第14部分(第4/6 頁)

t　how　would　she　get　there？　She　used　to　take　the　bus；　but　was　now　too　frightened　to　get　around　the　city　by　herself。　Mark　volunteered　to　drive　her　to　work　each　day；　even　though　they　worked　at　opposite　ends　of　the　city。

At　first；　this　forted　Susan　and　fulfilled　Mark’s　need　to　protect　his　sightless　wife　who　was　so　insecure　about　performing　the　slightest　task。　Soon；　however；　Mark　realized　that　this　arrangement　wasn’t　working—it　was　hectic2；　and　costly。　Susan　is　going　to　have　to　start　taking　the　bus　again；　he　admitted　to　himself。　But　just　the　thought　of　mentioning　it　to　her　made　him　cringe。　She　was　still　so　fragile；　so　angry。　How　would　she　react？txt電子書分享平臺

公共汽車上的乘客（3）

Just　as　Mark　predicted；　Susan　was　horrified　at　the　idea　of　taking　the　bus　again。　“I’m　blind！”　she　responded　bitterly。　“How　am　I　supposed　to　know　where　I’m　going？　I　feel　like　you’re　abandoning　me。”

Mark’s　heart　broke　to　hear　these　words；　but　he　knew　what　had　to　be　done。　He　promised　Susan　that　each　morning　and　evening　he　would　ride　the　bus　with　her；　for　as　long　as　it　took；　until　she　got　the　hang　of　it。　And　that　is　exactly　what　happened。

For　two　solid　weeks；　Mark；　military　uniform　and　all；　acpanied　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　to3　her　new　environment。　He　helped　her　be…friend　the　bus　drivers　who　could　watch　out　for　her；　and　save　her　a　seat。　He　made　her　laugh；　even　on　those　not…so…good　days　when　she　would　trip　exiting　the　bus；　or　drop　her　briefcase。

Each　morning　they　made　the　journey　together；　and　Mark　would　take　a　cab　back　to　his　office。　Although　this　routine　was　even　more　costly　and　exhausting　than　the　previous　one；　Mark　knew　it　was　only　a　matter　of　time