My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years where I get up, make some coffee, shower, get dressed and leave for the train station at precisely 7:35 A.M. to arrive at work by 8:30. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd so I can read the newspaper in peace and quiet. At work I am always being bombarded with questions from coworkers, suppliers, the telephone and then those dreaded meetings, so the last thing I need is some stranger to sit beside me and make small talk.

那天就像过去15年里的每天一样，我起床，煮咖啡，洗澡，穿好衣服去火车站，早上7：35准时到达车站，然后8：30到公司。当我在火车上时总是会选择一个远离人群的座位，这样我就可以安静地看会报纸。工作时我总是被来自于同事、供应商、电话的问题轰炸，还有可怕的会议，所以我最不愿做的事情就是坐在陌生人旁边和被搭讪。

I don't know why but for some reason when I got on the train that day it was unusually full, something I don't recall ever happening in the past. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man who had his head don and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. I was glad that he didn't notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor.

我不知道为什么但肯定有什么原因，那天当我上火车时车厢很满，我不记得过去有发生过。犹豫了一下，我坐在一个耷拉着头，看起来陷入了深思的中年男人旁边唯一的一个空位上。我很高兴他没注意到我坐到了他旁边，因为他仍然低头看着地板。

Shortly after the train left for my 30-minute ride downtown I found myself wondering what this man was thinking about. What could be so important that he did't even see me sit next to him? I tried to forget about it and started to read my paper. However, for some strange reason this inner voice kept prompting me to talk to this man. I tried to ignore the voice, as there was no way I was starting a conversation with a complete stranger.

火车向前开了大约30分钟，我发现自己在想这个男人究竟在想什么。有什么重要的事让他没看到我坐在了他旁边？我尝试忘记这个事情去看我的报纸。可是，因为一些奇怪的原因我内心有个声音促使我和这个男人说话。我尝试忽略这个声音，因为我找不到理由和一个完全陌生的人开始一场谈话。

As you probably guessed, I eventually broke down and came up with an excuse to ask him a question. When he raised his head and turned his eyes towards me I could see that he must have been really upset as he had red eyes and still had some tears rolling down the side of his face despite his feeble attempt to wipe them away. I can't describe the sadness I felt seeing someone in so much pain.

就像你猜的那样，最终我破例找了一个借口问他一个问题。当他抬起头看向我时，我能看出他真的很难过，因为他的眼睛是红的，泪水正从脸上滑下，尽管他尝试去擦。我无法描述自己感觉到的这种看到某人如此痛苦的悲伤。

We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be doing better. As we were leaving the train he thanked me profusely for being an angel by taking the time to talk. I never did find out what was making his heart so heavy with pain but was glad I listened to the voice that day.

我们聊了20分钟，最后他看起来好了一些。当我们离开车站时，他对我连连道谢说我像个天使一样花时间和他说话。我一直不知道是什么痛苦让他的心如此沉重，但是我很高兴自己在那天听从了那个声音。

Several weeks had passed when I noticed an envelope on my desk after returning from lunch. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word angel written on it. My receptionist attached a note saying a gentleman dropped it off saying he did not know my name but had described me well enough that the receptionist knew it was for me. When I read the note inside the envelope I was so filled with emotions that I could't contain myself. It was a letter from the man I met on the train thanking me again for talking to him and saving his life that day.

几个星期以后，当我吃完午饭回来看到桌上有一个信封。信封上没有收件人只是写了一个“天使”在上面。我的前台在信封上附了一个便条，说有个绅士送过来的，他说不知道我的名字但是能够很好地描述我的样貌，所以前台知道他说的就是我。当我看完信封里的内容时激动地几乎不能控制自己的情绪。这是一封来自于那天在火车上遇到的那个男人送过来的信，他在信里对我表示再次感谢，那天和他说话并且挽救了他的生命。

Apparently he had some very hurtful personal problems that were so overwhelming that he was planning to take his own life that day. In his letter he went on to explain that he was a religious person and in desperation screamed out to God that if God really cared about him he would send someone to prevent him from taking his own life. In his eyes I was that someone, that Angel sent by God.

很明显他遭遇了一些非常严重无法抗拒的问题以致于他在那天想要结束自己的生命。在他的信里，他接着解释说，他是一个宗教信仰者，在绝望中向上帝求救：如果上帝真的在乎他，就派一个人来阻止他结束自己的生命。在他的眼里，我就是那个人，被上帝派来的天使。

Not being a religious person myself, I don't know what that voice was that made me take a chance and talk to stranger, but I do know that it made a difference in someone's life that day. So the next time you feel prompted for no apparent reason to talk to friend, relative, neighbor or even a complete stranger please remember my story. You just may make a difference in someone's life when you listen to your inner voice.

我自己不是一个宗教人士，我不知道是什么声音让我抓住了一个机会和一个陌生人说话，但是我确切地知道在那天这让某个人的生命发生了变化。所以，下次，如果你被莫名的原因鼓舞和一个朋友、亲戚、邻居或者就是一个完全陌生人谈话，让记住我的故事。当你听从内心的声音时，你可能会让某个人的生命不同。