Цветы для Элджернона

           ShesippedhercoffeeandlistenedquietlyasIex­plainedhowIhadfoundoutaboutGimpy’scheating,myownreaction,andtheconflictingadviceI’dgottenatthelab.WhenIfinished,shesatbackandshookherhead.

           "Charlie,youamazeme.Insomewaysyou’resoad­vanced,andyetwhenitcomestomakingadecision,you’restillachild.Ican’tdecideforyou,Charlie.Theanswercan’tbefoundinbooks—orbesolvedbybringingittootherpeople.Notunlessyouwanttoremainachildallyourlife.You’vegottofindtheanswerinsideyou—feeltherightthingtodo.Charlie,you’vegottolearntotrustyourself."

           Atfirst,Iwasannoyedatherlecture,butthensud­denly—itbegantomakesense."Youmean,I’vegottodecide?"

           Shenodded.

           "Infact,"Isaid,"nowthatIthinkofit,IbelieveI’vealreadydecidedsomeofit!IthinkNemurandStraussarebothwrong!"

           Shewaswatchingmeclosely,excitedly."Somethingishappeningtoyou,Charlie.Ifyoucouldonlyseeyourface."

           "You’redamnedright,somethingishappening!Acloudofsmokewashanginginfrontofmyeyes,andwithonebreathyoublewitaway.Asimpleidea.Trustmyself.Anditneveroccurredtomebefore."

           "Charlie,you’rewonderful."

           Icaughtherhandandheldit."No,it’syou.Youtouchmyeyesandmakemesee."

           Sheblushedandpulledherhandback.

           "Thelasttimewewerehere,"Isaid,"ItoldyouIlikedyou.IshouldhavetrustedmyselftosayIloveyou."

           "Don’t,Charlie.Notyet."

           "Notyet?"Ishouted."That’swhatyousaidlasttime.