Зима тревоги нашей

           Inhertinyimmaculatehousesetinalarge,overgrowngardenveryneartoOldHarbor,sheleanedtowardthemake-upmirrortoinspecthertools,andhereyessawthroughcream,powder,eye-shadowing,andlashessheathedinblack,sawthehiddenwrinkles,theinelasticityofskin.Shefelttheyearscreepupliketherisingtideaboutarockinacalmsea.Thereisanarsenalofmaturity,ofmiddleage,buttheserequiretrainingandtechniqueshedidnotyethave.Shemustlearnthembeforeherstructureofyouthandexcitementcrumbledandlefthernaked,rotten,ridiculous.Hersuccesshadbeenthatsheneverletdown,evenalone.Now,asanexperiment,sheallowedhermouthtodroopasitwantedto,hereyelidstofallhalf-staff.Sheloweredherhigh-heldchinandaplaitedropecameintobeing.Beforeherinthemirrorshesawtwentyyearsclamberoverherandsheshudderedastheicywhisperingtoldherwhatlaywaiting.Shehaddelayedtoolong.Awomanmusthaveashowcaseinwhichtogrowold,lights,props,blackvelvet,children,grayingandfattening,snickeringandpilfering,love,protection,andsmallchange,asereneandundemandinghusbandorhisevenmoresereneandlessdemandingwillandtrustfund.Awomangrowingoldaloneisuselesscast-offtrash,awrinkledobscenitywithnohobbledretainerstocluckandmutteroverherachesandtorubherpains.

           Ahotspotoffearformedinherstomach.Shehadbeenluckyinherfirsthusband.Hewasweakandshesoonfoundthevalveofhisweakness.