Cleopatra and Frankenstein

by Coco Mellors

am who I’ve always been. Sure, I work hard, that’s how I made myself a success. And yes, sometimes I drink too much. But I never pretended to be anyone else. That’s just who I am.” Cleo looked at him with pure contempt. “Those have to be the saddest words a person can utter.” “What?” “ ‘That’s just who I am.’ ” “Why?” “Because it shows a total unwillingness to change. That is not just who you are, Frank. It’s who you’ve become, who you choose to be. You just refuse to acknowledge the choice.”