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           "Andforallthat,"hecontinued,"I’dhavefaredbetterifIhadexposedusallatthatfirstmoment,thanifnow,here-withnowitnessesandnothingtostopme-Iweretohurtyou."

           Iwashumanenoughtohavetoask."Why?"

           "Isabella."Hepronouncedmyfullnamecarefully,thenplayfullyruffledmyhairwithhisfreehand.Ashockranthroughmybodyathiscasualtouch."Bella,Icouldn’tlivewithmyselfifIeverhurtyou.Youdon’tknowhowit’storturedme."Helookeddown,ashamedagain."Thethoughtofyou,still,white,cold...toneverseeyoublushscarletagain,toneverseethatflashofintuitioninyoureyeswhenyouseethroughmypretenses...itwouldbeunendurable."Heliftedhisglorious,agonized

           eyestomine."Youarethemostimportantthingtomenow.Themostimportantthingtomeever."

           Myheadwasspinningattherapidchangeindirectionourconversationhadtaken.Fromthecheerfultopicofmyimpendingdemise,weweresuddenlydeclaringourselves.Hewaited,andeventhoughIlookeddowntostudyourhandsbetweenus,Iknewhisgoldeneyeswereonme."YoualreadyknowhowIfeel,ofcourse,"Ifinallysaid."I’mhere...which,roughlytranslated,meansIwouldratherdiethanstayawayfromyou."Ifrowned."I’manidiot."

           "Youareanidiot,"heagreedwithalaugh.Oureyesmet,andIlaughed,too.Welaughedtogetherattheidiocyandsheerimpossibilityofsuchamoment.

           "Andsothelionfellinlovewiththelamb..."hemurmured.Ilookedaway,hidingmyeyesasIthrilledtotheword.

           "Whatastupidlamb,"Isighed.