Сумерки

           I’vetoldyou,ontheonehand,thehunger-thethirst-that,deplorablecreaturethatIam,Ifeelforyou.AndIthinkyoucanunderstandthat,toanextent.Though"-hehalf-smiled-"asyouarenotaddictedtoanyillegalsubstances,youprobablycan’tempathize

           completely.

           "But..."Hisfingerstouchedmylipslightly,makingmeshiveragain."Thereareotherhungers.HungersIdon’tevenunderstand,thatareforeigntome."

           "Imayunderstandthatbetterthanyouthink."

           "I’mnotusedtofeelingsohuman.Isitalwayslikethis?"

           "Forme?"Ipaused."No,never.Neverbeforethis."

           Heheldmyhandsbetweenhis.Theyfeltsofeebleinhisironstrength.

           "Idon’tknowhowtobeclosetoyou,"headmitted."Idon’tknowifIcan."

           Ileanedforwardveryslowly,cautioninghimwithmyeyes.Iplacedmycheekagainsthisstonechest.Icouldhearhisbreath,andnothingelse.

           "Thisisenough,"Isighed,closingmyeyes.

           Inaveryhumangesture,heputhisarmsaroundmeandpressedhisfaceagainstmyhair.

           "You’rebetteratthisthanyougiveyourselfcreditfor,"Inoted.

           "Ihavehumaninstincts-theymaybeburieddeep,butthey’rethere."

           Wesatlikethatforanotherimmeasurablemoment;IwonderedifhecouldbeasunwillingtomoveasIwas.ButIcouldseethelightwasfading,theshadowsoftheforestbeginningtotouchus,andIsighed.

           "Youhavetogo."

           "Ithoughtyoucouldn’treadmymind."

           "It’sgettingclearer."Icouldhearasmileinhisvoice.

           HetookmyshouldersandIlookedintohisface.