suddenly　struck　me　that　I　was

really　here；　in　Edward's　arms；　however　fleetingly；　and　that　we　were　not—at

this　exact　moment—about　to

be　killed。

〃Oh；　Edward；〃　I　cried；　and　I　was　sobbing　again。　It　was　such　a　stupid　reaction。

The　tears　were　too　thick

for　me　to　see　his　face　again；　and　that　was　inexcusable。　I　only　had　until

sunset　for　sure。　Like　a　fairy　tale

again；　with　deadlines　that　ended　the　magic。

〃What's　wrong？〃　he　asked；　still　anxious；　rubbing　my　back　with　gentle　pats。

I　wrapped　my　arms　around　his　neck—what　was　the　worst　he　could　do？　Just　push

me　away—and

hugged　myself　closer　to　him。　〃Is　it　really　sick　for　me　to　be　happy　right　now？〃

I　asked。　My　voice　broke

twice。

He　didn't　push　me　away。　He　pulled　me　tight　against　his　ice…hard　chest；　so

tight　it　was　hard　to　breathe；

even　with　my　lungs　securely　intact。　〃I　know　exactly　what　you　mean；〃　he

whispered。　〃But　we　have　lots　of

reasons　to　be　happy。　For　one；　we're　alive。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　agreed。　〃That's　a　good　one。〃

〃And　together；〃　he　breathed。　His　breath　was　so　sweet　it　made　my　head　swim。

I　just　nodded；　sure　that　he　did　not　place　the　same　weight　on　that

consideration　as　I　did。

〃And；　with　any　luck；　we'll　still　be　alive　tomorrow。〃

〃Hopefully；〃　I　said　uneasily。

〃The　outlook　is　quite　good；〃　Alice　assured　me。　She'd　been　so　quiet；　I'd　almost

forgotten　her　presence。

〃I'll　see　Jasper　in　less　than　twenty…four　hours；〃　she　added　in　a　satisfied

tone。

Lucky　Alice。　She　could　trust　her　future。

I　couldn't　keep　my　eyes　off　of　Edward's　face　for　long。　I　stared　at　him；

wishing　more　than　anything　that　the

future　would　never　happ