第14部分(第5/6 页)

before　Susan　would　be　able　to　ride　the　bus　on　her　own。　He　believed　in　her；　in　the　Susan　he　used　to　know　before　she’d　lost　her　sight；　who　wasn’t　afraid　of　any　challenge　and　who　would　never；　ever　quit。

Finally；　Susan　decided　that　she　was　ready　to　try　the　trip　on　her　own。　Monday　morning　arrived；　and　before　she　left；　she　threw　her　arms　around　Mark；　her　temporary　bus　riding　panion；　her　husband；　and　her　best　friend。

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears　of　gratitude　for　his　loyalty4；　his　patience；　and　his　love。　She　said　good…bye；　and　for　the　first　time；　they　went　their　separate　ways。　Monday；　Tuesday；　Wednesday；　Thursday。。。　Each　day　on　her　own　went　perfectly；　and　Susan　had　never　felt　better。　She　was　doing　it！　She　was　going　to　work　all　by　herself！

On　Friday　morning；　Susan　took　the　bus　to　work　as　usual。　As　she　was　paying　for　her　fare　to　exit　the　bus；　the　driver　said；　“Boy；　I　sure　envy　you。”　Susan　wasn’t　sure　if　the　driver　was　speaking　to　her　or　not。　After　all；　who　on　earth　would　ever　envy　a　blind　woman　who　had　struggled　just　to　find　the　courage　to　live　for　the　past　year？

Curious；　she　asked　the　driver；“Why　do　you　say　that　you　envy　me？”　The　driver　responded；　“It　must　feel　so　good　to　be　taken　care　of　and　protected　like　you　are。”　Susan　had　no　idea　what　the　driver　was　talking　about；　and　asked　again；　“What　do　you　mean？”

The　driver　answered；　“You　know；　every　morning　for　the　past　week；　a　fine　looking　gentleman　in　a　military　uniform　has　been　standing　across　the　corner　watching　you　when　you　get　off　the　bus。　He　makes　sure　you　cross　the　street　safely　and　he　watches　you　until　you　enter　your　office　building。　Then　he　blows　you　a　kiss；　gives　you　a　little　salute5　and　walks　away。　You　are　one　lucky　lady。”

Tears　of　happiness　poured　down　Susan’s　cheeks。　For　although　sh