So where were we, before I behaved so rudely? he asked in the gentle cadences of an earlier century. “那么我们说到哪里了，在我表现得这么粗鲁以前？”他用上个世纪早期的那种文雅的韵律问道。

I honestly can't remember. “不瞒你说，我不记得了。”

He smiled, but his face was ashamed. I think we were talking about why you were afraid, besides the obvious reason. 他微笑着，但他的神情有些羞愧。“我想我们正谈到你为什么会害怕，在那些显而易见的原因之外。”

Oh, right. “哦，没错。”

Well? “嗯。”

I looked down at his hand and doodled aimlessly across his smooth, iridescent palm. The seconds ticked by. 我低下头，看着他的手，漫无目的地在他光洁的，如彩虹般绚丽的掌心里涂鸦着。时间一分一秒地过去了。

How easily frustrated I am, he sighed. I looked into his eyes, abruptly grasping that this was every bit as new to him as it was to me.  “我总是那么容易感到沮丧。”他叹息着说。我看进他的眼睛里，意外地领悟到，这一刻每一点每一滴对他来说都是新的，正如对我一样。

As many years of unfathomable experience as he had, this was hard for him, too. I took courage from that thought. 即使他拥有着这么多年来深不可测的经历，这对他来说，也很艰难。我从这个念头中得到了勇气。

I was afraid… because, for, well, obvious reasons, I can't stay with you.  “我很害怕……因为，出于，嗯，显而易见的原因，我不能和你在一起。

And I'm afraid that I'd like to stay with you, much more than I should.  而我害怕的是，我很想和你在一起，这种愿望甚至远比我应有的还要强烈。”

I looked down at his hands as I spoke. It was difficult for me to say this aloud. 我说着，低下头看着他的手。对我来说，这样大声地说出口实在很困难。

Yes, he agreed slowly. That is something to be afraid of, indeed. Wanting to be with me. That's really not in your best interest. “是的。”他缓慢地赞同道。“这是应该害怕的事，确实。想要和我在一起。这实在不应该成为你最大的兴趣。”

I frowned. 我皱起眉。

I should have left long ago, he sighed. I should leave now. But I don't know if I can. “我应该很久以前就离开的。”他叹息着。“我应该现在就离开。但我不知道我能不能做到。”