1984

           Ah,itwasmorethanaEurasianarmythathadperished! MuchhadchangedinhimsincethatfirstdayintheMinistryofLove,butthefinal,indispensable,healingchangehadneverhappened,untilthismoment. 

           Thevoicefromthetelescreenwasstillpouringforthitstaleofprisonersandbootyandslaughter,buttheshoutingoutsidehaddieddownalittle. Thewaiterswereturningbacktotheirwork. Oneofthemapproachedwiththeginbottle. Winston,sittinginablissfuldream,paidnoattentionashisglasswasfilledup. Hewasnotrunningorcheeringanylonger. HewasbackintheMinistryofLove,witheverythingforgiven,hissoulwhiteassnow. Hewasinthepublicdock,confessingeverything,implicatingeverybody. Hewaswalkingdownthewhite-tiledcorridor,withthefeelingofwalkinginsunlight,andanarmedguardathisback. Thelong-hoped-forbulletwasenteringhisbrain. 

           Hegazedupattheenormousface. Fortyyearsithadtakenhimtolearnwhatkindofsmilewashiddenbeneaththedarkmoustache. Ocruel,needlessmisunderstanding! Ostubborn,self-willedexilefromthelovingbreast! Twogin-scentedtearstrickleddownthesidesofhisnose. Butitwasallright,everythingwasallright,thestrugglewasfinished. Hehadwonthevictoryoverhimself. HelovedBigBrother.