Коллекционер

           Iknowyou’remeanttowashdeadbodies,butIdidn’tliketo,itdidn’tseemright,soIputheronthebedandcombedoutherhairandcutalock.ItriedtoarrangeherfacesoithadasmilebutIcouldn’t.Anywayshelookedverypeaceful.ThenIkneltandsaidaprayer,theonlyoneIknewwasOurFather,soIsaidsomeofthatandGodresthersoul,notthatIbelieveinreligion,butitseemedright.ThenIwentupstairs.

           Idon’tknowwhyitwasonelittlethingthatdidit;you’dthinkitwouldbeseeingherdeadorcarryingherdownthelasttime,butitwasn’t;itwaswhenIsawherslippersintheroomwhereshewasupstairs.IpickedthemupandsuddenlyIknewshewouldn’teverwearthemagain.Iwouldn’tevergodownanddrawtheboltsagain(funny,Ihadstillboltedherin,though),andnoneofitwouldeverhappenagain,thegoodorthebad.Isuddenlyknewshewasdeadanddeadmeansgoneforever,foreverandever.

           ThoselastdaysIhadtobesorryforher(assoonasIknewitwasn’tacting),andIforgaveheralltheotherbusiness.Notwhileshewasliving,butwhenIknewshewasdead,thatwaswhenIfinallyforgaveher.Allsortsofnicethingscameback.Irememberedthebeginning,thedaysintheAnnexejustseeinghercomeoutofthefrontdoor,orpassinghertheothersideofthestreet,andIcouldn’tunderstandhowitallhappenedsothatshewastherebelow,dead.