One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently¹, they are there to file² a divorce³. Lawyer was very puzzled⁴, after having a chat with them, he got their story.

 

This couple had been quarreling all their 40 over years of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.

 

They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce.

 

Lawyer was having a hard time trying to get the papers⁵ done, because he felt that after 40 years of marriage at the age of 70, he couldn't understand why the old couple would still wants a divorce.

 

While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. "I really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry."

 

"It's OK, I understand." said the husband. Looking at this, the lawyer suggested a dinner together, just three of them, wife thought, why not, since they are still going be friends.

 

At the dining table, there was a silence of awkwardness（尴尬，笨拙）.

 

The first dish was roasted⁶ chicken, immediately, the old man took the drumstick（鸡腿） for the old lady. "Take this, it's your favorite."

 

Looking at this, the lawyer thought maybe there's still a chance, but the wife was frowning⁷ when she answer. "This is always the problem, you always think so highly⁸ of yourself, never thought about how I feel, don't you know that I hate drumsticks?”

 

Little did she know that, over the years, the husband have been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks was the husband's favorite.

 

Little did he know that she never thought he understand her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.

 

That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss⁹ and turn（辗转反侧）, toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wanted to tell her, "I love you."

 

He picks up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stop dialing.

 

On the other side, she was sad, she couldn't understand how come after all these years, he still doesn't understand her at all, she loves him a lot, but she just can't take it any- more. Phone's ringing, she refuses to answer knowing that it's him. "What's the point of talking now that it's over. I have asked for it and now. I want to keep it this way, if not I will lose face. "She thought. Phone still ringing. She has decided¹⁰ to pull out the cord¹¹.

 

Little did she remember, he had heart problems.

 

The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch¹² still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get thru her phone line.

 

As sad as she could be. She will have to clear his belongings¹³. When she was looking thru the drawers, she saw this insurance policy¹⁴, dated from the day they got married, beneficiary（受益人） is her. Together in that file there's this note.

 

"To my dearest wife, by the time you are reading this, I'm sure I'm no longer around, I bought this policy for you, though the amount is only $100k, I hope it will be able to help me continue my promise that I have made when we got married, I might not be around anymore, I want this amount of money to continue taking care of you, just like the way I will if I could have live longer. I want you to know I will always be around, by your side. I love you."

 

Tears flowed like river.

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