Сумерки

           Hewasn’tgoingtoanswer,thatmuchwasclear.

           "I’llbethefirsttoadmitthatIhavenoexperiencewithrelationships,"Isaid."Butitjustseemslogical...amanandwomanhavetobesomewhatequal...asin,oneofthemcan’talwaysbeswoopinginandsavingtheotherone.Theyhavetosaveeachotherequally."

           Hefoldedhisarmsonthesideofmybedandrestedhischinonhisarms.Hisexpressionwassmooth,theangerreinedin.Evidentlyhe’ddecidedhewasn’tangrywithme.IhopedI’dgetachancetowarnAlicebeforehecaughtupwithher.

           "Youhavesavedme,"hesaidquietly.

           "Ican’talwaysbeLoisLane,"Iinsisted."IwanttobeSuperman,too."

           "Youdon’tknowwhatyou’reasking."Hisvoicewassoft;hestaredintentlyattheedgeofthepillowcase.

           "IthinkIdo."

           "Bella,youdon’tknow.I’vehadalmostninetyyearstothinkaboutthis,andI’mstillnotsure."

           "DoyouwishthatCarlislehadn’tsavedyou?"

           "No,Idon’twishthat."Hepausedbeforecontinuing."Butmylifewasover.Iwasn’tgivinganythingup."

           "Youaremylife.You’retheonlythingitwouldhurtmetolose."Iwasgettingbetteratthis.ItwaseasytoadmithowmuchIneededhim.

           Hewasverycalm,though.Decided.

           "Ican’tdoit,Bella.Iwon’tdothattoyou."

           "Whynot?"Mythroatraspedandthewordsweren’tasloudasI’dmeantthemtobe."Don’ttellmeit’stoohard!Aftertoday,orIguessitwasafewdaysago...anyway,afterthat,itshouldbenothing."

           Heglaredatme.

           "Andthepain?"heasked.

           Iblanched.Icouldn’thelpit.