Big Oak Tree
大橡樹
Tommy was eleven and Sabrina soon would be. Every morning they would meet beside the big oak tree. In the summer, they would play together in the sun and sit beneath the big oaktree when the day was done.
湯米11歲，莎布琳娜即將11歲。每天早晨他們在一棵大橡樹旁相會。夏天，他們一起在陽光下玩耍，當一天的時光就要畫上句號時，他們就坐在大橡樹下。
One time when they were talking of growing up some day, they agreed they'd meet back there and maybe even stay. By the big oak tree they could build a little home and they would be together and neither one would roam.
有一次，兩人談及將來有一天他們都會長大，於是約定那時還要在樹下相會，甚至在那裡住下來。他們可以在大橡樹旁建一所小房子，永遠在一起，誰也不離開。
When Tommy was thirteen and Sabrina soon would be, they stood together one last time beside the big oak tree. Tommy had to leave for his family soon would move. He took his pocket knife and in the big oak made a groove. The groove was Tommy's simple way of giving her his word. As he spoke so softly, this is what Sabrina heard: “On your eighteenth birthday, I'll return to our oak tree. Then we will be together forever—you and me.”
當湯米13歲時，莎布琳娜即將13歲時，他們最後一次站在大橡樹旁。湯米不得不離開，因為他家很快就要搬走了。他拿出隨身攜帶的小折刀，在大橡樹上劃了一道溝槽。湯米用這種簡單的方式向莎布琳娜傾訴他的臨別話語。他溫柔地說著，莎布琳娜聽到：“在你18歲時，我會回到我們的橡樹旁，然後我們——你和我——永遠在一起。”
City life was hectic and the years did quickly fly. Tommy never once forgot Sabrina's last goodbye. He had marked the calendar each year on her birthday. Soon he'd see the big oak tree and, maybe, even stay. He would hold Sabrina's hand; together they'd agree to stay beside each other—close to the big oak tree. Tommy headed for the tree one Sunday afternoon. It was her eighteenth birthday and he would see her soon.
城市生活緊張而忙碌，幾年的時光轉眼而過。湯米從沒有忘記莎布琳娜上次對他說的“再見”。每到莎布琳娜的生日，他都會在日曆上做個記號。不久，他就要看到大橡樹了，或許會留在那裡。他會握著莎布琳娜的手，彼此願意相互廝守——就挨著大橡樹。一個星期天的下午，湯米終於踏上了去往大橡樹的行程。那天是莎布琳娜18歲的生日，他很快就會見到她了。
When Tommy reached the tree, he found a written note. It was from Sabrina's mom, and here is what she wrote: “Sabrina cannot meet you; she won't be here today. In this envelope is what Sabrina has to say.” He opened up the letter and his hands began to shake. As he read Sabrina's words, his heart began to break. “Tommy, dear, I know that you are standing by our tree. When you see a big oak tree, always think of me. I won't be here to meet you; the Angels came my way. Nothing else would keep me from meeting you today. Look up in the sky, and you'll know that I can see you standing there and waiting—beside our big oak tree.”
當湯米來到樹旁時，他發現了一張便條，是莎布琳娜的母親寫的。便條上寫著：“莎布琳娜不能跟你相見了，她今天不會來了。信封裡有她對你說的話。”湯米打開信封，雙手開始顫抖。讀著莎布琳娜的信，他的心開始碎了。“湯米，親愛的，我知道你現在正站在我們的樹旁。當你看到大橡樹時，就會想起我。我不能來這兒跟你相見了，天使把我帶走了。但什麼也不能阻止我今天與你相見。抬頭望向天空，你就會明白我能看到你站在那裡，等待著——就在我們的大橡樹旁。”
Love, sometimes is beyond the hands’ reach, yet it can exist in the mind.
有些時候，愛情無法用手觸及，卻可以永存心中。
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