An elderly man lay dying in his bed. In death's agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma¹ of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting² up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored³ breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen.

Were it not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: there, spread out upon newspapers on the kitchen table were literally⁴ hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted⁵ wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering⁶ one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled⁷ posture⁸. His parched⁹ lips parted; the wondrous¹⁰ taste of the cookie was already in his mouth; seemingly bringing him back to life. The aged¹¹ and withered¹² hand, shockingly made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked¹³ with a spatula¹⁴ by his wife.

"Stay out of those," she said, "they're for the funeral."

临死者最爱吃的小甜饼

　　一位濒临死亡的老人正躺在他的床上，承受着死亡的煎熬。突然一股香味顺着楼下飘了上来，那正是他最喜欢的巧克力小薄饼的味道。他用尽吃奶的力气挣扎着从床上爬了起来，倚着墙，慢慢地走出了卧室，并且用最后的力量用双手抓住扶手走下了楼梯。老人靠在门框上，嘴里喘着气，眼睛凝神着厨房。

　　如果不是因为承受着临死的痛苦，老人会认为自己到了天堂。那里，在厨房铺着报纸的桌子上，确切地说有数百个他最喜欢吃的巧克力小薄饼。真在天堂吗？还是他那离婚妻子的最后一次英雄般的爱心显示，以便让他开心地离开这个世界？

　　集中最后的力量，老人跪着双膝挣扎着移向桌子。他口干舌燥，嘴巴张开。他感受到了美妙的甜饼味道，仿佛要将他带回人世。他的一只年迈干瘪的手颤颤悠悠地伸向桌子边缘的一只小甜饼。突然，他妻子扔过一把铲子，砸在他的手上。

　　“离远点”，他妻子说。“这是为你的葬礼准备的。”