Цветы для Элджернона

           AndeverytimeIcameclosetoyou,orthoughtaboutmakinglovetoyou,therewasashortcircuit."

           Iwasexcited,andmyvoicepoundedatheruntilshebegantoquiver.Herfacebecameflushed."Charlie,"shewhispered,"can’tIdoanything?Can’tIhelp?"

           "IthinkI’vechangedduringtheseweeksawayfromthelab,"Isaid."Icouldn’tseehowtodoitatfirst,buttonight,whileIwaswanderingaroundthecity,itcametome.Thefoolishthingwastryingtosolvetheproblemallbymyself.ButthedeeperIgettangledupinthismassofdreamsandmemoriesthemoreIrealizethatemotionalproblemscan’tbesolvedasintellectualproblemsare.That’swhatIdiscoveredaboutmyselflastnight.Itoldmy­selfIwaswanderingaroundlikealostsoul,andthenIsawthatIwaslost.

           "SomehowI’vebecomeseparatedemotionallyfromeveryoneandeverything.AndwhatIwasreallysearchingforoutthereinthedarkstreets—thelastdamnedplaceIcouldeverfindit—wasawaytomakemyselfapartofpeopleagainemotionally,whilestillretainingmyfreedomintellectually.I’vegottogrowup.Formeitmeansevery­thing...."

           Italkedonandon,spewingoutofmyselfeverydoubtandfearthatbubbledtothesurface.Shewasmysoundingboardandshesattherehypnotized.Ifeltmyselfgrowwarm,feverish,untilIthoughtmybodywasonfire.IwasburningouttheinfectioninfrontofsomeoneIcaredabout,andthatmadeallthedifference.

           Butitwastoomuchforher.Whathadstartedastremblingbecametears.