My wife, Loretta, who had terminal pancreatic cancer, received a package containing a beautiful white ceramic swan.

我的妻子洛蕾塔得了晚期胰腺癌。她收到了一个包裹里面装着一只陶瓷天鹅。

It had cost $100, and our bills were multiplying rapidly.

它价值100美元，而当时我们（用于医疗等方面的花销）已经如流水。

“How could you do this?” I burst out.

“你怎么可以这样？”我咆哮道。

“I ordered it a long time ago. I really wanted it,” she replied tearfully.

“我很早以前就定了，而且我真的很想要，”妻子泪流满面的说道。

“It’s all right,” I said, ashamed.

“好吧。”我说着感到内疚。

“I love you, Bill, and I don’t want to die,” she said.

“比尔，我爱你，而且我也不想死。”妻子又这样说道。

“I love you too,” I said.

“我也爱你。”我回答道。

The darkness of my scolding turned into a bright moment of mutual love.

于是，本来是我无情的责骂，就这样演变成了一段充满爱的片刻。

Twenty-five years later, the swan remains. That moment is etched upon my heart.

25年了，这只陶瓷天鹅依旧还在，它似乎提醒着我，而那段与妻子的对话已经被深深地刻在心里。