I　sighed　in　relief。　The　anger　was　what　I　wanted　to　hear—false；　fabricated

evidence　that　he　cared；　a

dubious　gift　from　my　subconscious。

Very　few　seconds　had　passed　while　I　sorted　this　all　out。　My　little　audience

watched；　curious。　It　probably

looked　like　I　was　just　dithering　over　whether　or　not　I　was　going　to　approach

them。　How　could　they　guess

that　I　was　standing　there　enjoying　an　unexpected　moment　of　insanity？

〃Hi；〃　one　of　the　men　called；　his　tone　both　confident　and　a　bit　sarcastic。　He

was　fair…skinned　and

fair…haired；　and　he　stood　with　the　assurance　of　someone　who　thought　of　himself

as　quite　good…looking。　I

couldn't　tell　whether　he　was　or　not。　I　was　prejudiced。

The　voice　in　my　head　answered　with　an　exquisite　snarl。　I　smiled；　and　the

confident　man　seemed　to　take

that　as　encouragement。

〃Can　I　help　you　with　something？　You　look　lost。〃　He　grinned　and　winked。

I　stepped　carefully　over　the　gutter；　running　with　water　that　was　black　in　the

darkness。

〃No。　I'm　not　lost。〃

Now　that　I　was　closer—and　my　eyes　felt　oddly　in　focus—I　analyzed　the　short；

dark　man's　face。　It　was

not　familiar　in　any　way。　I　suffered　a　curious　sensation　of　disappointment　that

this　was　not　the　terrible　man

who　had　tried　to　hurt　me　almost　a　year　ago。

The　voice　in　my　head　was　quiet　now。

The　short　man　noticed　my　stare。　〃Can　I　buy　you　a　drink？〃　he　offered；　nervous；

seeming　flattered　that　I'd

singled　him　out　to　stare　at。

〃I'm　too　young；〃　I　answered　automatically。

He　was　baffled—wondering　why　I　had　approached　them。　I　felt　pelled　to

explain。

〃From　across　the　street；　you　looked　like　someone　I　kn