爱在心，口要开

爱在心，口要开

The bitterest tears shed［流出］over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds［行为］left undone.

—Harriet Beecher Stowe

Track 10

by Bobbie Lippman

翻译：鱼又

文字难度·

I met Connie the day she was1）admitted to the2）hospice3）ward， where I worked as a volunteer. Her husband， Bill， stood nervously nearby. Although Connie was in the final stages of her fight against cancer， she was4）cheerful. We got her5）settled in. I finished marking her name on all the hospital6）supplies she would be using， then asked if she needed anything.

“Oh， yes，” she said， “would you please show me how to use the TV？ I enjoy the7）soap operas so much and I don’t want to get behind on what’s happening.” Connie was a8）romantic. She loved soap operas， romance novels and movies with a good love story. As we became friends， she9）confided how frustrating itwas to be married 32 years to a man who often called her “a silly woman.”

“Oh， I know Bill loves me，” she said， “but he has never been one to say he loves me， or send cards to me.” She sighed and looked out of the window at the trees in the courtyard. “I’d give anything if he’d say ‘I love you，’ but it’s just not in his nature.”

Bill visited Connie every day. In the beginning， he sat next to the bed while she watched the soaps. Later， when she began sleeping more， he10）paced up and down the11）hallway outside her room. Soon， when she no longer watched television and had fewer waking moments， I began spending more of my time with Bill.

He talked about having worked as a12）carpenter and how he liked to go fishing. He and Connie had no children， but they’d been enjoying13）retirement by traveling， until Connie got sick. Bill could not express his feelings about the fact that his wife was dying.

One day， over coffee in the14）cafeteria， I got him on the subject of women and how we need romance in our lives； how we love to get15）sentimental cards and love letters.

“Do you tell Connie you love her？” I asked （knowing the answer）， and he looked at me as if I was crazy.

“I don’t have to，” he said. “She knows I do！”

“I’m sure she knows，” I said， “but she needs to hear it， Bill. She needs to hear what she has meant to you all these years. Please think about it.”

We walked back to Connie’s room. Bill disappeared inside，and I left to visit another patient. Later， I saw Bill sitting by the bed. He was holding Connie’s hand as she slept. The date was February 12th.

Two days later， I walked down the ward at noon. There stood Bill，16）leaning up against the wall in the hallway， staring at the floor. I already knew from the head nurse that Connie had died at 11 AM.

When Bill saw me， he allowed himself to come into my arms for a long time. His face was wet with tears and he was17）trembling. Finally， he leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath.

“I have to say something，” he said. “I have to say how good I feel about telling her. I thought a lot about what you said， and this morning I told her how much I loved her and loved being married to her. You should’ve seen her smile！”

I went into the room to say my own goodbye to Connie. There，on the18）bedside table， was a large Valentine card from Bill. You know， the sentimental kind that says， “To my wonderful wife， I love you.”

1） admit ［əd'mɪt］ v. 许可进入，承认

2） hospice ［'hɒspɪs］ n. 临终关怀医院

3） ward ［wɔːd］ n. 病房

4） cheerful ［'tʃɪəfʊl］ adj. 快乐的

5） settle in 安顿下来

6） supply ［sə'plaɪ］ n. 供给品

7） soap opera 肥皂剧

8） romantic ［rə'mæntɪk］ n. 浪漫主义者

9） confide ［kən'faɪd］ v. 倾诉，吐露

10） pace ［peɪs］ v. 踱步

11） hallway ［'hɔːlweɪ］ n. 走廊

12） carpenter ［'kɑːpəntə］ n. 木匠

13） retirement ［rɪ'taɪəmənt］ n. 退休

14） cafeteria ［kæfɪ'tɪərɪə］ n. 自助餐厅

15） sentimental ［sentɪ'mentəl］ adj. 多情的

16） lean ［liːn］ v. 倚靠

17） tremble ［'trembəl］ v. 颤抖

18） bedside table 床头柜

参考译文

我在康妮住进临终关怀医院病房的那天遇见了她，我在那儿当志愿者。她的丈夫比尔焦虑不安地站在一边。尽管康妮正处在与癌症晚期搏斗的阶段，但她的心情还挺不错，我们将她安顿好了。我在医院提供给她的所有用品上都标了她的名字，然后问她是否还需要些什么东西。

“哦，是的，”她说道，“你能向我演示一下怎么使用电视机吗？我非常爱看肥皂剧，不想落下任何剧情。”康妮是个浪漫主义者。她爱看肥皂剧、爱情小说和讲述美好爱情故事的电影。当我们成为了朋友以后，她向我吐露跟一个时常叫她“蠢女人”的男人结婚生活32年是一件多么令人沮丧的事。

“噢，我知道比尔爱我，”她说，“但他从未亲口对我说过他爱我，或者送张卡片给我。”她叹了口气，朝窗外庭院里的树木望去。“如果他能对我说句‘我爱你’，我愿付出一切，但这根本不是他的性格。”

比尔每天都会来探望康妮。刚开始，他会在她看肥皂剧时坐在床边。后来，随着康妮的昏睡时间越来越长，他就在病房外的走廊走来走去。不久后，康妮不再看电视了，清醒的时候也更少了，我开始花更多的时间陪着比尔。

他说他一直做着木匠的工作，说他有多爱钓鱼。他和康妮没有孩子，但他们很享受退休后的旅行时光，直至康妮患病。对于妻子病危这一事实，比尔无法向我细述他的感受。

一天，我们在自助餐厅里喝咖啡，我向他提到了女人这个话题，谈到在生活中我们多么需要浪漫，多想收到柔情蜜意的卡片和情书。

“你对康妮说过你爱她吗？”我明知故问，而他像看一个疯子一样看着我。

“我没必要说，”他说道，“她知道我爱她！”

“我能肯定她是知道的，”我说，“但她需要听到你说，比尔。她需要亲耳听你说说这些年来她在你心中意味着什么。请你好好想想吧。”

我们走回康妮的病房。比尔走了进去，而我则走开去看望其他病人。后来，我看到比尔坐在病床边。康妮睡着了，他握着她的一只手。那天是2月12日。

两天后的中午时分，我经过病房。比尔站在那儿，靠在走廊的墙上，盯着地板。我已经从护士长那里得知康妮在上午11点离开了人世。

比尔看到我后，将自己蜷在我的怀抱里许久。他的脸被泪水打湿，浑身颤抖。最终，他靠回墙上，深吸一口气。

“有些话我一定要说，”他说道。“我不得不说，告诉她我有多爱她的感觉棒极了。关于你说的话，我想了很多。就在今天早上，我告诉了她我有多爱她，告诉她能与她结为夫妇我有多开心。你真该看看她的笑容！”

我走进病房，亲自向康妮告别。在床头柜上，我看到比尔写给她的一张大大的情人节卡片，上面写着满是柔情的话语：“致我的贤妻，我爱你。”

Words from the Heart