第15部分(第3/7 頁)

　open。　How　serious　was　this？　“To　who？　”Harry　asked。

“To　Juana；　”Michael　said。　“We’re　in　love。”

Love。　Love　had　found　its　way　through　the　hospital　doors；　over　two　bodies　that　refused　to　work　for　their　owners　and　penetrated　their　hearts—despite　the　fact　that　the　two　patients　were　unable　to　feed　or　cloth　themselves；　required　ventilators　just　to　breath　and　could　never　walk　again。　Michael　had　spinal　muscular　atrophy；　Juana　had　multiple　sclerosis。

Just　how　serious　this　marriage　idea　was；　became　quite　apparent　when　Michael　pulled　out　the　engagement　ring　and　beamed　as　he　hadn’t　done　in　years。　In　fact；　the　staff　had　never　seen　a　kinder；　sweeter　Michael；　who　had　been　one　of　the　angriest　men　Harry’s　employees　had　ever　worked　with。

The　reason　for　Michael’s　anger　was　understandable。　For　twenty…five　years；　he　had　lived　his　life　at　a　medical　center　where　his　mother　had　placed　him　at　age　nine　and　visited　him　several　times　a　week　until　she　died。　He　was　always　a　raspy　sort　of　guy；　who　cussed　out　his　nurses　routinely；　but　at　least　he　felt　he　had　family　at　the　hospital。　The　patients　were　his　friends。

愛的港灣（3）

There　even　had　been　a　girl　once　who　went　about　in　a　squeaky　wheelchair　who　he　was　sure　had　eyed　him。　But　she　hadn’t　stayed　long　at　the　center。　And　after　spending　more　than　half　his　life　there；　now　Michael　wasn’t　going　to　get　to　stay　either。

The　center　was　closing；　and　Michael　was　shipped　to　live　at　the　rehabilitation　hospital；　far　from　his　frie