Sunday, August 07, 2005

The story is told of an arranged marriage in Taiwan between U Long and a young woman named "Golden Flower." When U Long lifted the veil from his bride after the ceremony, he was shocked and disgusted. The woman's face had been scarred by smallpox.

After that, U Long had as little to do with his wife as possible. She tried her best to make him happy; she worked hard at home, hoping her husband would eventually accept her. But he remained coldly indifferent to all her expressions of affection. Golden Flower lived almost like a widow.

After twelve years of this sham marriage, U Long began to lose vision in both eyes. A doctor told him he would go completely blind if he didn't have a cornea transplant. But the operation was expensive and there was a long waiting list.

Golden Flower began to work long hours in the evening making straw hats for extra money. One day, U Long was informed that someone's cornea had been made available after an accident. He rushed to the hospital to have the operation.

After he had recovered, he grudgingly decided to see his wife so he could thank her for raising the money. When he turned her bowed head so she could look at him, U Long gasped. She stared at him with sightless, blank eyes, the cornea gone. Overcome with emotion, he sank at her feet and sobbed.

And then for the first time in their marriage he whispered her name: Golden Flower.
posted at 7.8.05 _________________________________________________________________