Сумерки

           ThenIpushedthemback,too,and

           wenttofaceAlice.

           TheonlyexpressionIcouldmanagewasadull,deadlook.IsawheralarmandIdidn’twaitforhertoask.IhadjustonescriptandI’dnevermanageimprovisationnow.

           "Mymomwasworried,shewantedtocomehome.Butit’sokay,Iconvincedhertostayaway."Myvoicewaslifeless.

           "We’llmakesureshe’sfine,Bella,don’tworry."

           Iturnedaway;Icouldn’tletherseemyface.

           Myeyefellonablankpageofthehotelstationeryonthedesk.Iwenttoitslowly,aplanforming.Therewasanenvelopethere,too.Thatwasgood.

           "Alice,"Iaskedslowly,withoutturning,keepingmyvoicelevel."IfIwritealetterformymother,wouldyougiveittoher?Leaveitatthehouse,Imean."

           "Sure,Bella."Hervoicewascareful.Shecouldseemecomingapartattheseams.Ihadtokeepmyemotionsunderbettercontrol.

           Iwentintothebedroomagain,andkneltnexttothelittlebedsidetabletowrite.

           "Edward,"Iwrote.Myhandwasshaking,theletterswerehardlylegible.

           Iloveyou.Iamsosorry.Hehasmymom,andIhavetotry.Iknowitmaynotwork.Iamsovery,verysorry.

           Don’tbeangrywithAliceandJasper.IfIgetawayfromthemitwillbeamiracle.Tellthemthankyouforme.Aliceespecially,please.

           Andplease,please,don’tcomeafterhim.That’swhathewants.Ithink.Ican’tbearitifanyonehastobehurtbecauseofme,especiallyyou.Please,thisistheonlythingIcanaskyounow.Forme.

           Iloveyou.Forgiveme.

           Bella

           Ifoldedthelettercarefully,andsealeditintheenvelope