on't　believe　me；　do　you？〃　he　whispered；　his　face　paler　than　his　usual

pale—I　could　see　that　even

in　the　dim　light。　〃Why　can　you　believe　the　lie；　but　not　the　truth？〃

〃It　never　made　sense　for　you　to　love　me；〃　I　explained；　my　voice　breaking

twice。　〃I　always　knew　that。〃

His　eyes　narrowed；　his　jaw　tightened。

〃I'll　prove　you're　awake；〃　he　promised。

He　caught　my　face　securely　between　his　iron　hands；　ignoring　my　struggles　when

I　tried　to　turn　my　head

away。

〃Please　don't；〃　I　whispered。

He　stopped；　his　lips　just　half　an　inch　from　mine。

〃Why　not？〃　he　demanded。　His　breath　blew　into　my　face；　making　my　head　whirl。

〃When　I　wake　up〃—He　opened　his　mouth　to　protest；　so　I　revised—〃okay；　forget

that　one—when　you

leave　again；　it's　going　to　be　hard　enough　without　this；　too。〃

He　pulled　back　an　inch；　to　stare　at　my　face。

〃Yesterday；　when　I　would　touch　you；　you　were　so　hesitant；　so　careful；　and

yet　still　the　same。　I　need　to

know　why。　Is　it　because　I'm　too　late？　Because　I've　hurt　you　too　much？　Because

you　have　moved　on；　as

I　meant　for　you　to？　That　would　be　quite　fair。　I　won't　contest　your　decision。

So　don't　try　to　spare　my

feelings；　please—just　tell　me　now　whether　or　not　you　can　still　love　me；　after

everything　I've　done　to　you。

Can　you？〃　he　whispered。

〃What　kind　of　an　idiotic　question　is　that？〃

〃Just　answer　it。　Please。〃

I　stared　at　him　darkly　for　a　long　moment。　〃The　way　I　feel　about　you　will　never

change。　Of　course　I　love

you—and　there's　nothing　you　can　do　a