The only thing about her that was still intact was the odor of valerian that drove cats mad and that I continued to recall for the rest of my life with a feeling of calamity.

• 那台老式缝纫机、秤药剂的小秤、手杖、那个钟摆依然在摆动的大钟、刻着希波克拉底誓言的浮雕、还有吱噶吱噶响的椅子，所有一切都跟我小时候看到的一样，但现在看来，时间让它们生锈变形。