\u2014 Spune-mi, am murmurat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret \u0219i-a str\u00e2ns m\u00e2inile \u00een poal\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aveam toate peste \u0219aptezeci de ani, dar pentru c\u00e2teva clipe am v\u0103zut \u00een ochii lor acelea\u0219i fete de dou\u0103zeci \u0219i unu de ani pe care le cunoscusem c\u00e2ndva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u00ce\u021bi aminte\u0219ti de Robert? m-a \u00eentrebat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Numele acela mi-a provocat un fior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sigur c\u0103 \u00eemi aminteam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert era b\u0103iatul care lucrase \u00een vara aceea la hotelul de l\u00e2ng\u0103 plaj\u0103. Era cu c\u00e2\u021biva ani mai mare dec\u00e2t noi, fermec\u0103tor, g\u0103l\u0103gios \u0219i mereu \u00eenconjurat de oameni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen seara petrecerii b\u0103use mult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cemi aminteam fr\u00e2nturi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muzic\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Focul aprins pe plaj\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen pl\u00e2ng\u00e2nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret cert\u00e2ndu-se cu cineva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eu alerg\u00e2nd prin nisip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi nimic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Robert a \u00eencercat s\u0103 o for\u021beze pe Helen s\u0103 mearg\u0103 cu el, spuse Margaret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen \u00ee\u0219i \u0219terse obrajii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Am \u00eencercat s\u0103 plec. Nu m-a l\u0103sat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am sim\u021bit c\u0103 mi se r\u0103ce\u0219te s\u00e2ngele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i atunci a ap\u0103rut prima imagine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu ca o amintire \u00eentreag\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doar o m\u00e2n\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M\u00e2na mea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u021ain\u00e2nd ceva greu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Noi am venit dup\u0103 tine, continu\u0103 Margaret. Tu l-ai tras de l\u00e2ng\u0103 Helen. El te-a \u00eempins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am dus instinctiv m\u00e2na la t\u00e2mpl\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acolo unde, chiar \u0219i dup\u0103 at\u00e2\u021bia ani, aveam o cicatrice mic\u0103 ascuns\u0103 \u00een p\u0103r.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 M-am lovit atunci?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret d\u0103du din cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Dar nu ai le\u0219inat imediat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am sim\u021bit c\u0103 nu mai pot respira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen m\u0103 privea printre lacrimi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Te-ai ridicat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i atunci mi-am amintit sunetul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Un \u021bip\u0103t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al meu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi imaginea lui Robert venind din nou spre noi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret ridic\u00e2nd o bucat\u0103 de lemn adus\u0103 de mare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen \u00eencerc\u00e2nd s\u0103-l \u00eemping\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eu apuc\u00e2ndu-l de c\u0103ma\u0219\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Totul revenea \u00een buc\u0103\u021bi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 L-am omor\u00e2t? am \u0219optit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu, spuse Margaret imediat. Niciuna dintre noi nu l-a omor\u00e2t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am r\u0103mas nemi\u0219cat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Atunci ce am f\u0103cut?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret \u00eenchise ochii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 L-am l\u0103sat acolo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
T\u0103cerea care a urmat a fost aproape insuportabil\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert c\u0103zuse pe st\u00e2ncile de l\u00e2ng\u0103 ap\u0103 dup\u0103 ce \u00eencercase s\u0103 ne urm\u0103reasc\u0103. Era r\u0103nit, dar \u00eenc\u0103 \u00een via\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noi trei cobor\u00e2ser\u0103m p\u00e2n\u0103 la el.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i el ne ceruse ajutorul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Voia s\u0103 chem\u0103m pe cineva, spuse Helen. Tu ai vrut s\u0103 alergi la hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Atunci de ce n-am f\u0103cut-o?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pentru c\u0103 el a spus c\u0103, dac\u0103 spunem cuiva ce se \u00eent\u00e2mplase, va declara c\u0103 noi \u00eel atacaser\u0103m. Familia lui avea bani. Tat\u0103l lui cuno\u0219tea poli\u021bia local\u0103. Ne-a spus c\u0103 va distruge vie\u021bile familiilor noastre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am privit-o \u00eengrozit\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u0218i noi l-am crezut?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Aveam dou\u0103zeci \u0219i unu de ani. Eram speriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Robert \u00eencercase s\u0103 se ridice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C\u00e2nd nu reu\u0219ise, noi ne retr\u0103seser\u0103m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu-l \u00eempinseser\u0103m \u00een ap\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu-l loviser\u0103m din nou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar nici nu chemam ajutor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am plecat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diminea\u021ba, trupul lui fusese g\u0103sit l\u00e2ng\u0103 st\u00e2nci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Autorit\u0103\u021bile stabiliser\u0103 c\u0103 un t\u00e2n\u0103r care consumase alcool alunecase pe pietre \u00een timpul nop\u021bii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nimeni nu ne \u00eentrebase nimic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Dar eu de ce nu-mi aminteam? am \u00eentrebat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen \u00ee\u0219i acoperi gura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret r\u0103spunse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pentru c\u0103 \u00een diminea\u021ba aceea erai dezorientat\u0103 dup\u0103 lovitura la cap. \u00ce\u021bi aminteai doar fragmente. Ne \u00eentrebai dac\u0103 Robert era bine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i ele luaser\u0103 atunci o decizie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cemi spuseser\u0103 c\u0103 m\u0103 \u00eempiedicasem dup\u0103 petrecere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C\u0103 v\u0103zusem lucruri care nu se \u00eent\u00e2mplaser\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C\u0103 Robert plecase singur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C\u00e2nd vestea mor\u021bii lui ajunsese la noi, eu crezusem c\u0103 accidentul avusese loc dup\u0103 ce noi plecaser\u0103m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 De ce? am \u00eentrebat. De ce m-a\u021bi l\u0103sat s\u0103 tr\u0103iesc \u00eentr-o minciun\u0103?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen s-a ridicat \u0219i s-a apropiat de fereastr\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Pentru c\u0103 tu voiai s\u0103 mergi la poli\u021bie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am privit-o.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Chiar \u0219i confuz\u0103, repetai c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 spunem adev\u0103rul. Margaret \u0219i cu mine eram \u00eengrozite. Ne era team\u0103 c\u0103 vom fi acuzate c\u0103 l-am omor\u00e2t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret continu\u0103:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Apoi au trecut c\u00e2teva zile. Dup\u0103 aceea c\u00e2teva luni. Cu c\u00e2t trecea mai mult timp, cu at\u00e2t devenea mai greu s\u0103-\u021bi spunem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 A\u0219a c\u0103 a\u021bi ales pentru mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Niciuna nu r\u0103spunse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M-am ridicat \u0219i am ie\u0219it din camer\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am mers p\u00e2n\u0103 pe plaj\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Era aproape miezul nop\u021bii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valurile se sp\u0103rgeau exact ca \u00een vara aceea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am stat acolo mult timp, \u00eencerc\u00e2nd s\u0103 \u00een\u021beleg ce m\u0103 durea mai mult: ceea ce f\u0103cuser\u0103m la dou\u0103zeci \u0219i unu de ani sau ceea ce f\u0103cuser\u0103 ele \u00een urm\u0103torii cincizeci \u0219i cinci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen cele din urm\u0103, am auzit pa\u0219i \u00een spatele meu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Era Helen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u0218tiu c\u0103 nu meri\u021bi s\u0103 ne ier\u021bi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu \u0219tiu dac\u0103 pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 \u00cen\u021beleg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M-am \u00eentors spre ea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 De ce acum?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helen scoase din buzunar un plic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Margaret este bolnav\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am sim\u021bit c\u0103 mi se str\u00e2nge pieptul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 C\u00e2t de grav?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Cancer. Medicii spun c\u0103 probabil c\u00e2teva luni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am \u00eenchis ochii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acela era adev\u0103ratul motiv pentru \u201eultima c\u0103l\u0103torie\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret nu voia s\u0103 moar\u0103 cu secretul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar mai exista ceva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen plic se afla o scrisoare semnat\u0103 de am\u00e2ndou\u0103, \u00een care povesteau tot ce \u00ee\u0219i aminteau despre noaptea aceea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Vrem s\u0103 decizi tu ce facem cu ea, spuse Helen. Dac\u0103 vrei s\u0103 mergem la autorit\u0103\u021bi, mergem. Dac\u0103 vrei s\u0103 o pred\u0103m familiei lui Robert, o facem. De data aceasta nu mai alegem noi pentru tine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diminea\u021ba urm\u0103toare am stat toate trei la aceea\u0219i mas\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu ne-am \u00eembr\u0103\u021bi\u0219at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu am spus c\u0103 totul era \u00een regul\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentru c\u0103 nu era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am decis \u00eens\u0103 c\u0103 adev\u0103rul nu avea s\u0103 mai r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eengropat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am predat declara\u021bia unui avocat \u0219i am cerut ca informa\u021biile s\u0103 fie transmise autorit\u0103\u021bilor competente \u0219i familiei lui Robert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu \u0219tiam dac\u0103, dup\u0103 at\u00e2tea decenii, mai putea exista vreo consecin\u021b\u0103 juridic\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar pentru prima dat\u0103 nu mai era vorba despre fric\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Era vorba despre adev\u0103r.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen ultima diminea\u021b\u0103, \u00eenainte s\u0103 plec\u0103m, Margaret m-a \u00eentrebat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mai suntem prietene?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M-am uitat la cele dou\u0103 femei al\u0103turi de care \u00eemi petrecusem aproape \u00eentreaga via\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nu \u0219tiu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ochii ei s-au umplut de lacrimi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Am continuat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Dar vreau ca timpul care ne-a mai r\u0103mas s\u0103 fie adev\u0103rat. F\u0103r\u0103 alte minciuni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Margaret a dat din cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0218i atunci am mers toate trei p\u00e2n\u0103 la ap\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu pentru a recrea trecutul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu pentru a ne ierta instantaneu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ci pentru a privi locul de care fugiser\u0103m mai bine de jum\u0103tate de secol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atunci am \u00een\u021beles ceva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secretul nu ne protejase prietenia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
O \u021binuse captiv\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iar adev\u0103rul, oric\u00e2t de t\u00e2rziu venise, era singurul lucru care ne putea permite s\u0103 afl\u0103m dac\u0103 mai r\u0103m\u0103sese ceva real \u00eentre noi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n