Сумерки

           Though,nowthatI’dchasedthememoriesdown,Ididhaveavagueimpressionofleavingthecar-thesunwasjustfallingbehindthehorizon-myarmdrapedoverAlice’sshoulderandherarmfirmaroundmywaist,draggingmealongasIstumbledthroughthewarm,dryshadows.

           Ihadnomemoryofthisroom.

           Ilookedatthedigitalclockonthenightstand.Therednumbersclaimeditwasthreeo’clock,buttheygavenoindicationifitwasnightorday.Noedgeoflightescapedthethickcurtains,buttheroomwasbrightwiththelightfromthelamps.

           Irosestifflyandstaggeredtothewindow,pullingbackthedrapes.

           Itwasdarkoutside.Threeinthemorning,then.Myroomlookedoutonadesertedsectionofthefreewayandthenewlong-termparkinggaragefortheairport.Itwasslightlycomfortingtobeabletopinpointtimeandplace.

           Ilookeddownatmyself.IwasstillwearingEsme’sclothes,andtheydidn’tfitverywellatall.Ilookedaroundtheroom,gladwhenIdiscoveredmyduffelbagontopofthelowdresser.

           Iwasonmywaytofindnewclotheswhenalighttaponthedoormademejump.

           "CanIcomein?"Aliceasked.

           Itookadeepbreath."Sure."

           Shewalkedin,andlookedmeovercautiously."Youlooklikeyoucouldsleeplonger,"shesaid.

           Ijustshookmyhead.

           Shedriftedsilentlytothecurtainsandclosedthemsecurelybeforeturningbacktome.

           "We’llneedtostayinside,"shetoldme.

           "Okay."Myvoicewashoarse;itcracked.

           "Thirsty?"sheasked.

           Ishrugged."I’mokay.Howaboutyou?"

           "Nothingunmanageable."Shesmiled.