|When Two Worlds Collide - Book II

~Dear Mr. Branson~

Two days had gone by since the Pevensies returned from Narnia and Susan just got off the bus near the Pierce Estate. She carried the letter she had been entrusted to deliver from Miriam in her purse, and with shaky legs she began to walk down the road in the direction of the estate. She had never been to that part of London before and so when she arrived she couldn't believe the sight she was seeing. The enormous garden in front of her and the building at the end of the gravel driveway made her gasp in astonishment. Miriam had been lucky to have grown up there, she thought.

She walked up the driveway, going through everything she was going to say and when she reached the front door, she took a deep breath then knocked three times. A moment later the door opened and a man in his late 40s opened the door. He looked tired and worrisome and when his eyes fell on Susan, he let out a deep sigh.

"Yes?"

"Hello, sir. Are you by chance Mr. Branson?"

"That is me, and who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Susan and I'm a friend of Miriam."

"If you've come to look for Miss Pierce, she's not here." Mr. Branson tried his best to keep his composure, but he'd been dealing with the disappearance of Miriam for two days without a word from either her or the police. No one knew where she was, and it was frustrating him as he was worried for her safety.

"I know sir, it's why I'm here. You see, Miriam asked me to deliver this letter." Susan opened her purse and pulled out a small envelope and gave it to Mr. Branson. He looked questioningly at the letter now in his hand then back at Susan.

"What is this? Have you spoken to her?"

"All I know is that she asked me to deliver this to you, and that everything you need to know is in that letter."

"If you know where she is, you need to tell me, miss."

"I'm sorry, sir. This is all I know. I wished I could help you, but I really need to get back home. Goodbye." Susan, who didn't want to stay too long in case she revealed too much of the truth, bid farewell to the poor butler and turned to walk back up the driveway to the main road. Mr. Branson watched her leave, afraid to move in case it was all just a dream. But when he once again saw the letter in his hand he knew it wasn't.

He closed the front door and returned to the study. He sat down in the office chair, studied the envelope before cutting it open with a letter opener. Slowly he pulled the letter out of the envelope, afraid of what was in the letter but choked when he read the first paragraph. Never in a million years would he be prepared for what he was about to read.

Dear Mr. Branson.

As you know, I've never been particularly good with goodbyes. Remember when I was five and found a rabbit in the back garden? I was so thrilled and had to show everyone, and father helped me build a hutch for it after I begged him and mother to let me keep him. I named him Mr. Snuffles and I would take him out in the garden and play with him and you would bring dandelion leaves for me to feed him with. He was my whole world.

Then he got ill, and we had to put him down. When my parents told me this I got so upset I ran away. No one knew where I had gone except for you, you knew exactly where to find me. I had hid in the old shed down by the creek and as I sat there crying you knocked on the door. We sat in there for minutes and you told me that when someone dies you may feel as it's a goodbye, but it's really not. Those we love never truly leave us.

What you said that day has stayed with me. When my parents died I thought I would never be happy again, that I was all alone in this scary world with no one to turn to. But I was wrong. You've always been by my side, always there to hold my hand and comfort me when I needed. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I write you this letter. A goodbye is never easy and saying goodbye to you is one of the hardest things I've had to do. I wish there was another way but truthfully I see no other way out. Living in constant fear for my own life has rendered me exhausted and I can't live like this anymore. I want to thank you for everything you've done for me, I will be forever grateful. My final wish is for you and everyone at the estate to have a good life, that's why I've asked to leave the company in your name along with our family lawyer. And when it comes to the property and its assets, it's to be shared equally between all of you. That is my gift to you all after all these years of great service.

I just want you to know that I am fine, that I have found my peace, and I am happy. You will always be in my heart, and I know we will meet again one day.

Love,
Miriam

With tears streaming down his cheeks, he put the letter down on the desk then covered his face with his hands and cried. The girl he had sworn to protect from the moment she came into this world was gone. Where she was he didn't know but he promised himself he would never stop looking for her. He was despairing and angry at the same time. Devastated that he never even got to say goodbye, that he didn't know that the last time he saw her would be their last time together – with him driving her to school just like he had for the past ten years. And furious with the man responsible for this tragedy.

Mr. Branson believed in karma, and karma would come to Thomas Pierce eventually, and Mr. Branson swore to be there when it happened.

But until then he would mourn the loss of Miriam Pierce and manage the inheritance she had given him and the rest of the servants at the estate.

~End of part II~