医院的工作人员听到这个消息时，一些护士哭了，院长哈利震惊了。但从那时起，哈利把它当作一生中最伟大的日子，为它祈祷。
现在，怎么给他们缝制结婚礼服呢？可能有些麻烦，但哈利知道职员们会找到解决的办法。一个护士提出自愿效劳，他放心了，希望这会是两位病人——朱安娜和迈克一生中最美好的时光。
一天早晨，迈克出现在哈利的办公室门口，他的身体用带子缚在轮椅上，借助呼吸器呼吸。
“哈利，我想结婚。”迈克说道。
“结婚？”哈利张大了嘴巴，这太严重了，“和谁呢？”哈利问。
“朱安娜，”迈克说，“我们恋爱了。”
爱情，爱情穿越了医院的大门，降临在两个完全瘫痪的人身上，并进驻他们的心灵——尽管两位病人衣食不能自理，需要呼吸器才能呼吸，而且永远不能行走。迈克得了脊髓肌肉萎缩症，朱安娜身患多发性硬化病。
结婚的念头如此真切，当迈克拿出结婚戒指，露出多年不见的笑容时，态度就更加明显了。事实上，此时的迈克是医护人员见过的最温柔、最善良的。而此前他一直是公认的脾气最暴躁的人。
迈克的暴躁是可以理解的。25年来，他一直住在医疗中心。9岁时，他妈妈把他送来后，每周来看几次，直到去世。他经常大发雷霆，把护士骂走，但至少他觉得医院是他的家，病人们都是他的朋友。
曾经有一个女孩，坐在吱吱作响的轮椅里。迈克想，她一定注意到自己了。但她并没有在这里待很久。迈克在那儿度过了生命的一大半后，再也不想待下去了。
医疗中心要关门了，迈克被转移到另一家康复医院，远离了他的朋友们。
迈克开始变得孤僻，宁愿待在黑暗的房间里，整日足不出户。朋友驱车两个多小时来看他，他依然情绪低落，没有人能贴近他的心。
有一天，他躺在床上，突然，走廊传来一阵熟悉的吱吱声。古老的轮椅吱吱作响，就像在以前的中心遇到的女孩——朱安娜所坐的轮椅发出的。
吱吱声在他的门口停住了，朱安娜凝视着他，问他能否和她一起外出。他立即兴奋起来，再次见到她的那一刻，他的生命似乎重新回来了。
他开始再次仰望蓝天白云，参加医院的娱乐活动，不知疲倦地与朱安娜聊天。他的房间充满了阳光和欢声笑语。不久，他向从24岁就在轮椅上生活的朱安娜求婚，想知道她是否愿意嫁给他。
朱安娜曾经度过一段非常艰辛的日子。她经常因身体虚弱而昏倒，没能读完三年级。母亲以为她偷懒，总打她。她生活在恐惧中，一直担心母亲要抛弃她，所以，身体好些时，她就会像小女佣一样打扫房间。
24岁前，她和迈克一样，做过一次气管切开术，以使呼吸畅通。也就是在那个时候，她被确诊患有多发性硬化症。30岁时，她被送进医院接受24小时的全天护理。
所以，当迈克问她这个“重大”问题时，朱安娜想，如果他是在戏弄她，那将会给她带来无法承受的痛苦。
“他说爱我时，我非常害怕，”她说，“我想他是在跟我开玩笑。但他说，他是认真的，他爱我。”
情人节那天，朱安娜穿着一件白色的绸缎婚纱，上面缀满珍珠，而且宽松得遮住了轮椅和呼吸器。哈利自豪地把她推到房门前，她激动得泪流满面。
迈克穿着笔挺的白色衬衣和黑色夹克，脖子上还打了个精美的蝴蝶结，满脸洋溢着幸福的微笑。
护士和病人们挤满了走廊、房间，就连大厅也满是医护人员。房间的每个角落都传来呜咽声。医院有史以来，还没有两个在轮椅上生活的人结合在一起的先例。
爱的港湾（2）
医院的娱乐节目主持人珍妮特策划好了一切活动。医护人员用捐来的钱买了红色、白色的气球，树叶缠绕的拱门，搭配上鲜花。珍妮特请医院的厨师制作了一个三层柠檬味的结婚蛋糕。一个营销顾问还请来了摄影师。
珍妮特跟家人谈论起此事，感慨万千，看到这对有情人终成眷属是她一生中最费解，也最开心的时刻。
她思索了很多。
最后的程序——接吻，无法完成。珍妮特用白绸缎把这对新人的轮椅系在一起，以此来象征这浪漫的时刻。
婚礼结束后，牧师强忍着眼泪，悄悄走了出去：“我主持了无数次的婚礼，但这次，是最激动人心的。”牧师说，“他们克服了艰难险阻，找到了最纯洁的爱情。”
那晚，迈克和朱安娜第一次共入新房。他们知道，他们真挚的爱情打动了很多人，他们收获了最珍贵的礼物，也收获了最纯洁的爱情。爱情，你永远无法知道它会在何处驻足。
■ 心灵小语
没有人能够知道，爱情的翅膀会在什么地方驻足。然而，只有不畏惧艰难险阻，才能找到纯洁的爱情。所以，勇敢地去追求，爱神之箭终会帮你找到世界上最为珍贵的爱。
Where Love Lands
Anonymous
No one knows where love’s wings will land。 At times； it turns up in the most unusual spots。 There was nothing more surprising than when it descended upon a rehabilitation hospital in a Los Angeles suburb—a hospital where most of the patients can no longer move of their own accord。
When the staff heard the news； some of the nurses began to cry。 The administrator was in shock； but from then on； Harry MacNarama would bless it as one of the greatest days in his entire life。
Now the trouble was； how were they going to make the wedding dress？ He knew his staff would find a way； and when one of his nurses volunteered； Harry was relieved。 He wanted this to be the finest day in the lives of two of his patients—Juana and Michael。
Michael strapped in his wheelchair and breathing through his ventilator； appeared at Harry’s office door one morning。
“Harry； I want to get married； ”Michael announced。
“Married？” Harry’s mouth dropped open。 How serious was this？ “To who？ ”Harry asked。
“To Juana； ”Michael said。 “We’re in love。”
Love。 Love had found its way through the hospital doors； over two bodies that refused to work for their owners and penetrated their hearts—despite the fact that the two patients were unable to feed or cloth themselves； required ventilators just to breath and could never walk again。 Michael had spinal muscular atrophy； Juana had multiple sclerosis。
Just how serious this marriage idea was； became quite apparent when Michael pulled out the engagement ring and beamed as he hadn’t done in years。 In fact； the staff had never seen a kinder； sweeter Michael； who had been one of the angriest men Harry’s employees had ever worked with。
The reason for Michael’s anger was understandable。 For twenty…five years； he had lived his life at a medical center where his mother had placed him at age nine and visited him several times a week until she died。 He was always a raspy sort of guy； who cussed out his nurses routinely； but at least he felt he had family at the hospital。 The patients were his friends。
爱的港湾（3）
There even had been a girl once who went about in a squeaky wheelchair who he was sure had eyed him。 But she hadn’t stayed long at the center。 And after spending more than half his life there； now Michael wasn’t going to get to stay either。
The center was closing； and Michael was shipped to live at the rehabilitation hospital； far from his friends and worse； far from Betty。
That’s when Michael turned into a recluse。 He wouldn’t e out from his room。 He left it dark。 His friends drove more than two hours to see him。 But Michael’s spirits sagged so low； no one could reach him。
And then； one day； he was lying in bed when he heard a familiar creaking sound ing down the hall。 It sounded like that same； ancient； squeaky wheelchair that girl； Juana； had used at the center where he used to live。
The squeaking stopped at his door； and Juana peered in and asked him to e outdoors with her。 He was intrigued and from the moment he met Juana again； it was as though she breathed life back into him。
He was staring at the clouds and blue skies again。 He began to participate in the hospital’s recreation programs。 He spent hours talking with Juana。 His room was sunny and light。 And then he asked Juana； who’d been living in a wheelchair since age twenty…four； if she would marry him。
Juana had already had a tough life。 She was pulled out of school before finishing the third grade； because she collapsed and fell a lot。 Her mother； thinking she was lazy； slapped her around。 She lived in terror that her mother wouldn’t want her anymore； so on the occasions when she was well enough； she cleaned house “like a little maid”。
Before the age of twenty…four； like Michael； she had a tracheotomy just to breathe and that was when she was officially diagnosed with multiple sclerosis。 By the time she was thirty； she had moved into a hospital with round…the…clock care。
So when Michael asked her the big question； she didn’t think she could handle the pain if he was teasing。
“He told me he loved me； and I was so scared；” she said。 “I thought he was playing a game with me。 But he told me it was true。 He told me he loved me。”
On Valentine’s Day； Juana wore a wedding dress made of white satin； dotted with pearl beads and cut loose enough to drape around a wheelchair and a ventilator。 Juana was rolled to the front of the room； assisted by Harry； who proudly gave the bride away。 Her face streamed with tears。
Michael wore a crisp white shirt； black jacket and a bow tie that fit neatly over his tracheotomy。 He beamed with pleasure。
Nurses filled the doorways。 Patients filled the room。 An overflow of hospital employees spilled into the halls。 Sobs echoed in every er of the room。 In the hospital’s history； no two people—living their lives bound to wheelchairs—had ever married。
Janet Yamaguchi； the hospital’s recreation leader； had planned everything。 Employees had donated their own money to buy the red and white balloons； matching flowers； and an archway dotted with leaves。 Janet had the hospital chef make a three…tiered； lemon…filled wedding cake。 A marketing consultant hired a photographer。
Janet negotiated with family members。 It was one of the most trying and satisfying times of her life to watch the couple get married。
She thought of everything。
The final touch—the kiss—could not be pleted。 Janet used a white satin rope to tie the couple’s wheelchairs to symbolize the romantic moment。
After the ceremony； the minister slipped out trying to hold back her tears。 “I’ve performed thousands of weddings； but this is the most wonderful one I’ve done so far；” the minister said。 “These people have passed the barriers and showed pure love。”
That evening； Michael and Juana rolled into their own room for the first time together。 Michael and Juana knew they had moved many people with their love； and they had been given the greatest gift of all。 They had the gift of love。 And it’s never known where it will land。
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爱的时刻（1）
佚名
第一次见到她时，她正在校园的操场上漫步。我站在那里，目光追随着她的倩影，呆住了。她就是我的至爱，我对自己说。
开学的第一天，我向同学问起她，他们说她已经有男朋友了，让我忘了她。
几个月后，我听说她跟男朋友分手了。但是，至少过了半年后，我才约会她。我打电话到她寝室，紧张得吐字不清，甚至把她名字的前后音节都说反了。“周六晚上请你吃晚饭，好吗？”提议完，我尴尬极了，害怕遭她拒绝。“很高兴。”她似乎很开心地回答。
星期六，我去宿舍接她，她的美丽再次深深地打动了我。我在30里外的餐馆预订了晚餐。开车去那儿时，却迷路了，在乡间小路上漫无目的地转了一个多小时。我越来越焦躁，她却一直兴致高昂，她说，她读过这些乡村的历史，很高兴能来游玩。
我们最终没能找到那家餐馆，汽油也快用完了。10点时，我们才吃了点汉堡和油炸食品，算是晚餐。她美丽的花裙，金黄的直发，娇好的面容，站在当地孩子中间显得更加光彩照人。
回到学校后，我正要为那个夜晚道歉，但感觉到她温暖的手，抓住了我的手，然后迅速地在我脸上吻了一下，温柔地说道：“谢谢你让我度过了一个快乐的夜晚。”我还没回过神来，她已跑进寝室，在我眼前消失了。
曾有多少这样的时刻啊——充满了包容、优雅与爱意，我几乎不敢相信。记得婚礼那天，在太平洋海滨，那个清新的星期天早晨，她挽着父亲的手步入教堂，我站在旁边凝视着她即将成为我妻子的时刻；或是我们的两个孩子出生，她经历了旁人无法体会的分娩痛楚后，脸上因欣喜而光彩四溢的时刻。
但是1993年10月15日，情形却完全不同。那天，在度过了一个难眠之夜后，我们早上5点钟就起床了。当手术刀即将划开你心上人的血肉肌肤时，你又怎能安然入眠呢？她吻了吻我们两个熟睡的孩子，但他们却没�