Цветы для Элджернона

           Thesolutiontomyproblemlayelsewhere.

           Ididn’tknowwhatelsetosaytoher.Iwishedshe’dgoaway,butIdidn’twanttotellhertogo.Shewasstudyingme,andthenfinallyshesaid,"Look,doyoumindifIspendthenighthere?"

           "Why?"

           Sheshrugged."Ilikeyou.Idon’tknow.Leroymightcomeback.Lotsofreasons.Ifyoudon’twantmeto..."

           Shecaughtmeoffguardagain.Imighthavefoundadozenexcusestogetridofher,butIgavein.

           "Gotanygin?"sheasked.

           "No,Idon’tdrinkmuch."

           "I’vegotsomeinmyplace.I’llbringitover."BeforeIcouldstophershewasoutthewindowandafewminuteslatershereturnedwithabottleabouttwo-thirdsfull,andalemon.Shetooktwoglassesfrommykitchenandpouredsomeginintoeach."Here,"shesaid,"this’llmakeyoufeelbetter.It’lltakethestarchoutofthosestraightlines.That’swhat’sbuggingyou.Everythingistooneatandstraightandyou’reallboxedin.LikeAlgernoninbissculpturethere."

           Iwasn’tgoingtoatfirst,butIfeltsolousythatIfig­uredwhynot.Itcouldn’tmakethingsanyworse,anditmightpossiblydullthefeelingthatIwaswatchingmyselfthrougheyesthatdidn’tunderstandwhatIwasdoing.

           Shegotmedrunk.

           Irememberthefirstdrink,andgettingintobed,andherslippinginbesidemewiththebottleinherhand.AndthatwasalluntilthisafternoonwhenIgotupwithahangover.

           Shewasstillasleep,facetothewall,herpillowbunchedupunderherneck.