Sunrise in the Greenhouse- 適合中級的英語短篇故事

Marco unlocked the small greenhouse just after sunrise and stepped inside. Warm air met his glasses, and thin mist blurred the panes. The humid environment of glass and soil wrapped around him like a blanket. He had waited eight weeks to observe a rare, diminutive sunflower whose germination began in a recycled pot. The plant that he watered daily now reached his knees, and abundant leaves pressed against glass. A sudden patter of rain struck the roof, closing every tiny gap for fresh air. Steam rose from pots, clouding the narrow path between tables. The outer door was pushed by the wind until the latch clicked. While sliding the door shut, he noticed his camera screen flashing red; the battery hardly held a charge. Rain and power together created a race against fading light.

Marco lifted the lens, but moisture fogged it faster than he could wipe. He lowered the camera, pulled a pencil and folded paper from his pocket, and crouched. The sunflower that had waited stayed still, yet raindrops drummed around him. He sketched quick lines while the light bulbs over his head flickered. Halfway through the drawing, the flower tilted toward him. A golden bead rolled down a petal and landed on the sheet, leaving a bright stain. He grinned, shaded around the natural color, and signed the corner before the battery finally died. The finished sketch dried on a bench beneath calm lamps, while water slid quietly down the greenhouse walls.

馬可在日出後解鎖小小的溫室，然後走進去。溫暖的空氣碰到他的眼鏡，薄霧模糊了玻璃窗。玻璃與泥土形成的潮濕環境像毯子般包覆著他。他已經等待八週，要親眼觀察一株珍貴的迷你向日葵，這株花的發芽是在回收盆裡開始的。他每天澆水的植物現在長到他的膝蓋，高高的葉片貼在玻璃上。突然的雨點敲打屋頂，封住每一條小縫隙，讓新鮮空氣無法進來。蒸氣從花盆升起，遮住桌子間狹窄的通道。外門被風推動，卡榫喀噠一聲扣上。他在關門時注意到相機螢幕閃著紅光；電池幾乎沒有電。雨聲與電力問題讓他與逐漸變暗的光線競速。

馬可舉起鏡頭，但水氣很快讓鏡片起霧，他擦也擦不完。他放下相機，從口袋拿出鉛筆和摺好的紙，蹲在花前。那株等待已久的向日葵保持靜止，雨點卻在他四周擊鼓般落下。他在頭頂燈泡忽明忽暗的光線下快速勾勒線條。畫到一半，花朵微微向他傾斜。一顆金黃水珠沿著花瓣滑落，滴在紙上，留下亮麗的斑點。他咧嘴一笑，在天然的顏色旁加上陰影，然後在電池終於耗盡前簽上名字。完成的素描放在長椅上，在柔和燈光下晾乾，溫室的玻璃牆上水痕靜靜滑落。