Сумерки

           "Idon’twanttogobacktosleep,"Isnapped.

           Iwalkedtomyroomandshutthedoor,slammeditreally,soIcouldbefreetogotopiecesprivately.ThistimeAlicedidn’tfollowme.ForthreeandahalfhoursIstaredatthewall,curledinaball,rocking.Mymindwentaroundincircles,tryingtocomeupwithsomewayoutofthisnightmare.Therewasnoescape,noreprieve.Icouldseeonlyonepossibleendloomingdarklyinmyfuture.TheonlyquestionwashowmanyotherpeoplewouldbehurtbeforeIreachedit.

           Theonlysolace,theonlyhopeIhadleft,wasknowingthatIwouldseeEdwardsoon.Maybe,ifIcouldjustseehisfaceagain,Iwouldalsobeabletoseethesolutionthateludedmenow.

           Whenthephonerang,Ireturnedtothefrontroom,alittleashamedofmybehavior.IhopedIhadn’toffendedeitherofthem,thattheywouldknowhowgratefulIwasforthesacrificestheyweremakingonmyaccount.

           Alicewastalkingasrapidlyasever,butwhatcaughtmyattentionwasthat,forthefirsttime,Jasperwasnotintheroom.Ilookedattheclock-itwasfive-thirtyinthemorning.

           "They’rejustboardingtheirplane,"Alicetoldme."They’lllandatnine-forty-five."Justafewmorehourstokeepbreathingtillhewashere.

           "Where’sJasper?"

           "Hewenttocheckout."

           "Youaren’tstayinghere?"

           "No,we’rerelocatingclosertoyourmother’shouse."

           Mystomachtwisteduneasilyatherwords.

           Butthephonerangagain,distractingme.Shelookedsurprised,butIwasalreadywalkingforward,reachinghopefullyforthephone.

           "Hello?"Aliceasked.