English Original
One fine day, an elderly couple in their seventies walked into a lawyer's office to file for divorce. The lawyer was puzzled. After speaking with them, he learned their story.
They had quarreled throughout their forty years of marriage. They stayed together for their children's sake, fearing a divorce would disrupt their upbringing. Now, with their children grown and independent, the couple sought freedom from decades of unhappiness and mutually agreed to separate.
The lawyer struggled with the paperwork, unable to comprehend why a couple married for forty years would divorce at this stage of life.
While signing the papers, the wife said, "I really love you, but I can't carry on anymore. I'm sorry."
"It's okay, I understand," replied the husband. Noting their interaction, the lawyer suggested they share one last dinner together. The wife agreed, thinking they could remain friends.
An awkward silence filled the dinner table. When the roasted chicken arrived, the old man immediately offered his wife the drumstick. "Take this, it's your favorite."
Seeing this, the lawyer felt a glimmer of hope. However, the wife frowned. "This is always the problem. You assume you know what I like without considering my feelings. Don't you know I hate drumsticks?"
She never knew that, over the years, her husband had tried in countless ways to please her, nor that the drumstick was his own favorite part.
He never knew that she felt profoundly misunderstood, nor that she despised the very thing he offered with the best intentions.
That night, neither could sleep, tossing and turning for hours. Finally, overwhelmed with regret, the old man realized he still loved her deeply and could not imagine life without her. He needed her back. He picked up the phone and began dialing her number. The line rang incessantly as he refused to give up.
Meanwhile, the wife was heartbroken, convinced that after all these years, he still did not understand her. She loved him but felt she could endure no more. When the phone rang, she knew it was him but refused to answer. "What's the point of talking now? It's over. I initiated this, and I must see it through, or I'll lose face," she thought. As the ringing persisted, she decided to unplug the phone cord.
In her distress, she forgot he had a heart condition.
The next day, she received news of his passing. Rushing to his apartment, she found his body on the couch, the phone still clutched in his hand. He had suffered a heart attack while desperately trying to reach her.
Devastated, she began sorting through his belongings. In a drawer, she discovered an insurance policy dated from their wedding day, with herself as the beneficiary. Attached was a note:
"To my dearest wife,
By the time you read this, I will be gone. I purchased this policy for you. Though the sum is only $100,000, I hope it allows me to keep the promise I made on our wedding day. I may no longer be here, but I want this money to care for you, as I would have if I had lived longer. Please know I will always be with you, by your side.
I love you."
Tears flowed like a river.
中文翻译
一个晴朗的日子，一对年过七旬的老夫妇走进律师事务所办理离婚。律师感到十分困惑。交谈后，他得知了他们的故事。
四十年的婚姻里，他们争吵不断。为了孩子，他们勉强维系着家庭，担心离婚会影响孩子的成长。如今，孩子们都已成家立业，老夫妇只想从多年的婚姻不幸中解脱出来，开始各自的新生活，于是双方同意离婚。
律师办理文件时心情沉重，他无法理解为何一段四十年的婚姻会在古稀之年走向终结。
签署文件时，妻子对丈夫说：“我真的爱你，但我实在无法继续下去了。对不起。”
“没关系，我理解。”丈夫回答。律师察觉到他们之间微妙的情愫，提议三人共进最后一餐。妻子想着日后还能做朋友，便同意了。
餐桌上弥漫着尴尬的沉默。第一道菜是烤鸡，老人立刻将鸡腿夹给妻子。“吃这个，你最喜欢的。”
见此情景，律师觉得或许还有转机。然而，妻子却皱起了眉头。“问题就在这儿。你总是自以为是，从不考虑我的感受。你难道不知道我讨厌鸡腿吗？”
她从未知晓，这些年来丈夫一直在想方设法让她开心，更不知道鸡腿其实是丈夫自己最爱吃的部分。
他也从未知晓，妻子觉得他完全不懂自己，更不知道她厌恶的正是他满怀好意递来的东西。
那一夜，两人都辗转难眠。几个小时后，老人被悔恨淹没，他意识到自己依然深爱着她，没有她的生活无法想象。他必须挽回她。他拿起电话，开始拨打她的号码。铃声持续响着，他固执地不肯放弃。
与此同时，妻子心碎不已，认定这么多年过去，他依然不懂自己。她爱他，但已无法再忍受。电话响起，她知道是他，却拒绝接听。“现在还有什么好说的？都结束了。是我提的离婚，我必须坚持到底，否则太丢脸了。”她想。铃声固执地响着，她索性拔掉了电话线。
在痛苦中，她忘记了他有心脏病。
第二天，她接到了他的死讯。冲进他的公寓，她发现他的遗体躺在沙发上，手里仍紧握着电话。他在拼命试图联系她时，心脏病发作了。
悲痛欲绝的她开始整理他的遗物。在一个抽屉里，她发现了一份保险单，日期是他们结婚那天，受益人是她。里面附着一张字条：
“致我最亲爱的妻子：
当你读到这封信时，我已不在人世。这份保单是我为你买的。虽然金额只有十万美元，但我希望它能让我履行结婚时的诺言。我可能无法再陪伴你了，但我希望这笔钱能继续照顾你，就像如果我能活得再久一点会做的那样。请你知道，我会永远在你身边。
我爱你。”
她的泪水奔涌如河。