04-30-2008, 01:22 AM
[html]
Maria's arms crossed protectively over her chest and Giuseppe stood utterly still, as if any movement from him would set her a-running. He did wince when she spoke of slipping on a cliff, an instinctive reflex at the thought of it. A thousand things ran through his mind, a thousand things he ought to say and ought not to do, a thousand fears of loss. For a while, he found he could say nothing. He still had a question or two, but was afraid that further inquiry would push her away from him forever. And so finally he said simply, "Sono spiacente." For what? The answer was ambiguous; for everything, for nothing; for hurting her, for not being able to understand. An imploring look skittled its way onto his features, but he found he could not bring himself to meet her gaze.[/html]