Love Is Just a Thread

宋秋香

One day， my mother was sewing a quilt. I silently sat down beside her and looked at her.

“Mom， I have a question to ask you，” I said after a while.

“What？” she replied， still doing her work.

“Is there love between you and Dad？” I asked her in a very low voice.

My mother stopped her work and raised her head with surprise in her eyes. She didnt answer immediately. Then she bowed her head and continued to sew the quilt.

I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. I was in a great embarrassment and I didnt know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words：

“Susan， look at this thread. Sometimes it appears， but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt strong and durable. If life is a quilt， then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen anywhere or anytime， but its really there. Love is inside.”

I listened carefully but I couldnt understand her until the next spring. At that time， my father suddenly got seriously sick. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital， they both looked very pale. It seemed both of them had had a serious illness.

After they were back， every day in the morning and at dusk， my mother helped my father walk slowly on the country road.

The doctor had said my father would recover in two months. But after two months he still couldnt walk by himself. All of us were worried about him.

“Dad， how are you feeling now？” I asked him one day.

“Susan， dont worry about me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth， I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life.” Reading his eyes， I know he loves my mother deeply.

Once I thought love meant flowers， gifts and sweet kisses. But from this experience， I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life. Love is  inside， making life strong and warm.

一天，母亲正在缝被子，我静静地坐在她旁边看着她。

过了一会，我说：“妈妈，我想问你一个问题。”

“什么问题？”她一边继续缝着，一边问道。

我低声地问道：“你和爸爸之间有爱情吗？”

母亲停下了手中的活，满眼诧异地抬起头。 她没有立即作答。然后低下头，继续缝被子。

我非常担心，因为我想我伤害了她。我非常尴尬，不知道该怎么办。可最后我听见母亲说：

“苏珊，看看這根线。有时候，它能看得见，但是大多时候它都隐藏在被子里。这根线会使被子坚固耐用。如果生活是一床被子，那么爱就是其中的线。你不可能随时随地看到它，但是它却实实在在地存在着。爱是内在的。”

我仔细地听着，却无法明白她的话，直到来年的春天。那时候，我父亲突然得了重病。母亲为了照料他在医院里呆了一个月。当他们从医院回来的时候，都显得非常苍白。就像他们都得了一场重病一样。

他们回来之后，每天的清晨和黄昏，母亲都会搀扶着父亲在乡村的小路上散步。

医生说父亲会在两个月后康复。但是两个月之后，他仍然无法独立行走。我们都很为他担心。

有一天，我问他：“爸爸，你感觉怎么样？”

他温和地说：“苏珊，不用为我担心。跟你说吧，我就是喜欢与你妈妈一块散步的感觉。我喜欢这种生活。”从他的眼神里，我看得出他对母亲的爱之深刻。

我曾经认为爱情就是鲜花、礼物和甜蜜的亲吻。但是从这次经历，我明白了爱情就是生活中被子里的一根线。爱情就在里面，使生活变得坚固而温暖。