BecauseitwaslateandIcouldn'tfindataxi,Keithquietlyhuggedmeandwalkeddownthedarkstreetwithoutsayingaword.IlookedathisfaceallthewayandnoticedthathisfacewasveryredbySalem.Therearealsorednessandsmallcracksinthecornerofforehead.Ithinkit'sprobablybecausehemissedthepoolandthenhithisheadontheedgeofthepool.I'mworried,butemotionalwordsanddeeds.Itstillpervadesmyheartandmakesmebreakthesilence.
"Release"
"Well,"
"Putmedown,I'llwalk,"Isaidclearlyagain.
Keithstopped,lookeddownatmeandrefused.
"No,I'lltakeGwentwithmeuntilIgettomydestination."
"Don'ttrytobenicetome,it'stoolatenow!"Iletoutacryandpickeditup.
KeithknowswhatImean.Whatdoesthismean?Ifitwasn't,itusedmeasanegotiatingtool,askingCiarontotellmemytrueidentitywithoutaskingmetovolunteer,andthenofferedCiaronhimselftoprotectme.It'ssocleverthatIdon'tunderstandmyideologicalsystem,orstupidthatIdon'tknow.
ButKeithdidnotletgo,andkeptstaringatmyface,andIknewhewouldlookatmewiththeeyesofapuppytostopmyanger,soIwrithedashardasIcouldandscreamedloudly.