Сумерки

           "Willyoupromisetoexplaineverythingtomelater?"

           "Fine,"hesnapped,abruptlyexasperated.

           "Fine,"Irepeatedangrily.

           IttooksixEMTsandtwoteachers-Mr.VarnerandCoachClapp-toshiftthevanfarenoughawayfromustobringthestretchersin.Edwardvehementlyrefusedhis,andItriedtodothesame,butthetraitortoldthemI’dhitmyheadandprobablyhadaconcussion.Ialmostdiedofhumiliationwhentheyputontheneckbrace.Itlookedliketheentireschoolwasthere,watchingsoberlyastheyloadedmeinthebackoftheambulance.Edwardgottorideinthefront.Itwasmaddening.

           Tomakemattersworse,ChiefSwanarrivedbeforetheycouldgetmesafelyaway.

           "Bella!"heyelledinpanicwhenherecognizedmeonthestretcher.

           "I’mcompletelyfine,Char-Dad,"Isighed."There’snothingwrongwithme."

           HeturnedtotheclosestEMTforasecondopinion.Itunedhimouttoconsiderthejumbleofinexplicableimageschurningchaoticallyinmyhead.Whenthey’dliftedmeawayfromthecar,Ihadseenthedeepdentinthetancar’sbumper-averydistinctdentthatfitthecontoursofEdward’sshoulders...asifhehadbracedhimselfagainstthecarwithenoughforcetodamagethemetalframe...

           Andthentherewashisfamily,lookingonfromthedistance,withexpressionsthatrangedfromdisapprovaltofurybutheldnohintofconcernfortheirbrother’ssafety.

           ItriedtothinkofalogicalsolutionthatcouldexplainwhatIhadjustseen-asolutionthatexcludedtheassumptionthatIwasinsane.