A Story

Late at night, I was writing alone in the study.

After thinking for a long time, I finallystarted writing. I did not know what kind of story I should write, but atleast this story should be able to arouse other people's thinking. Thinkingabout choice.

This is how the story begins.

 

“Wow!She is such a neurotic.”

“Yes,really. Do you know how she became like this?”

“Whoknows. Maybe she has always been like this...”

“Comeon, just stop talking about her. It’s none of our business.”

“Nobodycares about a stranger!”

Silently,she was sitting by the river bank.

Shedidn’t say a word until sunset.

Shesaid: “Ben...It’s time to go home. Come here, mom will take you home.”

Itseemed that she was waiting for someone. Later, she smiled contently.

Inthe boundless setting sunshine, a figure went farther and farther. She juststood there with her right hand grasping as if she is holding her son’s handtightly.

Itwas completely dark. There was a trace of water vapor in the air. Soon therewas a drop of rainwater fallen from the sky, sliding into the cracks in thebrick and tile, and finally fell into the corner of the cottage. Then all therain suddenly tilted down. A heavy rain was coming.

Onecottage, one old woman and one young cat.

“Meow...”

“Oh,my poor little cat, where are you?”

“Meow...”

“Oh,my poor little cat...Look at what you have done yourself! You are wet allover.”

“Look!You are so wet...just like...like my poor son...son? I have a son?”

“No...No...No...Idon’t have a son.”

“No!I do have a son... I did have a son. Oh...my poor Ben!”

“Ben...Ben!”

Shesuddenly rushed out of the cottage with one of her shoes missing on the way.

Lawrenceand her boyfriend were also in the rain.

"Wow！Whata heavy rain！My shoes are almost wet."

"Oh...Weshould have believed the weather forecast. "

“Comeon, don’t be wise after the fact! OK?”

“Allright ...Wait! Larry! Is there an old woman by the river bank?”

“Theriver? Oh no! Come on. Stay away from it. I hate the river!”

“But...”

“Sheis just a stranger! It’s none of our business.”

“Larry...”

“Look!I am scared of the river. Come on, I don't want to stay here anymore.”

"OK,OK...Larry. Let's go."

Theysoon left the river bank. In the wind and rain, their figures are slowly faded,so was their conversation.

"Larry,why are you scared of the river？"

"That'sterrible！Hadit not been for him, I would have drowned in the river 18 years ago."

"Him？Whois he？"

"Hmm…Astranger..."

Thecold wind that had howled all night finally stopped the next morning. Thesunshine seemed to be spreading lazily on the ground. It seemed that everythingwas going to be better. However, was this really the case?

“Itis said that a person was drowned in the river yesterday evening.”

“Really?Who was he?”

“Idon’t know, it’s a stranger.”

“Allright...”

Thatold woman died. This news soon swept over the village.

"Whydoes she become like this？"

"Whoknows. But...It seems that she once had a son. "

"What？Sheshould have a son！Where is her son？"

"Noone knows for certain. It is really a long time..."

Oneweek later, the police finally found her cottage only to find nothing except aletter which was written from the saved family 18 years ago.

 

DearBenson George:

 We pay our highest respects to you whose deeds deserve to be rememberedforever! Had it not been for you, my Lawrence would have lost the chance toview the beautiful world. You, Benson George was actually a hero who paid withyour own life to save a stranger. You will be always remembered!

                                                Respectfullyyours，

                                                Saved family

 

Maybeafter many years, people will forget this old woman one after another just likeher son who should not have been forgotten...

"Whatcaused him to save a stranger？"

"Isit worth doing so？"

 

This is the end of the story.  When I wrote this end, I was not satisfiedwith myself.

About the two questions, the person I wanted to ask most was myself.Did I have no answer to those two questions?  No, actually I had the answer.A happy ending was more suitable for my heart. But I finally deleted the happyending and left the above two questions to readers. When it comes to kindnessbetween strangers, the situation is not very optimistic at present.

Lifeis not a story. There does not exist so many coincidences and happy endings.However, life is sometimes more dramatic than fiction. Story needs heroes, sodoes life.

Ifinished the story and only to found that the skyline in the distance hadalready dawned.

 

作者：英语学院2017级4班张晨馨