Shewasdancing.Mylamegrandmotherwasdancing.Istoodinthelivingroomdoorwaylookingatherbeautifulmovementsabsolutelyshocked.Shewasthepetofthedancingworld.Andthenshe’dhadheraccidentanditwasallover.Ihadreadthatinanoldnewspaperarticle.

‘‘So…Yourleg?Imeanhowdidyourlegheal(恢复健全)?”

“Totellyouthetruth—mylegshavebeenwellallmylife”shesighed.

“ButIdon’tunderstand!”Isaid“Yourdancingcareer(事业)…Youpretendedalltheseyears?”

‘‘Verymuchsoandforaverygoodreason.”

Shethoughtforawhileandthencontinued.“Weweretalkingaboutengagement(订婚)whenyourgrandfatherhadtogotowar.IwassoafraidoflosinghimthattheonlywayIcouldstaynormalwastodance.IputallmyenergyandtimeintopracticingandIbecameverygood.CriticspraisedmethepubliclovedmebutallIcouldfeelwastheacheinmyheartnotknowingwhethertheloveofmylifewouldeverreturn.Thenonedayalettercame.Therewereonlythreesentences:‘Ihavelostmyleg.Iamnolongerawholemanandnowgiveyoubackyourfreedom.Itisbestyouforgetaboutme.’’’

“Imademydecisionthereandthen.Itraveledawayfromthecity.WhenIreturnedIhadboughtmyselfastick.ItoldeveryoneIhadbeeninacarcrashandthatmylegwouldnevercompletelyhealagain.Mydancingdayswereover.Noonedoubtedthestory—Ihadlearnedtolimp(一瘸一拐地走)convincinglybeforeIreturnedhome.AndImadesurethefirstpersontohearofmyaccidentwasareporterIknewwell.ThenItraveledtothehospital.Theyhadpushedyourgrandfatheroutsideinhiswheelchair.Itookadeepbreathleanedonmystickandlimpedtohim.”

“Ishowedhimnewspaperarticlesofmyaccident.‘Thereisawholelifewaitingforusoutthere!ButIamnotgoingtocarryyou.Youaregoingtowalkyourself.’”

“IlimpedafewstepstowardhimandshowedhimwhatI’dtakenoutofmypocket.‘Nowshowmeyouarestillaman.’Isaid.Hebenttotakehisstickfromthegroundandstruggledoutofthatwheelchair.Hemanageditonhisownandwalkedtomeandneversatinawheelchairagaininhislife.”

“Whatdidyoushowhim?”Ihadtoknow.Grandmalookedatmeandsmiled.“Twoengagementringsofcourse.IhadboughtthemthedayafterheleftforthewarandIwasnotgoingtowastethemonanyotherman.”