t　my　answers　yet。　He　had　to　stay　for　at

least　that　much；　didn't　he？

〃I　won't　be　far；〃　Edward　promised；　whispering　so　low　in　my　ear　that　Charlie

didn't　have　a　hope　of

hearing。

I　didn't　hear　Charlie　answer；　but　Edward　headed　into　the　house。　My　open　eyes

only　made　it　till　the　stairs。

The　last　thing　I　felt　was　Edward's　cool　hands　prying　my　fingers　loose　from　his

shirt。

23。　THE　TRUTH

I　HAD　THE　SENSE　THAT　I'D　BEEN　ASLEEP　FOR　A　VERY　long　time—my　body　was　stiff；

like　I

hadn't　moved　once　through　all　that　time；　either。　My　mind　was　dazed　and　slow；

strange；　colorful

dreams—dreams　and　nightmares—swirled　dizzily　around　the　inside　of　my　head。

They　were　so　vivid。　The

horrible　and　the　heavenly；　all　mixed　together　into　a　bizarre　jumble。　There　was

sharp　impatience　and　fear；

both　part　of　that　frustrating　dream　where　your　feet　can't　move　fast　enough

And　there　were　plenty　of

monsters；　red…eyed　fiends　that　were　all　the　more　ghastly　for　their　genteel

civility。　The　dream　was　still

strong—I　could　even　remember　the　names。　But　the　strongest；　clearest　part　of

the　dream　was　not　the

horror。　It　was　the　angel　that　was　most　clear。

It　was　hard　to　let　him　go　and　wake　up。　This　dream　did　not　want　to　be　shoved

away　into　the　vault　of

dreams　I　refused　to　revisit。　I　struggled　with　it　as　my　mind　became　more　alert；

focusing　on　reality。　I

couldn't　remember　what　day　of　the　week　it　was；　but　I　was　sure　Jacob　or　school

or　work　or　something

was　waiting　for　me。　I　inhaled　deeply；　wondering　how　to　face　another　day。

Something　cold　touched　my　forehead　with　the　softest　pressure。

I　squeezed　my　eyes