Сумерки

           Itriedtokeepmyeyesawayfromhisperfectionasmuchaspossible,butIslippedoften.Eachtime,hisbeautypiercedmethroughwithsadness.

           Forthemostpart,wewalkedinsilence.Occasionallyhewouldaskarandomquestionthathehadn’tgottentointhepasttwodaysofinterrogation.Heaskedaboutmybirthdays,mygradeschoolteachers,mychildhoodpets-andIhadtoadmitthatafterkillingthreefishinarow,I’dgivenuponthewholeinstitution.Helaughedatthat,louderthanIwasusedto-bell-likeechoesbouncingbacktousfromtheemptywoods.

           Thehiketookmemostofthemorning,buthenevershowedanysignofimpatience.Theforestspreadoutaroundusinaboundlesslabyrinthofancienttrees,andIbegantobenervousthatwewouldneverfindourwayoutagain.Hewasperfectlyatease,comfortableinthegreenmaze,neverseemingtofeelanydoubtaboutourdirection.

           Afterseveralhours,thelightthatfilteredthroughthecanopytransformed,themurkyolivetoneshiftingtoabrighterjade.Theday

           hadturnedsunny,justashe’dforetold.Forthefirsttimesincewe’denteredthewoods,Ifeltathrillofexcitement-whichquicklyturnedtoimpatience.

           "Arewethereyet?"Iteased,pretendingtoscowl.

           "Nearly."Hesmiledatthechangeinmymood."Doyouseethebrightnessahead?"

           Ipeeredintothethickforest."Um,shouldI?"

           Hesmirked."Maybeit’sabitsoonforyoureyes."

           "Timetovisittheoptometrist,"Imuttered.Hissmirkgrewmorepronounced