Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.
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Sitting across from Belle is strange to say the least. The only time we ever got to see each other in the hospital was when they'd let us out for five minutes to shower. Even then we didn't really have time to chat, just glance at each other and then run and hope the water's hot.
We'd already ordered our food. She got a hamburger, said it's best eaten with ketchup. I ordered one too since I made it my mission to try everything on the menu at least once. I roll up the sleeves of my black sweater. The weather is cooling down so I went with a simple black skirt that goes to my ankles and some warm socks to keep my feet warm.
I remember one winter in the hospital the heat went out for an entire day. The whole hospital had to be run on generators but apparently the basement was a low priority so we didn't have heat. It must have been below ten degrees, the thin blankets a joke as me and Belle were certain we were going to die. I couldn't see if my lips turned blue. Mirrors weren't allowed. A safety hazard they said. What a joke.
I remember us both laying on our beds and her whispering how scared she was. That she was going to die down there and no one would even mourn her. Her words had given me a stupid idea, one that would end up saving our lives. I told her that we should have a dace party if we're going to die. She initially wouldn't join me, too upset. But I got up and started dancing, singing any tune that came to mind. At some point I started making up lyrics. Stupid silly stuff that only someone who's freezing to death in an asylum could think of. We were both so delirious that she couldn't help but laugh, get up and join me.
We danced for hours, taking turns singing till our throats were raw and our body's heating up. Then the lights came on, a familiar humming and then the heat followed seconds after. I'll never forget the cheers that came out of us, we were literally jumping for joy. The heat felt like flames on our frozen skin but it was the best pain I'd ever felt. That was the best day of those twenty eight years.
"Did you drive here?" Belle asks incredulously.
"I did. Jefferson's been teaching me." I laugh a little and her eyebrows lift at the mention of Jefferson.
"Is he you your..."
"Oh God no, he's like a father to me." I balk at her suggestion, laughing at the thought. I can see why she and many others would have that impression though. After all, we appear to be the same age. I love Jefferson. He's my closest friend, a mentor and so much more but never a lover.
"Well, do you have someone else?" She asks suggestively.
"I-" I stop myself in horror when a picture of a certain pirate with a hook immediately flashes though my mind. "No. I mean, I was married but it was an arranged one." I brush her question off with a laugh. What the hell was that about?
"But you have someone else you care about." She surmises and I curse her silently for her perceptiveness.
"What? Why would you say that?" I ask, deciding that playing dumb would be the best way to get out of this.
