Сумерки

           Iwaitedformyopportunity,impatient,unabletostopmytoefromtapping.Wesatinthelongrowsofchairsbythemetaldetectors,JasperandAlicepretendingtopeople-watchbutreallywatchingme.EveryinchIshiftedinmyseatwasfollowedbyaquickglanceoutofthecorneroftheireyes.Itwashopeless.ShouldIrun?Wouldtheydaretostopmephysicallyinthispublicplace?Orwouldtheysimplyfollow?

           IpulledtheunmarkedenvelopeoutofmypocketandsetitontopofAlice’sblackleatherbag.Shelookedatme.

           "Myletter,"Isaid.Shenodded,tuckingitunderthetopflap.Hewouldfinditsoonenough.

           TheminutespassedandEdward’sarrivalgrewcloser.Itwasamazinghoweverycellinmybodyseemedtoknowhewascoming,tolongforhiscoming.Thatmadeitveryhard.Ifoundmyselftryingtothinkofexcusestostay,toseehimfirstandthenmakemyescape.ButIknewthatwasimpossibleifIwasgoingtohaveanychancetogetaway.

           SeveraltimesAliceofferedtogogetbreakfastwithme.Later,Itoldher,notyet.

           Istaredatthearrivalboard,watchingasflightafterflightarrivedontime.TheflightfromSeattlecreptclosertothetopoftheboard.

           Andthen,whenIhadonlythirtyminutestomakemyescape,thenumberschanged.Hisplanewastenminutesearly.Ihadnomoretime.

           "IthinkI’lleatnow,"Isaidquickly.

           Alicestood."I’llcomewithyou."

           "DoyoumindifJaspercomesinstead?"Iasked."I’mfeelingalittle..."Ididn’tfinishthesentence.MyeyeswerewildenoughtoconveywhatIdidn’tsay.

           Jasperstoodup.