Сумерки

           Ilookedintohiseyes,abruptlygraspingthatthiswaseverybitasnewtohimasitwastome.Asmanyyearsofunfathomableexperienceashehad,thiswashardforhim,too.Itookcouragefromthatthought.

           "Iwasafraid...because,for,well,obviousreasons,Ican’tstaywithyou.AndI’mafraidthatI’dliketostaywithyou,muchmorethanIshould."IlookeddownathishandsasIspoke.Itwasdifficultformetosaythisaloud.

           "Yes,"heagreedslowly."Thatissomethingtobeafraidof,indeed.Wantingtobewithme.That’sreallynotinyourbestinterest."

           Ifrowned.

           "Ishouldhaveleftlongago,"hesighed."Ishouldleavenow.ButIdon’tknowifIcan."

           "Idon’twantyoutoleave,"Imumbledpathetically,staringdownagain.

           "WhichisexactlywhyIshould.Butdon’tworry.I’messentiallyaselfishcreature.IcraveyourcompanytoomuchtodowhatIshould."

           "I’mglad."

           "Don’tbe!"Hewithdrewhishand,moregentlythistime;hisvoicewasharsherthanusual.Harshforhim,stillmorebeautifulthananyhumanvoice.Itwashardtokeepup-hissuddenmoodchangesleftmealwaysastepbehind,dazed.

           "It’snotonlyyourcompanyIcrave!Neverforgetthat.NeverforgetIammoredangeroustoyouthanIamtoanyoneelse."Hestopped,andIlookedtoseehimgazingunseeinglyintotheforest.

           Ithoughtforamoment.

           "Idon’tthinkIunderstandexactlywhatyoumean-bythatlastpartanyway,"Isaid.

           Helookedbackatmeandsmiled,hismoodshiftingyetagain.

           "HowdoIexplain?"hemused."Andwithoutfrighteningyouagain...