The story took place in 1958, and Germany was full of waste after World War II. Mike, a 15-year-old boy, suddenly felt uncomfortable on the tram. He vomited after getting off the bus, and then sat downstairs in a building and cried helplessly. At this time, Hannah, a 38-year-old conductor, went out to see it, touched Mike's face and said, "Child, it will be fine." It was as warm as a mother treats her child. After Hannah sent Mike to a place not far from home, she said to him, "Take care, child."
Mike went to Hannah after his illness and wanted to thank her for her help. But when Mike was caught peeking at Hannah changing clothes, he shyly ran away. Mike secretly paid attention to Hannah on the tram for many times. One day Mike mustered up the courage to find Hannah and took a bath at her house. At this time, Hannah came in naked and made out with Mike, and a love beyond her age began.
Mike went to Hannah's house every day and they chatted and had sex. Mike is a good read aloud, and innocent and lovely child. Hannah especially enjoyed listening to Mike read the stories to him. When hearing comedy, Hannah laughed heartily, and when she heard tragedy, Hannah would lie in Mike's arms and cry sadly. At this time, Hannah was more like a child. In the rules of time, she is indeed an adult, but in the emotional world, she is still a child.
On a bike trip, after they finished their meal, the waiter said to Mike: I hope your mother is having a good time. Mike responded: "Thank you, she loves it. Of course Hannah didn't hear those words. When Mike kissed Hannah at this time, Hannah looked at the waiter worriedly. Obviously, both of them have scruples and are afraid of worldly prejudice, which is also doomed to the failure of this relationship.
Since then, their conflicts have gradually increased, and their quarrels have become more and more intense. On Mike's birthday, they had another heated argument. After calming down, Hannah carefully scrubbed Mike's body, perhaps giving Mike an unforgettable birthday present. At this time, Hannah had already made up her mind to leave, she knew that they would never have a result...
Hannah is out of Mike's life, and he has a new, younger girlfriend of course. A few years later, when Mike, as a law student, went to the court for the trial of the war criminals of World War II, he accidentally found that Hannah was sitting on the defendant. It turned out that Hannah had worked as a guard in a concentration camp. during the trial. Several other inmates joined in to denigrate Hannah as her mastermind, saying she had drafted a release report, which Hannah pleaded guilty to and was sentenced to life in prison. But actually Hannah is illiterate. In order not to be known that he was illiterate, he would rather choose to go to jail forever. But in fact, what she was afraid of was only being known by Mike, and she didn't want to devalue herself in Mike's heart. But Mike was clear in his heart that he wanted to help Hannah clear her name, but he didn't, and he respected Hannah's wishes.
Mike once wanted to visit Hannah, but went to the door and didn't go in.
Mike married, divorced, and had a daughter over the years. But Hannah was never forgotten in her heart. He resolutely read the stories aloud, then made a tape and mailed it to Hannah. This is Mike's remembrance of past feelings, but it is by no means an expectation for the future. Hannah heard Mike read aloud in prison, as if hope was rekindled. Hannah began to learn to read with Mike's recordings. This became Hannah's only spiritual sustenance. After Hannah learned to write, she would write to Mike every time, but Mike only sent tapes and never replied. In fact, Mike replied to the letter every time, but the letter was not sent to Hannah, but was placed in a drawer and sealed in Mike's heart forever.
Before Hannah was about to be released from prison, the prison guard informed Mike to ask him to pick up Hannah, because Hannah had no relatives and only asked Mike to take care of her. Mike agreed. In fact, he was afraid, afraid of facing his past feelings, and even more afraid of facing Hannah, who might be old and degenerate.
When Mike met Hannah in the prison cafeteria, Hannah was already grey-haired. She said, "Child, you have grown up..." A simple sentence, but expressed the thousands of emotions in Hannah's heart. When Hannah reached out and longed for Mike's affection, Mike pulled it back with just a touch. Hannah's eyes were full of despair, and she knew that she could never return to the past. When parting, she just said lightly: "Take care, child."
Hannah hanged herself in prison, using the books Mike had read to him as stepping stones. These books lead her to a brief but unforgettable love affair. These books also took her out of this world where she no longer had a place. In the suicide note, Hannah only lightly wrote: Say hello to Mike for me. At this time, no amount of words could express her feelings for Mike, some words Mike already understood.
The seemingly short-lived and alternative love has shaped Mike and Hannah's life.
Mike may never read to anyone else in his life because he only wants to read for one person in his life and that's Hannah...
I can't help but feel sad about this relationship throughout the whole story. Love beyond age should not be discriminated against and should be respected as well. But this relationship was doomed to a bleak ending from the very beginning. The greed and weakness of human nature are so obvious. When Michael was making out with Hannah, he was also attracted by a beautiful girl in his class; on the train, Mike didn't dare to get too close to Hannah, for fear of being noticed by others. Hannah's departure is wise, and it hurts in the end to continue. I wonder, if Hannah leaves and we never see each other again, will the best side of each other stay in our hearts forever?
Mike's love for Hannah contains so much. There is gratitude for being helped, a desire to be cared for, and a curiosity about mature women. So this is more than just a simple love story. All I can do is feel it, touch it...
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