Цветы для Элджернона

           Butwedon’thavetothinkaboutitnow,becausehe’sgoneforeverisn’the?"

           Shewasn’tlisteningtome.Therewasadreamyex­pressiononherface."I’vejusthadoneofthosestrangeex­perienceswheresomethinghappens,andyouhavethefeelingyouknowit’sgoingtohappen,asifitalltookplacebefore,theexactsameway,andyouwatchitunfoldagain...."

           "Averycommonexperience."

           Sheshookherhead."Justnow,whenIsawherwiththatknife,itwaslikeadreamIhadalongtimeago."

           "Whatwastheuseoftellinghershehadundoubtedlybeenawakethatnightasachild,andhadseenthewholethingfromherroom—thatithadbeenrepressedandtwisteduntilsheimagineditasafantasy.Noreasonforburdeningherwiththetruth.Shewouldhaveenoughsad­nesswithmymotherinthedaystocome.Iwouldgladlyhavetakentheburdenandthepainoffherhands,buttherewasnosenseinstartingsomethingIcouldn’tfinish.Iwouldhavemyownsufferingtolivewith.Therewasnowaytostopthesandsofknowledgefromslippingthroughthehourglassofmymind.

           "I’vegottogonow,"Isaid."Takecareofyourself,andofher."Isqueezedherhand.AsIwentout,Napoleonbarkedatme.

           IhelditinforaslongasIcould,butwhenIreachedthestreetitwasimpossible.It’shardtowriteitdown,butpeopleturnedtolookatmeasIwalkedbacktothecar,cryinglikeachild.Icouldn’thelpmyself,andIdidn’tcare