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我们那棵古老的、布满地衣皱纹的维多利亚李子树已经落尽了最后的叶子。对我来说，它就是一座时钟。时钟倒转，是的，这以外科手术般的残酷标志着季节的变化。但当我从书房窗户望出去，透过这棵我已经爱上的坚忍果树的骨瘦如柴的枝条看到天空，铁格子般的铁灰色天空时，我知道它开始了。冬天。
冬天。我关上门，生起火，向内转身，退缩，裹紧身体，在无形的舒适中寻求慰藉。而树木则相反，它们剥去一切直至骨骼，挺立高耸，赤裸转身。它们深深扎根。它们雕刻着寂静。冬天是它们破开天空、挖掘大地、成为来年和再来年将要成为的样子的时候。它们向风倾斜，携带着钻石般的霜花，穿着冬日黎明的寒冷如同按时行军的战士。
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