佚名/Anonymous

When I was in the 8th grade in Ohio, a girl named Helen in my class had a terrible accident. As she was running to the bus in order not to miss it, she slipped on some ice and fell under the rear wheels of the bus. She survived the accident, but was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to see her, in my 13-year-old mind thinking she wouldn't live normally from then on.

Over the years, I moved and didn't think much about Helen after that. Three years ago, in Florida, my oldest son was hit by a car while riding his bike, causing a terrible brain injury. While I was looking after my son, a lady who said she was the hospital’s social worker called. It was a particularly trying day. I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.

A short time later, a beautiful woman, in a wheelchair, rolled into my son’s room with a box of tissues. After 16 years, I still recognized Helen. She smiled, handed me the tissues and hugged me. I told her who I was, and after we both got through the shock of that, she began to tell me about her life since we last saw each other. She had married, had children and gotten her degree so that she could smooth the path for those less fortunate than her. She told me that if there was anything she could give me, it would be hope.

Looking at this wonderful, giving person, I felt small. But I also felt the first hope I had felt since learning that my son was hurt. From this person that I thought would have no quality of life, I learned that where there is life, there is hope. My son miraculously recovered and we moved back north, but I owe Helen a debt that I can never repay.

我在俄亥俄州读八年级时，班上有一个女孩名叫海伦，她遭遇了一场严重的车祸。她怕错过公交车，急匆匆地跑过去时，不慎踩到冰块，滑倒在后车轮下。她幸免于难，但腰部以下瘫痪了。去探望她时，13岁的我想，从此以后，她再也不能正常地生活了。

数年后，我搬了家，也没有再想过海伦。三年前，在佛罗里达州，我的大儿子骑车时被汽车撞倒，脑部受到严重创伤。在我照顾儿子期间，有一位女士打来电话，自称是医院义工。那是最难熬的日子，我毫无来由地失声痛哭，然后挂了电话。

不久，一位坐着轮椅的漂亮女士出现在儿子的病房，她手里拿着纸巾。16年以后，我仍然认出，是海伦。她微笑着，递纸巾给我，拥抱我。我告诉她自己是谁后，我们为此都非常震惊。她开始告诉我，我们分别后她的生活经历。她结婚生子，并获得了学位。这样，她能为那些比自己更不幸的人点燃前进的希望。她告诉我，现在倘若她有什么可以给我的，那就是“希望”。

看着这位了不起的又乐于奉献的女士，我深感渺小。但是，自从儿子受伤后，我也感受到了第一份希望。这位我曾以为没有生活质量的人让我明白：只要有生命，就有希望。儿子奇迹般地康复了，我们又搬回了北方。但是，我欠海伦的情谊将永远无法偿还。

心灵小语

希望并不是一件奢侈的东西，它不是仅存在顺境中的装饰，而是伴随着我们的生命，从不曾离开。在逆境中，我们常常以为希望离我们而去了，觉得自己陷入了绝望的深渊，却不知希望就像太阳一样，即便我们在阴影下，也不能否认它的存在，只要抬起头，总是能看到阳光。

词汇笔记

survive[s?'vaiv]v.幸存；幸免于难；挺过；艰难度过

Did anyone survive the explosion?

那次爆炸事故中有人幸免吗？

paralyzed['p?r?laizd]adj.瘫痪的；麻痹的

His left leg was paralyzed.

他左腿瘫痪了。

particularly[p?'tikjul?li]adv.特别；尤其

Iron in diet is particularly important.

食物中的铁质尤为重要。

miraculously[mi'r?kj?l?sli]adv.神奇地；非凡地；出乎意料地

Miraculously he just walked away from the traffic accident.

车祸中，他竟奇迹般地一点儿事也没有。

小试身手

她幸免于难，但腰部以下瘫痪了。

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她告诉我，现在倘若她有什么可以给我的，那就是“希望”。

译________________________________________

只要有生命，就有希望。

译________________________________________

短语家族

I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.

burst into tears：突然大哭起来

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I owe Helen a debt that I can never repay.

owe a debt：欠债

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