Таинственная история Билли Миллигана

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           Onthesixo’clocknews,KevynBurgerpointedoutthatMilligan’stherapyprogramattheAthensMentalHealthCenterhadbeencontroversialandharshlycriticized,butthatBillyfeltasenseofbelonginginthecommunitynow.

           "IfeelalotbetteraboutthepeopleinAthens,"hetoldher."Theyarenotashostile,becausethey’regettingtoknowme.They’renotafraidofme,astheywerewhenIfirstcamehere.Thatwasstirredupby...othermeans…"

           Hepointedoutthathehadselected,verycarefully,thepaintingshewasputtingonpublicview.Hewasholdingothersbackbecausehefearedpeoplewouldtrytoanalyzehimthroughhisartwork.Hewasworried,headmitted,abouthowpeoplewouldjudgehiswork."Iftheycometoseemywork,"hesaid,"Ihopeit’snotbecausethey’rethrill-seeking,butbecausethey’reinterestedinart."

           Hewantedtogotoschool,hesaid,toimprovehistechniques,butbecausehisreputationhadprecededhim,hefelthewouldn’tbeacceptedinacollegeclassroom.Perhapsthatwouldchangesomeday.Hewouldwait.

           "I’mfacingrealitynow,"hetoldher,"andthat’swhat’simportant."

           Billyfeltthestaffatthehospitalreactedwelltotheeveningnewscasts,whichshowedhimhanginghispaintingsandtalkingtothenewscasters.Mostofthestaffhadbecomewarmtowardhim;fewwereopenlycritical.