◎ John Mark
Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door. The card said, “Be my Valentine”, like all the years before.
紅玫瑰是她的最愛,玫瑰也是她的名字。每年她的丈夫都要送紅玫瑰給她,上面系著漂亮的蝴蝶結(jié)。他去世的那年,玫瑰花送到了她家門口。卡片上寫著“我的情人節(jié)禮物”,就同前幾年一樣。
Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say, “I love you even more this year, than last year on this day.” “My love for you will always grow, with every passing year.” She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear. She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would pass away. He always liked to do things early. Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine. She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase. Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face. She would sit for hours, in her husband’s favorite chair. While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.
每年他為她送紅玫瑰,卡片上總寫著:“今年我更愛你,比去年的今天更愛。”“隨著逝去的歲月,年復(fù)一年,我對你的愛一直在增長。”她清楚這是最后一次收到玫瑰花了。她想,玫瑰是他提前預(yù)定的。她親愛的丈夫不知道他將會離開人間了。他總喜歡把事情做在前頭,這樣,即使他很忙,每件事也都照樣做得妥妥當(dāng)當(dāng)。她修剪好花莖,把它們插進一個特別的花瓶里。然后,將花瓶放在他微笑的照片旁邊。她會在她丈夫最喜歡的椅子上坐上好幾個小時,看著他的相片,玫瑰花放在那兒。
A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate. With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate. Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before, the doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door. She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock. Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop. The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain, why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?
一年過去了,沒有他的日子很艱難。孤獨和寂寞成了她的命運。然而,在情人節(jié)這天,跟以往送花的時間相同,門鈴響了,玫瑰花就放在門前。她將玫瑰花拿進屋,吃驚地看著它們。然后她撥通了花店的電話。她問店主能否向她解釋一下,為什么有人要對她做這件事,引起她的痛苦和心酸。
“I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,” The owner said, “I knew you’d call, and you would want to know.” “The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance.” “Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance.”
“我知道你的丈夫一年多前去世了,”店主說,“我知道你會打電話來,你想知道是怎么回事。今天你收到的花,早已經(jīng)提前預(yù)定好了。你的丈夫總是提前計劃未來,他做事從來不碰運氣。
“There is a standing order that I have on file down here. And he has paid, well in advance; you’ll get them every year. There also is another thing that I think you should know. He wrote a special little card... he did this years ago.”
“我的存檔里有一個固定的訂單。他已經(jīng)提前付了錢,你每年都會收到玫瑰花。還有另外一件事,我覺得你應(yīng)該知道,他寫了一張?zhí)貏e的卡片……幾年前就寫好了。
“Then, should ever, I find out that he’s no longer here. That’s the card... that should be sent, to you the following year.”
“這樣,如果我發(fā)現(xiàn)他已不在人世的話,這張卡片……將在下一年送給你?!?
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card. Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note. Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote: “Hello my love, I know it’s been a year since I’ve been gone, I hope it hasn’t been too hard for you to overcome.” “I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real. For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel. The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life. I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife.”
她謝了他,掛了電話,眼淚奪眶而出。她的手指顫抖著,慢慢地伸手去拿那張卡片。在卡片上,她看到他寫給她的便條。她默默地看著,他是這樣寫的:“親愛的,我知道我離開你已經(jīng)一年了,我希望你所度過的這段日子不是太難。我知道你一定很孤獨,一定苦不堪言。因為如果這樣的事發(fā)生在我身上,我知道我會有怎樣的感受。我們的愛讓生命中的一切都那么美麗。我對你的愛無法用言語表達,你是最完美的妻子。
“You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need. I know it’s only been a year, but please try not to grieve. I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears. That is why the roses will be sent to you for years.”
“你是我的朋友和愛人,你總能滿足我的每一個需求。我知道才過了一年,但是請你盡可能不要悲傷。我希望你快樂,即使流著淚。這就是為什么會送玫瑰給你了。
“When you get these roses, think of all the happiness that we had together, and how both of us were blessed. I have always loved you and I know I always will. But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still.”
“當(dāng)你收到這些花時,請想想我們一起度過的所有幸福時光,我們是怎樣受到祝福的。我一直愛著你,我知道我將永遠愛著。但是,親愛的,你必須繼續(xù)生活下去,你還有好多日子要繼續(xù)過下去。
“Please... try to find happiness, while living out your days. I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways. The roses will come every year, and they will only stop when your door’s not answered, when the florist stops to knock.”
“請你……在你的有生之年努力尋找幸福。我知道這并不容易,但我希望你能找到一些方式。玫瑰每年都會送來,而且,只有當(dāng)你不再應(yīng)門時,只有當(dāng)花店店主停止敲門時,它們才不會再來。
“He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt. To take the roses to the place, where I’ve instructed him, and place the rose where we are, together once again.”
“這一天,以防你出門不在家,他會來五次。你是否還在,他最后一次拜訪就會明了。他會將花送到我指定的地方,并將玫瑰放在我們再次相聚的地方。”