Life Is the Best Beautiful Hope
? 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，我们都感到非常震惊。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”。
看着这位了不起又乐于奉献的女士，我深感渺小。自从儿子受伤后，我也感受到了第一份希望。这个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。
1. As she was running to the_______in order not to miss it, she slipped on_______ice and fell under the rear wheels of the bus. She survived the _______, but was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to_______her, in my 13-year-old mind thinking she wouldn’t_______normally from then on.
2. She_______, handed me the tissues and hugged me. I told her who I_______, and after we both got through the shock of_______ , she began to tell me about her life_______we last saw each other. She had_______, had children and gotten her degree so that she_______smooth the path for those less fortunate_______her.
1. 她幸免于难，但腰部以下瘫痪了。
2. 她告诉我，现在倘若她有什么可以给我的，那就是“希望”。
3. 只要有生命，就有希望。
1. It was a particularly trying day. I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.
burst into tears：突然大哭起来
2. I owe Helen a debt that I can never rep
