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           "And?"

           "IwaswishingthatIcouldbelievethatyouwerereal.AndIwaswishingthatIwasn’tafraid."

           "Idon’twantyoutobeafraid."Hisvoicewasjustasoftmurmur.Iheardwhathecouldn’ttruthfullysay,thatIdidn’tneedtobeafraid,thattherewasnothingtofear.

           "Well,that’snotexactlythefearImeant,thoughthat’scertainlysomethingtothinkabout."

           SoquicklythatImissedhismovement,hewashalfsitting,proppeduponhisrightarm,hisleftpalmstillinmyhands.Hisangel’sfacewasonlyafewinchesfrommine.Imighthave-shouldhave-flinchedawayfromhisunexpectedcloseness,butIwasunabletomove.Hisgoldeneyesmesmerizedme.

           "Whatareyouafraidof,then?"hewhisperedintently.

           ButIcouldn’tanswer.AsIhadjustthatoncebefore,Ismelledhiscoolbreathinmyface.Sweet,delicious,thescentmademymouthwater.Itwasunlikeanythingelse.Instinctively,unthinkingly,Ileanedcloser,

           inhaling.

           Andhewasgone,hishandrippedfrommine.Inthetimeittookmyeyestofocus,hewastwentyfeetaway,standingattheedgeofthesmallmeadow,inthedeepshadeofahugefirtree.Hestaredatme,hiseyesdarkintheshadows,hisexpressionunreadable.

           Icouldfeelthehurtandshockonmyface.Myemptyhandsstung.

           "I’m...sorry...Edward,"Iwhispered.Iknewhecouldhear.

           "Givemeamoment,"hecalled,justloudenoughformylesssensitiveears.Isatverystill.

           Aftertenincrediblylongseconds,hewalkedback,slowlyforhim.