十七岁就感觉孤独无望也许并不常见，但在我生命里发生的很多事使我感到我的世界正在倒塌。自幼生活在贫苦当中是不容易的，但无论如何我还是走了过来。作为四个孩子的单亲妈妈，母亲在我们当地的麦当劳餐馆工作，艰难地维持着基本生活。我是最大的孩子。就在一年前，像其他所有普通的十六岁女孩一样，我对生活充满希冀和梦想。我长得算是迷人，有时还挺自信和外向的。我总是尽自己最大努力去拼搏，成绩也算不俗。我报读了大学预科班，希望将来成为一名护士。

然而，贫困葬送了我的梦想。我母亲无法负担我们四个孩子的学费，不得不开始让我留在家里，好让我在她上白班时照顾三岁的弟弟。最后，我辍学了。我的大学梦眨眼间破灭。我现在担当弟弟的“母亲”角色，负担起任何留守家中的母亲所要承担的责任。当我母亲上晚班时，我还得照看另外两个已到读书年龄的孩子并担负起相关杂活。大多数夜晚，躺到床上，我已精疲力竭，满心沮丧。我常常思忖自己的人生是否会有所改变。我不会向母亲哭诉自己悲惨的人生，因为我不想让她难过。我感觉自己无路可走。我甚至觉得好运没有垂青于我，我的人生完了。

One of my friends tried to enlighten me by telling me that she worked with a young man who had a younger brother my age, who just moved here from Cincinnati, Ohio and didn't know anyone. She got his number and wanted me to give him a call. I was not interested at all but loneliness overwhelmed me and I needed to find my way out. I tried to call one afternoon and got his older brother. The brother, Brandon, said that the one who I was calling for, Scott, was in Cincinnati for the week visiting old friends. But he invited me to a party that evening and said Scott would show up. My friend and I went to that party that evening and she introduced me to the brother she was working with, Brandon. No sooner were we introduced, at that very moment, and in walked a boy I had never seen in town before. The moment he walked in, our eyes locked. I honestly could not hear what everyone else was saying. And to my surprise, he was walking right up to me, my friend and Brandon. All of a sudden, Brandon looked at me, and said, "By the way, this is my brother, Scott!"

I was lost in my own thoughts, while gazing into his eyes. I fumbled over my words. He repeated, “This is my brother Scott...Scott, this is Tara.” We simultaneously said hello and shook hands. But when we shook, we held on for just a moment longer than most. Among the rustle and bustle of the restaurant, I was in my own little world. Happiness came over me and we had a wonderful evening. When I got home, he called me and we talked for 5 hours. Two days later, he came to visit at my house with a single rose in hand. Shortly after, young love blossomed, and in 6 months, we were engaged.
　　凝视着他的眼睛，我陷入自己的思绪当中。我在思索着如何措词。布兰顿重复道：“这是我的弟弟斯科特……斯科特，这是塔拉。”我们同时向对方问好，并握了握手。但我们握手的时间比多数情况下的都要长。在饭馆的嘈杂喧闹声中，我沉浸在自己的小小世界里，心头充满幸福感。那一夜我们过得很快乐。我回到家，他就打电话给我了，我们聊了五个小时。两天后，他手握一支玫瑰到我家来拜访。不久，我们两个年轻人坠入了爱河。六个月后，我们订婚了。

Mother was uncomfortable with our engagement because she thought we were too young to get engaged. Love injected a thread of hope and joy into my life and for the first time I truly believed that I had my fate in my hands. On November 13th,1993, one week after my 18th birthday, we exchanged vows in front of our close friends and family. Many were unhappy about our wedding. They informed us that we wouldn't last 3 months. Last year we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary!
　　我母亲对于我们的订婚感到不安,因为她觉得我们还太年轻。爱情给我的人生注入了一丝希望和快乐。人生的头一回,我深信命运就把握在我的手中。1993年11月13日,也就是我十八岁生日的一周后，我们在我们的亲朋好友面前交换了誓言。很多人并不为我们的婚礼感到高兴。他们告诉我们，我们的婚姻熬不过三个月。而去年,我们庆祝了我们的第十五个结婚纪念日!

1. strive vi.努力，奋斗，力求
例句：Strive to build China into a powerful socialist country! 为把中国建成社会主义强国而奋斗！
2. whisk away 快而轻地掸去
例句：The waiter whisk away the food before we have finished. 务员没等我们吃完就把饭菜都拿走了。
3. enlighten vt. 教育, 启发, 启蒙, 开导, 教导
例句：How can I enlighten your wooden head? 我怎么才能让你这木头疙瘩开窍呢？
4. fumble vi./ n.乱摸,摸索；支吾,笨拙地处理
例句：She is fumbling the light switch. 她正找电灯开关。
5. tribulation n.苦难，灾难
例句：After many trial and tribulation, we finally reach our destination. 经过了许多考验和磨难之后,我们终於到达了目的地。
6. vastness n.巨大, 广阔, 广袤
例句：We feel the presence of the vastness. 我们都能觉得面对着无边洪蒙。