whispered a barely audible, “Yes, Id love one.”

As I drew back, I noticed a tear working its way down one cheek.“Whats wrong？” I asked.

“Thats the first time anyone has touched me, since I was diagnosed with AIDS.The medical staff touch me, but ...”Mary turned onto her side, placing both hands over her face.“My sons wont even allow me to see my grandchildren,” she said between sobs.“When my family visits, they sit clear across the room, as far away from me as possible.”

I simply sat by her bedside and listened in silence—handing her tissues and trying to understand.

A few days later, when I stopped to see Mary again, her son John and his wife Sarah were visiting. I giving her a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek. I found her anxious family sat clear across the room from Marys bed.

Later, when I looked in on her, I saw John and sarah were there, but something had miraculously changed.John and Sarah were seated in chairs —one on each side of Marys bed - and they were holding hands.Obviously choked with emotion, John said, “I guess if some stranger can hug and kiss my mother, we have nothing to be afraid of.”

Fortunately, Mary couldstay with her cherished grandchildren— in spite of her illness.