再說一次“我愛你”

One fine day， an old couple around the age of 70， walked into a lawyer’s office. Apparently， they were there to file a divorce. The lawyer was very puzzled. After having a chat with them， he got their story—the couple had been quarreling all their 40 years of marriage and nothing ever seemed to go right.

They had hung on so long because of their children， afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now， all their children had grown up， and had their own families， so the old couple had nothing to worry about. All they wanted was to lead their own lives， free from years of unhappiness. So both agreed on a divorce.

The lawyer was having a hard time trying to get the papers done， because he couldn’t understand why， after 40 years of marriage and at the age of 70， the old couple wanted a divorce. While they were signing the papers， the wife told the husband， “I really love you， but I really can’t carry on anymore， I’m sorry.” “It’s okay， I understand，” said the husband. Looking at this， the lawyer suggested a dinner together， just the three of them. The wife agreed， why not， since they were still going to be friends anyway.

At the dining table， there was an awkward silence. The first dish was roasted chicken. Immediately， the old man took a 1)drumstick for the old lady. “Take this， it’s your favorite.” Looking at this， the lawyer thought maybe there’s still a chance. But the wife was frowning when she answered， “This is always the problem. You always think so highly of yourself， and neverthink about how I feel. Don’t you know that I hate drumsticks?”

Little did she know that， over the years， the husband had tried many ways to please her. Little did she know that drumsticks were the husband’s favorite food. Little did he know that she thought he never understood her at all. Little did he know that she hates drumsticks， even though all he waned was the best for her.

That night， both of them tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. After a few hours， the old man couldn’t take it anymore. He knew that he still loved her， and he couldn’t carry on life without her. He wanted her back， he wanted to tell her， he was sorry， he wanted to tell her “I love you”. He picked up the phone， and dialed her number. Although the calls went unanswered， he never stopped dialing …

On the other side of town， she was sad. She couldn’t understand how after all these years， he still didn’t understand her at all. She loved him a lot， but she just couldn’t take it anymore. As the phone rang， she refused to answer it， knowing that it was him. “What’s the point of talking now that it’s over? I asked for it and now I want to keep it this way，.” she thought ... As the phone continued ringing， she decided to pull out the

2)cord …

She gave little thought to his heart problems ...

The next day， she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartmentand saw his body lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack while trying to call her.

Though she was sad， she had to take care of his belongings. When she was looking through the drawers， she saw his 3)insurance policy， dated from the day they got married， and noticed she was the 4)beneficiary. And together in those files， there was this note:

“To my dearest wife， if you are reading this， I’m sure I’m no longer around. I bought this policy for you. Though the amount is only $100，000， I hope it will be enough to help me carry out the promise that I made when we got married. I want this money to continue taking care of you， just like I would have if I could have lived longer. I want you to know I will always be around， by your side. I love you!”

Tears flowed like a river …

這是晴朗的一天，一對七十歲左右的老夫婦走進了律師事務所。很明顯，他們是來辦離婚的，這令律師困惑不已。在與他們談過話后，他知道了事情的原委：這對夫婦在結婚后的四十多年里一直沒完沒了地爭吵，似乎在所有事情上兩個人都無法取得一致意見。

因為擔心影響孩子們的成長，他們一直都勉強維持著婚姻。如今，所有孩子都長大成人，成家立業了，這對夫婦再也不需要顧忌什么了。他們一心想擺脫多年來不幸婚姻的羈絆，各自過自己的日子，所以雙方都同意離婚。

律師很不情愿地準備著各種離婚文件，因為他實在想不通，這對夫婦一起走過了四十個春秋，竟然在古稀之年還要離婚。當這對夫婦在文件上簽字的時候，老太太對老頭說：“我真是愛你的，但我實在無法堅持下去了。很抱歉！”“沒關系，我能理解。”老頭說道。看到這一情景，律師提議就他們三人一起共進晚餐。老太太想：既然以后雙方還繼續做朋友，吃個飯又何妨。

在吃飯的時候，氣氛一度尷尬而沉寂。第一道菜是燒雞。菜一上桌，老頭就把雞腿給了老太太：“給你，這是你最喜歡吃的。”他這一舉動讓律師覺得他們的婚姻也許還有挽回的希望。可老太太卻皺著眉說：“事情總是這樣。你一直都自以為是，從來不顧及我的感受。難道你不知道我討厭吃雞腿嗎？”

可她不知道的是，多年來她丈夫一直想方設法討她歡心，她也不知道雞腿原是丈夫的最愛；而他不知道是的，她一直認為他一點兒都不了解她，他也不知道，盡管自己總想把最好的留給她，可她最恨吃雞腿。……