Received this in my email at work some time ago. The IT guys has been sending out mails reminding us to clear out the old mails and junk in our Lotus Notes mail. Guess I better do some housekeeping and take out the trash. But this little piece here is no trash! Many of you may have read it already. But I like it enough to want to put it up here, you know, for future reference, who knows?
Some parts of the translation may sound awkward, so for those who can read chinese, go for the more accurate chinese version below, as some gist of certain expressions may also get lost in translation.
When You Divorce Me, Carry Me Out in Your Arms
By
Cai Zhi Heng
On my wedding day, I carried my wife in my arms. The bridal car stopped in front of our one-room flat. My buddies insisted that I carry her out of the car in my arms. So I carried her into our home. She was then plump and shy. I was a strong and happy bridegroom.
This was the scene ten years ago.
The following days were as simple as a cup of pure water: we had a kid, I went into business and tried to make more money. When the assets were steadily increasing, the affection between us seemed to ebb. She was a civil servant. Every morning we left home together and got home almost at the same time. Our kid was studying in a boarding school.
Our marriage life seemed to be enviably happy. But the calm life was more likely to be affected by unpredictable changes.
Dew came into my life.
It was a sunny day. I stood on a spacious balcony. Dew hugged me from behind. My heart once again was immersed in her stream of love. This was the apartment I bought for her.
Dew said, You are the kind of man who best draws girls' eyeballs. Her words suddenly reminded me of my wife. When we were just married, my wife said, Men like you, once successful, will be very attractive to girls. Thinking of this, I became somewhat hesitant. I knew I had betrayed mywife. But I couldn’t help doing so.
I moved Dew' s hands aside and said, You go to select some furniture, O.K.? I ve got something to do in the company. Obviously she was unhappy, because I had promised to do it together with her. At the moment, the idea of divorce became clearer in my mind although it used to be something impossible to me.
However, I found it rather difficult to tell my wife about it. No matter how mildly I mentioned it to her, she would be deeply hurt. Honestly, she was a good wife. Every evening she was busy preparing dinner. I was sitting in front of the TV. The dinner was ready soon. Then we watched TV together. Or, I was lounging before the computer, visualizing Dew's body. This was the means of my entertainment.
One day I said to her in a slightly joking way, suppose we divorce, what will you do? She stared at me for a few seconds without a word. Apparently she believed that divorce was something too far away from her. I couldn’t imagine how she would react once she got to know I was serious.
When my wife went to my office, Dew had just stepped out. Almost all the staff looked at my wife with a sympathetic eye and tried to hide something while talking to her. She seemed to have got some hint. She gently smiled at my subordinates. But I read some hurt in her eyes.
Once again, Dew said to me, He Ning, divorce her, O.K.? Then we live together. I nodded. I knew I could not hesitate any more.
When my wife served the last dish, I held her hand. I’ve got something to tell you, I said.
She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the serious topic calmly.
She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I’m serious. I avoided her question. This so-called answer made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man!
That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, because my heart had gone to Dew.
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. I felt a pain in my heart. The woman who had been living ten years with me would become a stranger one day. But I could not take back what I had said.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer.
Late that night, I came back home after entertaining my clients. I saw her writing something at the table. I fell asleep fast. When I woke up, I found she was still there. I turned over and was asleep again.
She brought up her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but I was supposed to give her one month’s time before divorce, and in the month’s time we must live as normal a life as possible. Her reason was simple: our son would finish his summer vacation a month later and she didn’t want him to see our marriage was broken.
She passed me the agreement she drafted, and then asked me, He Ning, do you still remember how I entered our bridal room on the wedding day? This question suddenly brought back all those wonderful memories to me. I nodded and said, I remember. You carried me in your arms, she continued, so, I have a requirement, that is, you carry me out in your arms on the day when we divorce. From now to the end of this month, you must carry me out from the bedroom to the door every morning.
I accepted with a smile. I knew she missed those sweet days and wished to end her marriage with romantically.
I told Dew about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she does, she has to face the result of divorce, she said scornfully. Her words more or less made me feel uncomfortable.
My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. We even treated each other as a stranger. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, Let us start from today, don’t tell our son. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for a bus, I drove to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. We were so close that I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this intimate woman carefully for a long time. I found she was not young any more. There were some fine wrinkles on her face.
On the third day, she whispered to me, The outside garden is being demolished. Be careful when you pass there.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I seemed to feel that we were still an intimate couple and I was holding my sweetheart in my arms. The visualization of Dew became vague.
On the fifth and sixth day, she kept reminding me something, such as, where she put the ironed shirts, I should be careful while cooking, etc. I nodded. The sense of intimacy was even stronger.
I didn't tell Dew about this.
I felt it was easier to carry her. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. I said to her, It seems not difficult to carry you now.
She was picking her dresses. I was waiting to carry her out. She tried quite a few but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, All my dresses have grown bigger. I smiled. But I suddenly realized that it was because she was thinner that I could carry her more easily, not because I was stronger. I knew she had buried all the bitterness in her heart. Again, I felt a sense of pain. Subconsciously I reached out a hand to touch her head.
Our son came in at the moment. Dad, it’s time to carry mum out. He said. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had been an essential part of his life. She gestured our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face because I was afraid I would change my mind at the last minute. I held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, as if we came back to our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.
On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. She said, Actually I hope you will hold me in your arms until we are old.
I held her tightly and said, Both you and I didn’t notice that our life lacked intimacy.
I jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my decision. I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door. I said to her, Sorry, Dew, I won't divorce. I'm serious.
She looked at me, astonished. The she touched my forehead. You got no fever. She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I can only say sorry to you, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of life, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I understand that since I carried her into the home, she gave birth to our child, I am supposed to hold her until I am old. So I have to say sorry to you.
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove to the office.
When I passed the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet for my wife which was her favorite. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until we are old.
要离婚，你再将我抱出家门吧
妻结婚的时候，我是将她抱过来的。那时我们住的是那种一家一户的平房，婚车在门前停下来的时候，一伙朋友撺纵着我，将她从车上抱下来，于是，在一片叫好声中，我抱起了她一直走到典礼的地方。那时的妻是丰盈而成熟的娇羞女孩，我是健壮快乐的新婚男人。
这是十年前的一幕。
以后的日子就像是流水一样过去，要孩子，下海，经商，婚姻中的熟视无睹渐渐出现在我们之间。钱一点点地往上涨，但感情却一点点地平下去，妻在一家行政机构做公务员，每天我们同时上班，也几乎同时下班，孩子在寄宿学校上学。
在别人看来，生活似乎是无懈可击的幸福。但越是这种平静的幸福，便越容易有突然变化的机率。
我有了她。当生活像水一样乏味而又无处不在，哪怕一种再简单的饮料，也会让人觉得是一种真正的享受。
她就是露儿。
天气很好，我站在宽大的露台上，露儿伸了双臂，将我从后面紧紧抱住。我的心再一次被她感情包围，几乎让我无法呼吸。这是我为露儿买的房子。
露儿对我说，像你这样的男人，是最吸引女孩子的眼球的。我忽然想起了妻，刚刚结婚的时候，她似乎说过一句，像你这样的男人，一旦成功之后，是最吸引女孩子的眼球的。想起妻的聪明，心里微微地打上了一个结，我清楚地意识到，自己对不起她。但却欲罢不能。
我推开露儿的手，说你自己看着买些家具吧，公司今天还有事。露儿分明地不高兴起来，毕竟，今天说好了要带她去买家具的。关于离婚的那个可能，已经在我的心里愈来愈大起来，原本觉得是不太可能的事情，竟然渐渐地能在心里想像成可能。
只 是，我不知道如何对妻子开口，因为我知道，开口了之后必然要伤害她的。妻没有对不起我的地方，她依旧忙忙碌碌地在厨房里准备晚上的饭菜，我依旧打开电 视，坐在那里，看新闻，饭菜很快上桌，吃饭，然后两个人在一起看电视，或是一个人坐在电脑前发会儿呆。想像露儿的身体，成了我自娱的方式。
试着对妻说，如果我们离婚，你说会怎样？妻白了我一眼，没有说话，似乎这种生活离她很远。我无法想象，一旦我说出口时，妻的表现和想法。
妻去公司找我时，露儿刚从我办公室里出来。公司里的人的眼光是藏不住事情的，在几乎所有人都以同情的目光和那种掩饰的语言说话的时候，妻终于感觉出了什么。她依旧对着我的所有下属以自己的身份微笑着，但我却在她来不及躲闪的一瞬间，从她的眼神中读出了一种伤害。
露儿再次对我说，离婚吧何宁，我们在一起。我点头，心里已经将这个念头扩到非说不可的地步了。
妻端上最后一盘菜时，我按住了她的手。说我有件事要告诉你。
妻坐下来，静静地吃着饭，我想起了她眼神中的那种伤害，此刻分明地再一次显出来。突然间觉得自己有些不忍，但事到如今，却只能说下去。咱们离婚吧，我平静地说着不平静的事。
妻没有表现出那种很特别的情绪，淡淡地问我为什么。我笑，说：不，我不是开玩笑，是真的离婚。妻的态度骤然变化起来，她恨恨地摔了筷子，对我大声说，你不是人！
夜里，我们谁也没理谁，妻在小声地哭，我知道她是想知道为什么。但我却给不了她答案，因为我已经在露儿给我的感觉里无法自拔。
我 起草了协议给妻看，里面写明了将房子，车子，还有公司的30股权分给她。写这些东西时，心里是一直怀了对妻的歉疚的，妻愤愤地接过，撕成碎片儿，不再理 我。我感觉自己的心竟然隐隐地有些疼起来，毕竟是一起生活了十年的爱人，所有的温柔都将在未来的一天变成陌路一般的眼神，心里也有些不忍，但话一出口，毕 竟是来不及收回的。
妻终于在我面前放声大哭，这是我一直以来想得到的，似乎是释放了什么东西一般，几个星期以来的压抑的想法都随着妻的哭声而变得明朗而坚决起来。
陪客户喝酒，半醉的我回到家中时，妻正伏在那里写着什么。我躺在床上睡去，醒来的时候，发现妻依旧坐在那里。我翻个身，再沉沉地睡去。
终于闹到了非离不可的地步，妻却对我声明，她什么也不要我的，只是在离婚之前，要我答应她一个条件。妻的条件简单，便是再给她一个月的时间，因为再过一个月，孩子就过完暑假了，她不想让孩子看到父母分开的场面，而且，在这一个月里还要像以前那样生活。
我 接过妻写的协议，她问我，何宁，你还记得我是怎么嫁过来的吗？蓦地，关于新婚的那些记忆涌上来，我点头，说记得。妻说，是你将我抱进来的，但是我还有个 条件，就是要离婚了，你再将我抱出这个家门吧。这一来一去，都是你做主好了，只是，我要求这一个月，每天上班，你都要将我抱出去，从卧室，到大门。
我笑，说：好。我想妻是在以这种形式来告别自己的婚姻，或是还有对过去眷恋的缘故。我将妻的要求告诉了露儿，露儿笑得有些轻佻，说再怎么还是离婚，搞这么多花样做什么。她似乎对妻很不屑，这或多或少让我心里不太舒服。
一 个月为限，第一天，我们的动作都很呆板。因为一旦说明之后，我们已经有很久没有这么亲密接触过了，甚至连例行的每周两次的做爱时间也取消了，每天都像路 人一样。儿子从身后拍着小手说，爸爸搂妈妈了，爸爸搂妈妈了，叫得我有些心酸。从卧室经客厅，出房门，到大门，十几米的路程，妻在我的怀抱里，轻轻地闭着 眼睛，对我说，我们就从今天开始吧，别让孩子知道。我点头，刚刚落下去的心酸再一次地浮上来。我将妻放在大门外，她去等公交，我去开车上班。
第二天，我和妻的动作都随意了许多，她轻巧地靠在我的身上，我嗅到她清新的衣香，妻确实是老了，我已有多少日子没有这么近的看过她了，光润的皮肤上，有了细细的皱纹。我怎么没发现过妻有皱纹了呢，还是自己已是多久没有注意到自己这个熟悉到骨头里的女人了呢。
第三天，妻附在我的耳边对我说，院子里的花池拆了，要小心些，别跌倒了。
第四天，在卧室里抱起妻的时候，我有种错觉，我们依旧是十分亲密的爱人，她依旧是我的宝贝，我正在用心去抱她，而所有关于露儿的想像，都变得若有若无起来。
第五天，六天，妻每次都会在我耳边说一些小细节，衣服熨好了挂在哪里，做饭时要小心不要让油溅着，我点着头，心里的那种错觉也越来越强烈起来。
我没有告诉露儿这一切。
感 觉到自己越来越不吃力了，似乎是锻炼的结果，我对妻说，现在抱你，不怎么吃力了。妻在挑拣衣服，我在一边等着抱她出门。妻试了几件，都不太合适，自己叹 了口气，坐在那里，说衣服都长肥了。我笑，但却只笑了一半，我蓦然间想起自己越来越不吃力了，不是我有力了，而是妻瘦了，因为她将所有的心事压在心里。那 一瞬间，心里紧紧地疼起来，我伸出手去，试图去抚妻的额角。
儿子进来了，爸爸，该抱妈妈出门了。他催促着我们，似乎这么些天来，看我抱 妻出门，已经成了他的一个节目。妻拉过儿子，紧紧地抱住，我转过了脸不去看，怕 自己将所有的不忍转成一个后悔的理由。从卧室出发，然后经客厅，屋门，走道，我抱着妻，她的手轻巧而自然地揽在我的脖子上。我紧紧地拥着她的身体，感觉像 是回到了那个新婚的日子，但妻越来越轻的身体，却常常让我忍不住想落泪。
最后一天，我抱起妻的时候，怔在那里不走。儿子上学去了，妻也怔怔地看着我说，其实，真想让你这样抱到老的。
我紧紧地抱了妻，对她说，其实，我们都没有意识到，生活中就是少了这种抱你出门的亲密。
停下车子的时候，我来不及锁上车门，我怕时间的延缓会再次打消我的念头。我敲开门，露儿一脸的惺松。我对她说，对不起露儿，我不离婚了。真的不离了。
露儿不相信一般看着我，伸出手来，摸着我的头，说你没发烧呀。
我打开露儿的手，看着她，对她说，对不起露儿，我只有对你说对不起，我不离婚了，或许我和她以前，只是因为生活的平淡教会了我们熟视无睹，而并不是没有感情，我今天才明白。我将她抱进了家门，她给我生儿育女，就要将她抱到老，所以，只有对你说对不起。
露儿似乎才明白过来，愤怒地扇了我一耳光，关了门，大哭起来。我下楼，开车，去公司。
路过那家上班时必经的花店的时候，我给妻子订了一束她最喜欢的情人草，礼品店的小姐拿来卡片让我写祝语，我微笑着在上面写上：我要每天抱你出家门，一直到老。
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