Right Beside You 身边总有你

　　The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to feel the location of the seats, settled in to one. She placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

　　It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. As the result of a medical accident she was sightless, suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. All she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

　　Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and he became determined to use every means possible to help his wife.

　　Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but she was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.

　　For two weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat.

　　Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a taxi back to his office. Although that meant he had to travel through the city and the routine was costly and exhausting, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her.

　　Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she embraced her husband tightly. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, and his love. She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and a wild gaiety took hold of Susan. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

　　On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was exiting the bus, the driver said, “Miss, I sure envy you.” Curious, Susan asked the driver why.

　　“You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a salute and walks away. You are one lucky lady,” the bus driver said.

　　Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe—the gift of love that can bring light where there is darkness.

　　当这个手持白杖的年轻女子小心翼翼地上车时，车上的乘客都向她投去怜悯的目光。她向司机付了车费之后，双手摸索着座位，然后坐好，把公文包放在膝盖上，手杖靠着腿。

　　34岁的苏珊失明已有一年了。一起医疗事故夺去了她的视力，她顿时陷入黑暗之中，内心充满愤怒、沮丧，还有顾影自怜，而她可以依靠的只有她的丈夫马克了。

　　马克是名空军军官，他深爱着苏珊。苏珊失明的头些日子，他眼睁睁地看着妻子陷入绝望，心里打定主意，要尽一切办法帮助她。

　　苏珊终于愿意重返工作岗位了。可她怎么去上班呢?以前都是乘公交车去的，但是她现在很害怕，自己一个人不敢在城里转。于是马克自告奋勇早晚坐公车接送，直到她可以一个人应付。这就是事情的经过。

　　整整两周，马克每天都一身戎装，陪着苏珊一起上下班，教她怎么凭借其他感官，尤其是听觉，判断她所处的位置，以及如何适应新的环境。他还帮她与司机交好，这样司机能照顾她，并给她留个座位。

　　每天早上，他们都一起同行，然后马克再乘出租车回去上班。尽管马克得穿过整座城市，而且疲惫不堪，又花费不菲，但是他坚信苏珊一定能独立乘车的，只是时间问题。

　　最后，苏珊决定自己独自坐车上班。星期一上午，临行前，她紧紧地拥抱着自己的丈夫，眼里蓄满了感激的泪水，感谢他的忠诚，他的耐心，还有他的爱。她向他道了别，他们第一次朝着不同的方向走去。周一、周二、周三、周四……每天她的独行之旅都很顺利，苏珊感到一阵狂喜。她成功了!她真的能一个人去上班了!

　　周五早上，苏珊照常乘公共汽车去上班。就要下车了，司机说：“小姐，我真羡慕你啊。”苏珊感到很奇怪，便问司机为什么。

　　“是这样的，上星期，每天早上都有一个仪表堂堂穿着军装的男士一直站在拐弯处看着你下车，看着你安全地穿过街道，又看着你走进办公楼，他向你飞一个吻，冲你行个礼，然后才动身离去。你真是个幸运的姑娘啊!” 司机说。

　　苏珊的脸上流下幸福的泪水。她是幸运的，因为马克给了她比视力更珍贵的礼物，一份她不需要看就能体会到的礼物——这就是爱的礼物，它能给黑暗带来光明。