Сумерки

           "Heturnedhisanguishedeyestotheroad,hiswordsflowingalmosttoofastformetounderstand."Idon’twanttohearthatyoufeelthatway."Hisvoicewaslowbuturgent.Hiswordscutme."It’swrong.It’snotsafe.I’mdangerous,Bella-please,graspthat."

           "No."Itriedveryhardnottolooklikeasulkychild.

           "I’mserious,"hegrowled.

           "SoamI.Itoldyou,itdoesn’tmatterwhatyouare.It’stoolate."

           Hisvoicewhippedout,lowandharsh."Neversaythat."

           Ibitmylipandwasgladhecouldn’tknowhowmuchthathurt.Istaredoutattheroad.Wemustbeclosenow.Hewasdrivingmuchtoofast.

           "Whatareyouthinking?"heasked,hisvoicestillraw.Ijustshookmyhead,notsureifIcouldspeak.Icouldfeelhisgazeonmyface,butIkeptmyeyesforward.

           "Areyoucrying?"Hesoundedappalled.Ihadn’trealizedthemoistureinmyeyeshadbrimmedover.Iquicklyrubbedmyhandacrossmycheek,andsureenough,traitortearswerethere,betrayingme.

           "No,"Isaid,butmyvoicecracked.

           Isawhimreachtowardmehesitantlywithhisrighthand,butthenhestoppedandplaceditslowlybackonthesteeringwheel.

           "I’msorry."Hisvoiceburnedwithregret.Iknewhewasn’tjustapologizingforthewordsthathadupsetme.

           Thedarknessslippedbyusinsilence.

           "Tellmesomething,"heaskedafteranotherminute,andIcouldhearhimstruggletousealightertone.