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希望就是力量。只要内心充满希望，生命就可以延续。在很多情况下，希望可能是一个人最重要的支撑力。如果你心存希望，那么所谓的困难、挫折都只是暂时的，你终将会跨越它们抵达内心所期盼的彼岸。
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 rear1 wheels of the bus. She survived the accident, but was paralyzed2 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 miraculously3 recovered and we moved back north, but I owe Helen a debt that I can never repay.
我在俄亥俄州上八年级的时候，班上一位名叫海伦的小姑娘遭遇了一场严重的车祸。当时，她跑着去赶公交车，不料却滑倒在冰上，跌倒在汽车的后轮下。她活了下来，但腰部以下瘫痪了。我去看望她的时候，我13岁的脑海里总是有一种预感，从此她恐怕很难过正常人的生活了。
几年后，我搬了家，之后就再也没多想过有关海伦的事情。三年前，在佛罗里达州，我的大儿子骑自行车时被汽车撞倒，导致脑部严重受伤。当我在医院里照顾儿子时，一位自称是这家医院义工的女士给我打来了电话。那是我特别难熬的一天。我莫名其妙地嚎啕大哭，随后挂断了电话。
不一会儿，一位漂亮的女士带着一盒纸巾，坐着轮椅来到我儿子的房间。尽管分别了16年，我仍然认出她就是海伦。她微笑着递给我纸巾，拥抱了我。我向她讲明了自己的身份。我们两人都很惊讶，然后她开始讲述我们最后见面之后她的生活经历。她结了婚，生了孩子，为了给那些比自己更不幸的人铺平道路，她努力获得了学位。 她告诉我，假若她有什么能够送给我的话，那就是“希望”二字了。
看着这位身残志坚、乐于奉献的女士，我不由得感觉到自己的渺小。不过，我也拥有了自得知儿子受伤以后的第一份希望。从这位当年我曾经认为难以有生活质量的人的身上，我明白了一个道理：只要有生命，就会有希望。后来，我儿子奇迹般地康复了。我们又搬回到了北方。然而，我欠了海伦的，可能我永远都难以偿还。
王汝荣 摘译自Life & Story
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 rear1 wheels of the bus. She survived the accident, but was paralyzed2 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 miraculously3 recovered and we moved back north, but I owe Helen a debt that I can never repay.
我在俄亥俄州上八年级的时候，班上一位名叫海伦的小姑娘遭遇了一场严重的车祸。当时，她跑着去赶公交车，不料却滑倒在冰上，跌倒在汽车的后轮下。她活了下来，但腰部以下瘫痪了。我去看望她的时候，我13岁的脑海里总是有一种预感，从此她恐怕很难过正常人的生活了。
几年后，我搬了家，之后就再也没多想过有关海伦的事情。三年前，在佛罗里达州，我的大儿子骑自行车时被汽车撞倒，导致脑部严重受伤。当我在医院里照顾儿子时，一位自称是这家医院义工的女士给我打来了电话。那是我特别难熬的一天。我莫名其妙地嚎啕大哭，随后挂断了电话。
不一会儿，一位漂亮的女士带着一盒纸巾，坐着轮椅来到我儿子的房间。尽管分别了16年，我仍然认出她就是海伦。她微笑着递给我纸巾，拥抱了我。我向她讲明了自己的身份。我们两人都很惊讶，然后她开始讲述我们最后见面之后她的生活经历。她结了婚，生了孩子，为了给那些比自己更不幸的人铺平道路，她努力获得了学位。 她告诉我，假若她有什么能够送给我的话，那就是“希望”二字了。
看着这位身残志坚、乐于奉献的女士，我不由得感觉到自己的渺小。不过，我也拥有了自得知儿子受伤以后的第一份希望。从这位当年我曾经认为难以有生活质量的人的身上，我明白了一个道理：只要有生命，就会有希望。后来，我儿子奇迹般地康复了。我们又搬回到了北方。然而，我欠了海伦的，可能我永远都难以偿还。
王汝荣 摘译自Life & Story