For example, I never complained if people forgot the date of my birthday; they even expressed surprise, with a hint of admiration, at my reticence on this subject. But I was even more reticent about the reason for my unselfishness: I wished to be forgotten so that I could feel sorry for myself. Some days before the day, glorious among all others, the date of which I knew very well, I would be on the alert, careful not to let anything out that might stir the attention and the memory of those on whose oversight I was counting – didn’t I even think on one occasion of altering someone’s calendar?
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