you　give　me　credit　for；〃　he　said。　〃Right　and　wrong　have

ceased　to　mean　much　to

me；　I　was　ing　back　anyway。　Before　Rosalie　told　me　the　news；　I　was　already

past　trying　to　live

through　one　week　at　a　time；　or　even　one　day。　I　was　fighting　to　make　it　through

a　single　hour。　It　was　only

a　matter　of　time—and　not　much　of　it—before　I　showed　up　at　your　window　and

begged　you　to　take　me

back。　I'd　be　happy　to　beg　now；　if　you'd　like　that。〃

I　grimaced。　〃Be　serious；　please。〃

〃Oh；　I　am；〃　he　insisted；　glaring　now。　〃Will　you　please　try　to　hear　what　I'm

telling　you？　Will　you　let　me

attempt　to　explain　what　you　mean　to　me？〃

He　waited；　studying　my　face　as　he　spoke　to　make　sure　I　was　really　listening。

〃Before　you；　Bella；　my　life　was　like　a　moonless　night。　Very　dark；　but　there

were　stars—points　of　light

and　reason　And　then　you　shot　across　my　sky　like　a　meteor。　Suddenly

everything　was　on　fire；　there

was　brilliancy；　there　was　beauty。　When　you　were　gone；　when　the　meteor　had

fallen　over　the　horizon；

everything　went　black。　Nothing　had　changed；　but　my　eyes　were　blinded　by　the

light。　I　couldn't　see　the

stars　anymore。　And　there　was　no　more　reason　for　anything。〃

I　wanted　to　believe　him。　But　this　was　my　life　without　him　that　he　was

describing；　not　the　other　way

around。

〃Your　eyes　will　adjust；〃　I　mumbled。

〃That's　just　the　problem—they　can't。〃

〃What　about　your　distractions？〃

He　laughed　without　a　trace　of　humor。　〃Just　part　of　the　lie；　love。　There　was　no

distraction　from　the　the

agony。　My　heart　hasn't　beat　in　almost　ninety　years；　but　this　was　different。　It

was　like　my　heart　was

gone—l