Twenty year ago, I drove a cab for a living. I met people whose lives amazed me made me ___(1)___ and weep. But none touched me more than a woman I ___(2)___ up late one August night.

　　I was responding to a call in a quiet part of town. When I arrived at 2: 30 am, the building was ___(3)____ except for a single light in a ground floor window. I walked to the door and ___(4)____.

　　The door opened. A small, woman in her eighties ___(5)____ before me. By her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the ___(6)___, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked ___(7)____ toward the cab. She kept ____(8)____ me for my kindness.

　　When we got in the cab, she gave me a(n) __(9)____ and, asked,“Can you drive through downtown?”

　　For the next two hours, we drove _____(10)____ the city. She showed me the building where she had ____(11)___ worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived ___(12)____ they were newlyweds. She ____(13)___ me pull up in front of a house that had once been a ballroom where she had gone ____(14)____ as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building and would sit _____(15)____ into the darkness, saying nothing.

　　As the day ___(16)____, we got to the address she had given me. It was a hospice（临终关怀医院）. Two orderlies came out to the cab as ___(17)___ as we pulled up. They must have been ____(18)___ her. I took the small suitcase to the door.

　　“You gave an old woman a little moment of __(19)______,”she said.“Thank you.”I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the ___(20)____ of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly, lost in thought.

One night last summer, my neighbor Debbie came over and knocked on my door. “I’m leaving for   21, Jim,” she said. “Would you mind dropping by my house in a bit and   22 on my mother?”

“Not a problem,” I said.

I’d lived next door to Debbie and her 84-year-old  23  , Nan, for about six months, and we’d become fast friends. Debbie always worked at night. She  24  leaving her mom alone, so she asked if it was okay if she rigged (装配) up one of those baby monitors and  25  me a receiver.

I was 26  to help. After all, I’ve been blind since infancy(婴儿期) and out of work for years. In fact, at 54, I’d come to wonder if I had much   27 anymore.

Like me, Nan was   28 ―and was also hard of hearing. That evening Nan and I chatted for a bit 29.

“If you’re okay,” I said, “I think I’ll turn in.” Before I 30, I made sure the baby monitor was working.

“Good night, Nan,” I said. I 31  my stick and headed out the door. “See you tomorrow,” Nan called behind me. I locked the door and 32  my way home.

Several minutes 33 I heard a sound. It was Nan on the 34  . “Jim! Jim!” I heard over the monitor. “The house is 35 ! Help! ”

I went as   36   as I could to Debbie’s. I got to the front door. I could 37 a heavy, thick smoke. I put my hand on the doorknob(门把手), and reached for my key and 38  the door. “Here, Jim. Help!” Her voice was weak.

“Let’s get out of here!” I shouted. Grabbing her hand, I started to move on. I tapped with my cane 39 we found the front door. We felt our way down the steps, 40 in the sweet, fresh summer air, and to the gate of her yard. Thank you, Lord. We’re all safe.