Epilogue
The doorman was sweeping leaves into a pile in front of the gate.
“Oh, you’ve finally come,” he said. “And she’s already waiting.”
“Who?” I didn’t get who it was, and a motley array of all the young ladies from my hectic life dashed through my head.
Who could be waiting for me and moreover in my apartment? Maybe Yaryna? Or maybe, Agnieszka? Or, God forbid, Irena? Did the doorman give her the key? Is it someone from old times? Oh, I’ve given keys to so many. Some didn’t return them, and I had to make new ones. But the doorman just smiled mysteriously and winked in a fatherly way.
I dashed up to my apartment. The door wasn’t locked. I entered the hall and smelled the intoxicating scent of perfume. She was lying in the bedroom on the bed, covered with a checkered blanket. Her lu
