Your red dress,’ she said, and laughed. But I looked at the dress on the floor and it was as if the fire had spread across the room. It was beautiful and it reminded me of something I must do. I will remember I thought. I will remember quite soon now.

As soon as I turned the key I saw it hanging, the color of fire and sunset. the colour of flamboyant flowers. ‘If you are buried under a flamboyant tree, ‘ I said, ‘your soul is lifted up when it flowers. Everyone wants that.’ She shook her head but she did not move or touch me.

Cold - cold as truth, cold as life. No, nothing can be as cold as life.

I have been here five days. I have decided on a place to eat in at midday, a place to eat in at night, a place to have my drink in after dinner. I have arranged my little life.

Today I must be very careful, today I have left my armor at home.

Next week, or next month, or next year I will kill myself. But I might as well last out my month's rent, which has been paid up.

Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.