第8部分(第2/7 頁)

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afterward。〃

〃Oh；　Ross；〃　Chloe　whispered；　feeling　a　great　longing　inside。　〃I　wish　it

hadn't。　It's　too　late　to　go　back。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　back。　I　want　to　go　ahead。　That's　why　I'm　here。〃

Anguished；　she　looked　down。　〃It's　no　good。　I　can't。〃

〃Can't　or　won't？　We've　been　through　this　before。　Well；〃　he　drew　in　a

breath；　〃believe　this。　I　may　have　been　immature　eleven　years　ago；

running　away　from　something　that　frightened　me；　but　I　won't　make　the

same　mistake　twice。　It　was　fate　that　brought　us　together　up　at　Rye

Beach；　and　I'll　be　damned　if　I'm　going　to　let　you　get　away。　I've　made　it

my　business　to　find　out　every　possible　thing　I　could　about　you　during

the　past　two　weeks。　And　I　know　what　happened　to　Crystal。〃

His　words　hung　in　the　air。　Her　eyes　begged　him　to　say　no　more。　She

bolstered　the　plea　with　her　low　whisper。　〃Then　you　can　understand　why　I

can't　bear　to　think　back　on　that　time。〃

〃It　was　an　accident；　Chloe！　It　wasn't　your　fault！〃

〃But　she　died。〃

〃And　you　lived；　is　that　it？　You　can't　forgive　yourself　for　that？〃

She　jumped　to　her　feet。　With　her　heart　pounding　a　thunderous　beat；　she

stared　at　him　for　an　agonized　moment　before　forcing　her　feet　to　move。

Her　steps　were　slow　at　first；　then　gained　speed　as　the　force　of　habit

took　over　and　she　jogged　toward　safer　ground。

With　pitiful　ease；　Ross　caught　up。　He　caught　her　elbow；　using　her　own

momentum　to　bring　her　around。　When　she　faced　him　at　a　full　stop；　he　held

her　by　both　arms。

〃I'm　trying　to　be　honest；〃　he　said。

〃But　it　hurts。　Can't　you　see　that？　It　hurts！〃　She　was　consumed　by　it；　a

hurt　that　was　alive　and　festering。　He　had　to　see　it