Коллекционер

           Hewasterrible,becausehehadstarteditall,hehaddeterminedtobehaveinthatway.Andwonderfullyterrible,becausepassionissomethingyouneversee.I’vegrownupamongpeoplewho’vealwaystriedtohidepassion.Hewasraw.Naked.Tremblingwithrage.

           Pierssaid,we’renotasoldasyouare.Itwaspathetic,feeble.Showedhimupforwhathereallyis.

           Christ,saidG.P.Artstudents.ARTstudents.

           Ican’twritewhathesaidnext.EvenAntoinettelookedshocked.

           Wejustturnedandwent.Thestudiodoorslammedbehinduswhenwewereonthestairs.Ihissedadamn-youatPiersatthebottomandpushedthemout.Darling,he’llmurderyou,saidAntoinette.Ishutthedoorandwaited.AfteramomentIheardthemusicagain.Iwentupthestairsandveryslowlyopenedthedoor.Perhapsheheard,Idon’tknow,buthedidn’tlookupandIsatonastoolnearthedooruntilitwasfinished.

           Hesaid,whatdoyouwant,Miranda?

           Isaid,tosayI’msorry.Andtohearyousayyou’resorry.

           Hewentandstaredoutofthewindow.

           Isaid,IknowIwasstupid,Imaybelittle,butI’mnotabitch.

           Hesaid,youtry(Ithinkhedidn’tmean,youtrytobeabitch).

           Isaid,youcouldhavetoldustogoaway.Wewouldhaveunderstood.

           Therewasasilence.Heturnedtolookatmeacrossthestudio.Isaid,I’mverysorry.

           Hesaid,gohome.Wecan’tgotobedtogether.WhenIstoodup,hesaid,I’mgladyoucameback.Itwasdecentofyou.Thenhesaid,youwould.