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第12章 The Gift（第1页）

第12章TheGift

JunieGirl

Itwaswellaftermid-night，edinmywarmfleecyrobe1IstoodsilentlystarihfloorwindowofthedauntingNewYorkhospital。IwasstarireetBridge。ItarkliifulasaChristmastree。NewYorkcityhasalwaysbeeome;theBroadwaytheatre，themusic，therestaurants—fromthedeli’stotheTavern-Ohisiswhatthecityissupposedtobeabout，”Iththemtoeaaihemdideandatninea。m。onthatMarch17th，Iwaswheelediingroom。Elevenhoursandforty-fivemierIwaswheeledintoare，andaveryfewhreturomyownhospitalroom，Ifouuallyo，halfwalking，halfpropelledbymedicalequipmentandmembersofmyfamily。Theordersweretowalkthelengthandbackofthelonghospitalcorridor。

ItwasthenthatIfirstsawhim。Isawhimthroughahazes，painandthedreamyuhatthiscouldbehappeningtome。Hewasstandinginthedooritalroom。Inmytwilight，ueIsawhimalmostasaspiritshaperatherthanafullblowthebodylahisshapewassomehowsendingoutsympathyandeome。

Thisbecamemydailyroutihreeweeks。AsIgailemththemaandinginthedoorway，smilingandnoddingasIwouldpasswithoneormoremembersofmyfamily。Ohedtosoloupthecorridor。AsIpassedhisroom，therewasmyfaithfulfriendinthedoorway。Hewasaslenderdarkan。Istoppedami。Heiohiswife，andhissonwhowaslyinglistlesslyinahospitalbed。ThedayasImademyscheduledwalk，hecameoutahmetomyroom。HeexplaiheandhiswifehadbroughttheirteehishospitalofhopefromIraillhoping，butthigoioldmeofhowIhadencedhimonthatfirstdreadfulnight’swalkingtouraihreemoreweeksweuedourversations—eagtheiftandfrieoldmeofhowheenjoyedseeingmyfamilyastheyralliedaroundmeandIwassaddehelohatsmallfamilysofarfromhome。

Miraculously，theredideadaywheoldmeIwouldbedischargedthefoll。ThatnightItoldmyfriemhe。Ihadbeenupanddressedsin。MybrightyellavemehopeandIalmostlookedhumaalkedabit。ItoldhimIwouldprayforhissohashruggedhisshoulders，indigthehopelessness。ouldheragain，inthisworld。Thismaninhissorroyforme。Ifelthislove。Hetookmyhandandsaid，“Youaremysister。”Iansweredbadsaid，“Youaremybrother。”Heturheroom。

Myfamilycametoretrieveme。Dodosaytheirgoodbyesandgiveorders。AllbusinesshadbeentakeersevenandahalfweeksIwasleavialroomIhadwalkedintowithsomuchtrepidation。

AsIturowalkdownthecorridortotheelevator，mybrotherstoodinthedoorway，smiling，noddingandgivinghisblessing。

Itwas14yearsagotodayonMarch17th1990thatIeroomandmuchhashappeheworldsiherandIsaidourlastfarewell。YetIthinkofhimoftenandheisalwaysiasIfeelIaminhis。Irememberhisintense，darkbroledgedourselvesasbrotherahatmomeadoubtthattheSpiritofGodhoveredoverussmiling，noddingandblessinguswiththekweareallone。

ManytimesIhavepoheyearswhywehumaourdearestfriendsorbohanotherpersovulhinkitisbewefacealifethreateningillness，jobloss，whatevertheaybe;weareleftpletelyretensionasandsoulsareopentothosearoundusaoaccepttheloveandkihers—almostasfreelyandthankfullyasacceptlove。Thiskindofloveisblindtorace，ddleadstoapairofdarkbrowneyesseekingapairofveryblueeyesandpledgiwilllastthroughtime。