"Ash—get back! I don't want to hurt you. Ash—can't you see why? Do you think I'm the kind who—?"
I kept coming. "No," I said, "I can't see why. I'm not built so I could see why. And yes, I do think you're the kind."
"I don't know why I had to pick you!" she screamed then. "Maybe I remembered something—maybe I found something out, after it was too late—"
She was crying, but she was bringing the gun up at the same time.
I didn't care. I didn't care if she pulled the trigger or not.
"I told you," I said between my teeth.
She had the gun aimed right at me. Her face was gray, and her hand was shaking.
"I told you the last time what I'd do if you ever pointed a gun at me again." My voice was coming out low, but it had absolutely nothing in it. It was just words, coming out one by one.
The gun muzzle was shaking badly. She put up her hand to steady it.
"I—" she said. There were tears running down her cheeks in a steady wet stream.