文 趙雪 (沈陽市政府外事辦公室 英語機關組特等獎)
我們今日見證的不僅是全球性大規(guī)模疫情,更是人類自身的救贖,是結束也是開始,是復蘇也是變革。過往喧囂、無知和悲劇已然過去,我們正走向未知的未來。
一切始于幾個月前,轉眼感覺已是一生。那時,人們對病毒還知之甚少,那時,人們?nèi)匀豢梢宰杂珊粑?,與親友歡聚一堂,開啟一段說走就走的旅程。那時,城市充滿了新年即將到來的歡聲笑語,直到疫情突發(fā),直到武漢封城,直到中國歷史上前所未有的大規(guī)模隔離,直到整個城市變得異常安靜和冷清。
我震驚了,既擔憂又害怕。工作壓力直線上升,每天都是生死時速。時不我待,傷春悲秋無濟于事,奮起作戰(zhàn)勢在必行。那是無數(shù)個與國外城市、使領館、商協(xié)會溝通的日夜,是不計其數(shù)往返機場接收發(fā)送捐贈的旅程,是穿上防護服無盡的壓迫和憋悶。還記得有一天,在去機場的路上,我突然意識到,整條街只有我一個人,就好像黑魔法的一個響指,所有人都消失了,只剩我自己孤單地行駛在漫無盡頭的黑暗隧道中。
但是,我并非一個人在戰(zhàn)斗。希望的火炬已傳遞給嶄新的一代,成長于繁榮的經(jīng)濟中,因信息爆炸而開放多元,因國際形勢復雜多變而訓練有素,為古老的文明驕傲自豪,愿意為崇高的事業(yè)奉獻一切。我的同事、朋友和家人,都是這次戰(zhàn)“疫”中的一員。令人驚訝的是,在這次艱險的旅程中,我幸運地發(fā)現(xiàn)了美、發(fā)現(xiàn)了愛、發(fā)現(xiàn)了希望。當捐贈物資已開始運輸時,我愉快地欣賞到午夜月光;當物資運往醫(yī)院時,我榮幸地與陌生的志愿者們并肩戰(zhàn)斗;當外籍密接人員核酸檢測結果陰性時,我興奮地第一時間與之分享;當外籍人員順利登機回國時,我欣慰地在停機坪享受飛機轟鳴;視頻交流會后,當?shù)弥蜿柕姆酪呓?jīng)驗助友城一臂之力時,我的滿足感無以復加。
光明已然在隧道盡頭出現(xiàn)。防疫物資不斷向沈陽匯聚,確診病例數(shù)不斷下降,人們逐漸返崗工作,街道再次變得繁忙擁擠,那些曾經(jīng)令人無比憎惡的交通堵塞,如今我們正歡欣鼓舞地迎接它們的到來。
人們擔心疫情之后世界無法回到過去。確實,過去尋??梢娢磥砜赡芮笾坏谩1M管如此,歷史在面臨眾多危機、爭端和挑戰(zhàn)后,依然會不斷前行。我相信,疫情過后,世界會變得更加美好,漫長冬夜終將過去,黎明光輝必將到來,真愛必將戰(zhàn)勝仇恨,而我們,作為朋友和家人,必將再次重逢。
My Fight against COVID-19
We observe today not just a pandemic but the redemption of human kind, symbolizing an end as well as beginning, signifying renewal as well as change. For the past, with all its uproar, follies, and tragedies, passes away,leaving us marching forward towards an unforeseen future.
It all started about a few months ago, which seems to me now like a lifetime. It was the time when little was heard about the virus, when we could still breathe air freely,get together with families and friends, and fly ourselves anywhere around the world. It was when the city was filled with joy and gaiety with the coming of Chinese New Year,until the sudden outbreak, until the lock down of Wuhan,until the massive quarantine and isolation never seen in the entire country, until the whole city never been so tranquil and deserted.
I was shocked, worried and a little scared. Yet every day was a race with time. Every minute was about life and death. There was little time for fear but to stand up and put up a fight. It was countless days and nights of communication with foreign cities, embassies and business chambers. It was numerous trips to and from the airport sending and receiving donations. It was endless oppression wearing protective suits. I still remember the day when I was on a duty call to airport. It suddenly dawned on me that the entire street was totally empty except me, driving alone.It was like a sudden snap of finger of dark magic, everybody disappeared with only me left moving forward in a dark tunnel.
Yet I’m not alone in this fight. The torch has been passed to a new generation, born in a prosperous economy,diversified by the information explosion, disciplined by a far more complicated international environment, proud of our ancient heritage and willing to sacrifice for the right course. My colleagues, friends, and families,we are in this together. Luckily and surprisingly, with them I was able to find beauty, love and hope in this arduous journey. I had the pleasure to enjoy midnight moonlight when donations were on the way. I had the excitement to share with the foreign close contacts when their nucleic tests shown negative. I had the relief hearing airplanes roaring on the runway when foreigners were ready to get back home. I had the satisfaction to learn Shenyang experience actually helped after our pioneering online conference on city epidemic prevention and control.
A beam of light was finally shown from the far end of the dark tunnel. Supplies were converging in Shenyang.The number of confirmed cases was dropping. People were getting back to work again. Streets were getting busier with emerging traffic jams which we loathed so much and loved so little, yet welcomed even so merrily.
People are concerned that the world may never be the same again after COVID-19. Yes, what we presumed as normality in the past will only be found as luxury in the future. History will always move forward despite all the crisis, disputes, and challenges. Yet, I still have faith that the world will emerge as a better place when all of this is over,that the sun will eventually come out after the long winter night, that love will finally defeat hatred, that we, as friends and families, will meet again.