Сумерки

           "I’dgivenmoreinformationthannecessaryinmyunwillinghonesty,andIworrieditwouldprovokethestrangeangerthatflaredwheneverIslippedandrevealedtooclearlyhowobsessedIwas.

           Buthispausewasveryshort.

           "Whatkindsofflowersdoyouprefer?"hefiredoff.

           Isighedinrelief,andcontinuedwiththepsychoanalysis.

           Biologywasacomplicationagain.EdwardhadcontinuedwithhisquizzingupuntilMr.Bannerenteredtheroom,draggingtheaudiovisualframeagain.Astheteacherapproachedthelightswitch,InoticedEdwardslidehischairslightlyfartherawayfrommine.Itdidn’thelp.Assoonastheroomwasdark,therewasthesameelectricspark,thesamerestlesscravingtostretchmyhandacrosstheshortspaceandtouchhiscoldskin,asyesterday.

           Ileanedforwardonthetable,restingmychinonmyfoldedarms,myhiddenfingersgrippingthetable’sedgeasIfoughttoignoretheirrationallongingthatunsettledme.Ididn’tlookathim,afraidthatifhewaslookingatme,itwouldonlymakeself-controlthatmuchharder.Isincerelytriedtowatchthemovie,butattheendofthehourIhadnoideawhatI’djustseen.IsighedinreliefagainwhenMr.

           Bannerturnedthelightson,finallyglancingatEdward;hewaslookingatme,hiseyesambivalent.

           Heroseinsilenceandthenstoodstill,waitingforme.Wewalkedtowardthegyminsilence,likeyesterday.And,alsolikeyesterday,hetouchedmyfacewordlessly-thistimewiththebackofhiscoolhand,strokingoncefrommytempletomyjaw-beforeheturnedandwalkedaway.