Цветы для Элджернона

           Idon’tknowhowIknewitwasCharlieandnotme.Somethingaboutthedull,ques­tioninglookinhisface.Hiseyes,wideandfrightened,asifatonewordfrommehewouldturnandrundeepintothedimensionofthemirroredworld.Buthedidn’trun.Hejuststaredbackatme,mouthopen,jawhangingloosely.

           "Hello,"Isaid,"soyou’vefinallycomefacetofacewithme."

           Hefrowned,justabit,asifhedidn’tunderstandwhatImeant,asifhewantedanexplanationbutdidn’tknowhowtoaskforit.Then,givingitup,hesmiledwrylyfromthecornerofhismouth.

           "Staythererightinfrontofme,"Ishouted."I’msickandtiredofyourspyingonmefromdoorwaysanddark,placeswhereIcan’tcatchupwithyou."

           Hestared.

           "Whoareyou,Charlie?"

           Nothingbutthesmile.

           Inoddedandhenoddedback.

           "Thenwhatdoyouwant?"Iasked.

           Heshrugged.

           "Oh,comenow,"Isaid,"youmustwantsomething.You’vebeenfollowingme—"saidit.Iwasanarrogant,self-centeredbastard.UnlikeCharlie,Iwasincapableofmakingfriendsorthinkingaboutotherpeopleandtheirproblems.Iwasinterestedinmyself,andmyselfonly.Foronelongmomentinthatmir­rorIhadseenmyselfthroughCharlie’seyes—lookeddownatmyselfandsawwhatIhadreallybecome.AndIwasashamed.

           HourslaterIfoundmyselfinfrontoftheapartmenthouse,andmademywayupstairsandthroughthedimlylithallway.PassingFay’sroom,Icouldseetherewasalighton,andIstartedtowardherdoor.