生活是一條河,在靜靜的流淌中,總會遇到阻礙前進的石塊,這時除了蜿蜒前進,難道還有來路可退嗎?曾經的海誓山盟都已淡漠,兩人牽手真的已走到盡頭?也許只有放下心中包袱,才能重返愛的天堂。

　　Lisa stood facing the Caribbean Sea, feeling the faint breeze against her face; her eyes were shut and she felt the white sand warm between her bare toes. The place was beautiful beyond belief, but it was still unable to ease the grief she felt as she remembered the last time she had been here.

　　莉薩佇立在加勒比海邊,面向著大海,感受微風輕拂臉頰——她閉上雙眼,裸露的腳趾間擁滿了溫暖的沙粒。這個地方美得簡直令人難以置信,但回憶起上次在這的情景時,此般美景依然無法撫慰心中的傷痛。

　　She had married James right here on this spot three years ago to the day. Dressed in a simple white 1)shift dress, 2)miniature white roses attempting to 3)tame her long dark curls, Lisa had been happier than she had ever thought possible. James was even less formal, yet utterly irresistible in 4)creased summer trousers and a loose white cotton shirt. His dark hair was slightly ruffled and his eyes were full of adoration as he looked at his bride to be. The justice of the peace had read their vows as they held hands and laughed at the sheer joy of being young, in love and staying in a five star resort on the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic. They had seen the years blissfully stretching ahead of them, together forever. They planned their children, two she said; he said four so they compromised on three (two girls and a boy of course); where they would live, the travelling they would do together—it was all certain, or so they had thought then.

　　三年前的今天,莉薩就是在這里和詹姆斯結婚的。她身著簡潔的白色長禮裙,小小的白玫瑰服貼、點綴著她又黑又長的卷發,如此的幸福感是她從未企及的。詹姆斯的裝扮更休閑,一條帶摺的清涼夏褲和一件寬松的白色棉質襯衫,配上一頭稍稍凌亂的黑發,然而他看上去依然是魅力不可擋,當他凝視著自己的準新娘時,眼神里寫滿了愛意。他們手牽手,聆聽太平紳士宣讀他們的誓言。他們為年輕而歡呼,為愛情而雀躍,為身處多米尼加共和國加勒比島嶼的五星級勝地而陶醉。他們似乎看到未來的幸福之路在眼前展開,直至相攜到老。他們商量著生孩子的事,她說要兩個,他卻想要四個,最終各退一步,決定生三個(當然是兩女一男)。他們計劃著安居的地方,計劃著一起旅游——所有事情都顯得順理成章,或者大約他們當時便想到這些。

　　But that seemed such a long time ago now. A lot can change in just a few years—a lot of heartache can change a person and drive a 5)wedge through the strongest ties, break even the deepest love. Three years to the day and they had returned, though this time not for the beachside marriages the island was famous for, but for one of its equally popular 6)quickie divorces.

　　然而這一切似乎是許久以前的事了,短短幾年時間就可能發生許多變故。太多的傷痛可以改變一個人,可以破壞最牢固的關系,甚至可以摧毀最刻骨的愛情。三年后的今天,他們又回到了這個島上,但并非因為此地聞名的海濱婚禮,而是因為此地同樣聞名的閃電離婚。

　　Lisa let out a sigh that was filled with pain and regret. What could she do but move on, find a new life and new dreams?—the old one was beyond repair. How could this beautiful place, with its lush green coastline, eternity of 7)azure blue sea and endless sands be a place for the agony she felt now?