大卫·S.匹萨斯基/
WhenIfirstsawher,,,Isaidtomyself.
,,hesaid.
,Itransposedthesyllablesofherfirstandlastnamesintoludicrousgarble.“DinneronSaturday?”Iproposed,embarrassedandexpectingrejection.“Iwouldenjoythat,”sheanswered,soundingpleased.
-humored-happy,shesaid,totourvillageswhosehistoriesshehadreadabout.
Weneverlocatedtherestaurant,andthenalmostranoutofgas.Wefinallyateat10p.m.，,withherstraightblondhairandclassicfeatures,shestoodoutamongthelocalkids.
Backatschool,,andthenshequicklykissedmycheek.“Thankyouforawonderfulevening,”,shedisappearedintothedormitory.
Howmanytimeshavetherebeenmomentslikethat,momentsofsuchencompassinggraceandlovethatIdoubtedtheiractuality?Momentslikethedayofourmarriage,.
ButOctober15，1993，,wearoseat5a.m.，?Shekissedbothofourchildrenastheyslept,buttheyneverstirredorsaid“Goodluck”or“Iloveyou,Mommy.”Inthehospital,afterwesignedthepapers,Iwatchedherchangeintoafadedcottongownandtwopairsofsocks,asiftheworstinjurythatdaywouldbethechilloftheoperatingroom.
,butnowlookedsofearful.
FeelingfranticanddisconnectedIkissedher,.
Whenshereturnedtoherroomlatethatafternoon,onherchestwasanexpanseofbillowingwhitebandageplacedbyasurgeon’shandswithaprecisionanddelicacyshewouldhaveadmired.Iwasremindedofthecoverletshehadappliquédforourchildren’-reassuringandnotasharshasIhadexpected.
Sittingbesideherinadimlylitroomthatsmelledsharplyofdisinfectant,Irealizedthatbecausemylifewassointertwinedwithhers,I,too,-graycloudsslowlytraversingtheafternoonsky.
,,andbrushedthegray-fleckedhairacrosshersweatybrow.
