more　tightly　shut。　I　was　still　dreaming；　it　seemed；　and　it

felt　abnormally　real。　I　was　so

close　to　waking　any　second　now；　and　it　would　be　gone。

But　I　realized　that　it　felt　too　real；　too　real　to　be　good　for　me。　The　stone

arms　I　imagined　wrapped　around

me　were　far　too　substantial。　If　I　let　this　go　any　further；　I'd　be　sorry　for　it

later。　With　a　resigned　sigh；　I

wrenched　back　my　eyelids　to　dispel　the　illusion。

〃Oh！〃　I　gasped；　and　threw　my　fists　over　my　eyes。

Well；　clearly；　I'd　gone　too　far；　it　must　have　been　a　mistake　to　let　my

imagination　get　so　out　of　hand。

Okay；　so　〃let〃　was　the　wrong　word。　I'd　forced　it　to　get　out　of　hand—pretty

much　stalked　my

hallucinations—and　now　my　mind　had　snapped。

It　took　less　than　half　a　second　for　me　to　realize　that；　as　long　as　I　was　truly

insane　now；　I　might　as　well

enjoy　the　delusions　while　they　were　pleasant。

I　opened　my　eyes　again—and　Edward　was　still　there；　his　perfect　face　just

inches　away　from　mine。

〃Did　I　frighten　you？〃　His　low　voice　was　anxious。　This　was　very　good；　as

delusions　went。　The　face；　the

voice；　the　scent；　everything—it　was　so　much　better　than　drowning。　The

beautiful　figment　of　my

imagination　watched　my　changing　expressions；　with　alarm。　His　irises　were

pitch…black；　with　bruise…like

shadows　under　them。　This　surprised　me；　my　hallucinatory　Edwards　were　usually

better　fed。

I　blinked　twice；　desperately　trying　to　remember　the　last　thing　that　I　was　sure

was　real。　Alice　was　part　of

my　dream；　and　I　wondered　if　she　had　really　e　back　at　all；　or　if　that　was

just　the　preamble。　I　thought

she'd　returned　the　day　I'd　nearly　drowne