Цветы для Элджернона

           Look,we’veknownthismighthappen.Itwasnosecret.Ididn’tgoaway,Charlie,I’vejustbeenwaiting.You’reaboutatmylevelagain,aren’tyou?"

           Istormedaroundtheapartment."Butthat’scrazy.There’snothingtolookforwardto.Idon’tdareletmyselfthinkahead—onlyback.Inafewmonths,weeks,days—whothehellknows?—I’llgobacktoWarren.Youcan’tfollowmethere."

           "No,"sheadmitted,"andIprobablywon’tevenvisityouthere.Onceyou’reinWarrenI’lldomybesttoforgetyou.I’mnotgoingtopretendotherwise.Butuntilyougo,there’snoreasonforeitherofustobealone."

           BeforeIcouldsayanything,shekissedme.Iwaited,asshesatbesidemeonthecouch,restingherheadagainstmychest,butthepanicdidn’tcome.Alicewasawoman,butperhapsnowCharliewouldunderstandthatshewasn’thismotherorhissister.

           WiththereliefofknowingIhadpassedthroughacri­sis,IsighedbecausetherewasnothingtoholdmebackItwasnotimeforfearorpretense,becauseitcouldneverbethiswaywithanyoneelse.Allthebarriersweregone.Ihadunwoundthestringshehadgivenme,andfoundmywayoutofthelabyrinthtowhereshewaswaiting.Ilovedherwithmorethanmybody.

           Idon’tpretendtounderstandthemysteryoflove,butthistimeitwasmorethansex,morethanusingawoman’sbody.Itwasbeingliftedofftheearth,outsidefearandtor­ment,beingpartofsomethinggreaterthanmyself.