Цветы для Элджернона

           Seeingmyselfinthefrontmirrorlookingintothebackmirror,ashehelditforme,ittiltedforaninstantintotheoneanglethatproducedtheillusionofdepth;endlesscorridorsofmyself...lookingatmyself...lookingatmyself...lookingatmyself...looking...

           Whichone?WhowasI?

           Ithoughtofnottellinghim.Whatgoodwasitforhimtoknow?JustgoawayandnotrevealwhoIwas.ThenIrememberedthatIwantedhimtoknow.HehadtoadmitthatIwasalive,thatIwassomeone.Iwantedhimtoboastaboutmetothecustomerstomorrowashegavehaircutsandshaves.Thatwouldmakeitallreal.IfheknewIwashisson,thenIwouldbeaperson.

           "Nowthatyou’vegotthehairoffmyface,maybeyou’llknowme,"IsaidasIstoodup,waitingforasignofrecognition.

           Hefrowned."Whatisthis?Agag?"

           Iassuredhimitwasnotagag,andifhelookedandthoughthardenoughhewouldknowme.Heshruggedandturnedtoputhiscombsandscissorsaway."Igotnotimeforguessinggames.Gottocloseup.That’llbethree-fifty."

           Whatifhedidn’trememberme?Whatifthiswasonlyanabsurdfantasy?Hishandwasoutforthemoney,butImadenomovetowardmywallet.Hehadtorememberme.Hehadtoknowme.

           Butno—ofcoursenot—andasIfeltthesourtasteinmymouthandthesweatinmypalms,IknewthatinaminuteIwouldbesick.ButIdidn’twantthatinfrontofhim.

           "Hey,youallright?"

           "Yes...just...wait..."Istumbledintooneofthechromechairsandbentforwardgaspingforbreath,wait­ingforthebloodtocomebacktomyhead.