The Aria(中文注释)
The Aria
咏叹调
My fiancee and I were out to dinner with two of her friends one weekend night. There was a long wait, but we were in no hurry, so we were happy to sit at the bar for a while and have a few drinks. We had some laughs with the bartender(酒吧间男服务员), and it came up in conversation that my fiancee sang opera. She has a gorgeous voice, I mean, you would think an angel had come to earth just to sing for you. Anyway, as were joking around, the bartender offered us a round of(大量的,可观的) drinks if she would sing an aria for the whole restaurant (it was, after all, an Italian restaurant and I suppose they thought it might be a real novelty to have an actual opera singer there). She politely declined(拒绝).
Later on we had eaten our dinner, finished our desserts(甜食)and were contemplating(沉思) after dinner drinks when the bartender happened by and renewed his offer. In an instant my fiancé had grabbed my hand, and put me in a chair in the middle of the room. She began to sing and all I could do was to look at her in awe. The restaurant quickly fell silent. Everyone stopped talking, the waitresses and bus boys has stopped hustling(挤,推) about, the TV in the bar had suddenly been muted, and there was just this gorgeous, pure voice ringing through the entire place. For a moment I was aware of everyone looking at us, but it was only for a moment. I stared at her as she sang to me, and everyone and everything else disappeared. It was one of those moments, and one of those feelings that I simply can't describe, and won't ever forget. She finished the song, and everyone applauded, some yelling "Encore, encore!!" So she sang another song, not just to me this time, but also to the entire congregation(集合). It was beautiful… Utterly gorgeous. Again she was received with great applause.
We went back to our seats, the bartender brought another round, and the restaurant went back to its former state of jingling(叮当声) glasses, 12)clanking plates, and quiet, yet consistent rumble of 100 different conversations all happening at the same time. About five minutes later a lady and her husband came up to the table and introduced themselves. I don't remember their names, but I won't ever forget what happened next. She told my fiancé how beautiful she sounded and made a little light conversation asking about her career plans and what-not. Then, out of the blue(突然地)she started telling us about her son who had been killed in a car crash not too long ago, and how much she missed him. She said that she had prayed to God every day and every night for a sign from him, and how when my fiancé started singing, she thought she sounded just like an angel, and that must be the sign. I asked the lady what her son's name was. When she told me, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. She said his name was Nicholas. Without thinking, I stood up, offered her my hand and introduced myself. I said "My name is Nicholas, and everything is going to be O.K." The lady's eyes welled up with tears while her husband stood behind her with an entirely blank look on his face. It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears.
It's probably been a year and a half or two years since that night, and I still get tears in my eyes when I think about it. I'm not sure how I feel about that night, but I do know that it changed my life, and that I will never forget it. I've always believed in God, but I had never felt a presence like I did that night, even if only for a very brief moment. Despite that occurrence I still struggle with my faith. I guess I still have some things to work out in myself before I really come to grips with it. My fiancé and I are no longer together. We split up(分裂) a few months after that night in the restaurant. Despite all the feelings we shared, it simply wasn't enough to keep us together. It takes more than love to make a relationship work. I don't hope for it to work between us anymore. I just accept what is, and what is not. I just try to enjoy the days as they come. I hope that she's doing the same.
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