The Door

by Magda Szabó

“Emerence is ashamed, before you and before the entire street. She pretends she’s lost her memory because that way it’s easier to bear the thought of lying there in full view, in all her filth, with her human dignity smashed to pieces. Do I have to teach you, of all people, what shame is? You, who effectively brought this upon her? Wasn’t the ‘day of action’ your doing? You handed her over chained and bound, the cleanest of the clean, with all her secrets, when you should have protected her, whatever the cost. You were the only person on earth whose words would have induced her to open her door. You are her Judas. You betrayed her.”