第59部分(第7/7 頁)

the　flood　of　questions。　My　reasoning

was　probably　flawed　by

exhaustion；　but　I　hoped　that　by　postponing　the　discussion；　I　could　buy　a　few

more　hours　with　him　at

some　later　time—spin　this　out　for　another　night；　Scheherazade…style。

So　I　kept　drinking　soda；　and　resisting　even　the　urge　to　blink。　Edward　seemed

perfectly　content　to　hold

me　in　his　arms；　his　fingers　tracing　my　face　again　and　again。　I　touched　his

face；　too。　I　couldn't　stop　myself；

though　I　was　afraid　it　would　hurt　me　later；　when　I　was　alone　again。　He

continued　to　kiss　my　hair；　my

forehead；　my　wrists　but　never　my　lips；　and　that　was　good。　After　all；　how

many　ways　can　one　heart　be

mangled　and　still　be　expected　to　keep　beating？　I'd　lived　through　a　lot　that

should　have　finished　me　in　the

last　few　days；　but　it　didn't　make　me　feel　strong。　Instead；　I　felt　horribly

fragile；　like　one　word　could　shatter

me。

Edward　didn't　speak。　Maybe　he　was　hoping　I　would　sleep。　Maybe　he　had　nothing

to　say。

I　won　the　fight　against　my　heavy　lids。　I　was　awake　when　we　reached　the　airport

in　Atlanta；　and　I　even

watched　the　sun　beginning　to　rise　over　Seattle's　cloud　cover　before　Edward

slid　the　window　shut。　I　was

proud　of　myself。　I　hadn't　missed　one　minute。

Neither　Alice　nor　Edward　was　surprised　by　the　reception　that　waited　for　us　at

Sea…Tac　airport；　but　it

caught　me　off　guard。　Jasper　was　the　first　one　I　saw—he　didn't　seem　to　see　me

at　all。　His　eyes　were　only

for　Alice。　She　went　quickly　to　his　side；　they　didn't　embrace　like