Sue and Johnsy had their art studio in Greenwich Village. In November, an unknown disease struck this village and Johnsy was seriously sick with it. The doctor took Sue aside and claimed, "She has one chance in ten. And that chance is for her to want to live. "
Sue came into Johnsy's room, only to find Johnsy's eyes were open, but they weren't watching her. Instead, she stared out the window and counted backwards: "Ten, nine, eight, seven……"
"What are you counting, dear?" asked Sue. "They're falling faster now, "replied Johnsy. "Three days ago there were almost a hundred. But now there are only five left. When the last one falls, I must go, too. Didn't the doctor tell you? "
"Oh, I never heard of such nonsense. Now, try to take some broth (肉汤), and let yourself relax, "quickly replied Sue. But Johnsy's mind was made up. "I don't want any broth. I just want to see the last leaf fall. "
"Try to sleep^" said Sue. Then she went to fetch her neighbour Mr Behrman, a failed painter, to be a model for her drawing. In 40 years he had never produced the masterpiece he longed to paint. Sue told him about Johnsy's longing to slip away like the leaves. Behrman cried with disbelief, "Such a foolish idea! This is not a place in which Miss Johnsy shall lie sick. Someday I will create a masterpiece, and we shall all go away. "
Behrman and Sue looked out of the window at the vine (藤蔓)and noticed that there was just one remaining leaf. Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking as if thinking of something artistic. What's more, a cold rain was falling, mixed with snow.
The next morning, Johnsy woke and asked for the curtains to be opened. One leaf remained on the vine, bravely holding on in the wind and rain. ''It will fall today, for sure. And I will die with it. "
That day in the afternoon, the doctor came, not for Johnsy, but for Mr Behrman, who was found lying in bed helplessly with pain, his shoes and clothing wet through and icy cold, and some brushes, paints, a lantern and a ladder on the ground.
The following day, Johnsy commanded that the curtain be raised again.
……
After Behrman's funeral, Sue came to Johnsy who was sipping her soup, and said, "I have something to tell you."
