Сумерки

           Then,whenIrealizedthatyouweren’twithheranymore,IwentlookingforyouatthebookstoreIsawinherhead.Icouldtellthatyouhadn’tgonein,andthatyou’dgonesouth...andIknewyouwouldhavetoturnaroundsoon.SoIwasjustwaitingforyou,randomlysearchingthroughthethoughtsofpeopleonthestreet-toseeifanyonehadnoticedyousoIwouldknowwhereyouwere.Ihadnoreasontobeworried...butIwasstrangelyanxious..."Hewaslostinthought,staringpastme,seeingthingsIcouldn’timagine.

           "Istartedtodriveincircles,still...listening.Thesunwasfinallysetting,andIwasabouttogetoutandfollowyouonfoot.Andthen-"Hestopped,clenchinghisteethtogetherinsuddenfury.Hemadeanefforttocalmhimself.

           "Thenwhat?"Iwhispered.Hecontinuedtostareovermyhead.

           "Iheardwhattheywerethinking,"hegrowled,hisupperlipcurlingslightlybackoverhisteeth."Isawyourfaceinhismind."Hesuddenlyleanedforward,oneelbowappearingonthetable,hishandcoveringhiseyes.Themovementwassoswiftitstartledme.

           "Itwasvery...hard-youcan’timaginehowhard-formetosimplytakeyouaway,andleavethem...alive."Hisvoicewasmuffledbyhisarm."IcouldhaveletyougowithJessicaandAngela,butIwasafraidifyouleftmealone,Iwouldgolookingforthem,"headmittedinawhisper.

           Isatquietly,dazed,mythoughtsincoherent.Myhandswerefoldedinmylap,andIwasleaningweaklyagainstthebackoftheseat.