根據居民的指示，我沿著竹林小徑走了一整天，終於到達目的地：一間全竹結構的寺廟。它比我預想中更為破落，冷冷清清的。我抬頭望向高高懸掛在山門的匾額，寫著「竹寺」。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpHraBQcNj
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8D6uzkstB
蠻有意思的名字。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OKNGmwaJz
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCfTtb92TW
當我正要邁步內進時，一個打扮樸素的瘦削大叔剛好開門踏出。四目交投，雙方都愣住了幾秒。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDOnfPY6xa
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYGptxAyK3
「歡迎內進。」沒等我回答，大叔已轉身為我引路。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ks3ROwYa8
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxpJSsqKn0
眼見天色漸暗，我不再磨蹭，看能否找到綫索，省卻逗留此地的時間：「不好意思喔，大叔！請問黃XX女士住在這裡嗎？」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw98kFEgrA
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRGxdSl9BW
大叔的腳步突兀地戛然而止。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvh8UqLQXZ
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMxY8yKfu5
是我的提問過於唐突嗎？670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDl2BlVEG3
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvE9FjtL5x
大叔回頭仔細打量我，神色疑惑，似乎在猜測我和黃女士的關係。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug2Dg5mTEG
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarcq2ask14
「有人託我將信件親手轉交予黃女士。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg2BP5O5Aj
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYP0l6Pg0d
「黃女士已離開這裡好一段時間，不知何時會回來……甚或是不知會否回來。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQKoVe5eCB
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEUUL0gu1c
「她有透露去處嗎？」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXjT5u1F8s
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIAAZqa2ml
「沒有……我帶你去她昔日的房間試找綫索。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2YkzQkbhb
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7kFAwJgmw
大叔再次邁步，步履沒有之前的輕，重若銀鉛。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrU5auDYl1c
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiMVYYCV1G
陰冷的空氣，空洞的房間，慘白的牆身，最基本的傢俬和雜物。沒有生活的氣息。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwd8KSgns3
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik1fX9R04x
「剛才在門外碰見你，也還真令我驚訝。」大叔沒有進入房間，逕自在門外呢呢喃喃。「竹寺曾香火鼎盛。後來毗鄰的兩個小鎮分別新建更大更金碧輝煌的寺廟，無意間將信眾分流開去，到來竹寺掛單的僧侶亦逐漸減少，住持最終徇眾要求到另一寺廟主持大局。他指派我長駐於此，打掃清潔，說要方便途經的旅客。我一直覺得他想多了，豈料今天就遇見你。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2ruofe2kv
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXQDASa2Rl
「可能佛祖不想我白走一趟。」我話中有話，提醒侍奉佛祖的大叔不要忘記佛祖的存在，萬萬不能撒謊。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEoXlQM7Jo
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcsfgFCZab
「我可以明天帶你見住持。他有掛單紀錄，可能有黃女士的聯絡資料。」大叔也不是省油的燈，簡單幾句就將我逼至沒有退路的位置：「但我希望你能先對我坦白事情的前因後果。住持是個大忙人。我可不希望為他增添不必要的麻煩。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4addqpCGAy
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLfobfhlwM
我只得坦白交代。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOsYhzRk7d
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLM9AuSj7z
我的妻子過身了。臨終前，她希望我能預留一年時間為她完成唯一的遺願：親手將遺書交予離家出走多年的生母——黃女士。事隔多年，黃女士曾在多個地方落腳。我每次根據綫索趕至時，她早已遷居。輾轉間，我追尋至竹寺……670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hdVausM58
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQdq6bJH8P
「距離一年限期，還剩多少日子？」大叔生起關切之情。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDMxpVQ4tJ
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0CwwLec6g
「三日。竹寺很可能是我的最後機會。」我加倍留意他的神色舉止。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5D91BkT6r
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElgGJVE1pM
「不考慮延長？」大叔表現出來的的關切絕對超過一個陌生人該有的限度。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0fxRUvqzQ
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmOdq0pZvV
「妻子信緣份。她認為努力過後仍沒能找到，證明彼此有緣無份，毋須強求。她還叮囑我要燒毀遺書。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jVpcgsJaU
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDoRrfbfyE
大叔若有所思後，講出驚人的一句：「若果一年期限屆滿時仍找不到黃女士，介意給我看看遺書嗎？」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD11Tx3LLR
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyw7MmvQRr
「極度介意！」我心裡認定大叔有事隱瞞。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9m0Fn0RDr
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpNYq1tcv7
尷尬氣氛令大叔不再多話。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaFGIBlEpC
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvxyNS4X1F
晚餐後，大叔在其他地方忙著，我則留在房間對著愛妻的照片痛哭一場。哭過以後，壓力得以紓緩，但心頭卻未能添加半分澄明，混沌混濁。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFbEMJEHTd
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCY4YFnZjY
我離房在寺內溜達散心。逛著逛著，忽爾看見大叔彎腰對著花園中的小樹喁喁細語，臉上盡是蜜甜。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFQjihzOFW
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqcjFzA8Jy
我上前跟大叔打招呼。他微笑回應，和顏悅色，渾身散發著慈祥氣息，沒有白天時的隔膜。我嘗試放下戒心，開心見誠與他聊天。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv41PjHj5d
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRUh3IzYlU
不知怎地，聊著聊著，話題竟牽到大叔的心事去。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WHjBPFqMA
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPclDgpYTZx
「貪，使人執著於一切順情之境。嗔，使人執著於一切違情之境。痴，使人不明白真理，致使生起貪嗔。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1suUfX3eV
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L5BPFjNiT
我痴愚半生，痛苦不已。到此地求法，希望住持指點迷津。但他認為我凡心未盡，要我留在這裡靜思。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1IgTeZilf
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqYElS6RW1
我在竹寺侍奉多年，住持依然不為所動。我以為他在敷衍我。今天遇到你，我才明白住持所言非虛：任何無關的人事物都可輕易勾起我對逝去伴侶的思念。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8l2vvjAbD
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsnlh4arh1
我終於明白初時大叔何以對我不太友善。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKTqKVNu5M
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iDNa0ivUU
將心比心。喪妻之後，任何人事物均能勾起我和對太太的思念。我曾抱怨上天幸災樂禍，何解不讓我安靜避世。我已盡力放下身邊一切，辭掉工作，不聯絡親友，遷出愛巢，但偏偏愛妻的遺願就是要我去彌補她的畢生遺憾！我沒有一刻能放下她，因為我的分分秒秒就是為她而過。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Qc12lCkb
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogxbL84Daw
那種痛苦實非筆墨所能形容。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwPO1FdsQD
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XyFpVME8m
「你的妻子真聰明，給你的痛苦設下一年期限。只要你在這一年裡拼命為她圓願，往後也就了無遺憾或悔疚。我可沒那麼幸運，不知要拖著這副臭皮囊乾等到哪年哪月哪日……」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE3XTNAE5D
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8mdAolbZC
說罷，他跟我和小樹說晚安，然後揚長而去。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSpQCGe9V
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3Kx0rKvcY
翌日，我翻遍整間竹寺亦找不到大叔，只在他的房間找到他留給我的手繪地圖。我跟著地圖的指示走了大半天，來到住持現處的寺廟。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyiHl2lyya
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0NZh7mHaJ
住持聽罷我的經歷後，不禁黯然慨嘆：「黃女士始終凡心未盡……」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtklNaGkYBl
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8J03lg2xg
黃女士當年拋夫棄女，與情夫私奔。豈料甜蜜日子不長久，情夫患急病逝世。黃女士大受打擊，認為是自己作孽甚深，連累情夫。她來到竹寺，望住持能指點迷津。住持認為她深陷激動情緒當中，容易作出錯誤選擇，逐要她在竹寺靜思己過。可惜她半夜逃離。當黃女士重臨竹寺時，她已花光積蓄在黑市做手術整容及變性，以情夫的外表現身……670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4zpU0huvQ
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLsuCxVBeH
「大叔就是黃女士？」我不禁驚呼。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe8MGmMOq0
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6dYYGs2FB
震驚之情瞬間即逝，取而代之的是說不出的矛盾。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6RYlBroH1
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHBHs23AZs
這個人，我恨不來，亦原諒不了。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2JxNMTWTS
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6gm2Wo4iA
翌日，我和住持往竹寺走一趟。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgoiT1sMUL
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gzRGWczxq
寺前，我倆不約而同抬頭望向匾額。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU8R5e2ANG
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaqQeuXBlf
「你知道『竹寺』何以得名嗎？」住持問。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEi7a9sW9R
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQopQC2ZyKZ
「等？」我的猜想有如初來之時。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemBlv1JHAq
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfCZlb9cIT
「這名字只不過是客觀描述寺廟本身。」住持揚手指向全竹結構的寺廟：「大家實在想多了，對自己的想像投放情感，賦予它過多的意義，致使看不見眼前真象。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UbgJWIOkP
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFwFjlMATM
我驀地憶起大叔前夜的說話。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ026bkaL2B0
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ1ug8XZC0
住持直接走往花園。不出他所料，小樹已被連根拔起，樹下土地被挖出一個大坑，足以容納一個成人。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHatVJKHjhZ
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfHmT1Klq2
我心頭一涼，頓時明白那是甚麼一回事：多年以來，情夫的屍首一直埋在這裡。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs3IYNeina
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMqbQKmDWe
我鼻頭一酸，淚如雨下。670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLWHaLF4FE
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2xgjCaVV7
「『強逼自己放下執著』也是一種執著。」670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf6Zlt1jtF
670Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B95k0WDqr
住持淡然望天，開始為一切生者亡者誦經。
然後按「加至主畫面」