To Whom It May Concern

Chapter Three- Concerning Ruth Downing

Chapter 3 - Concerning Ruth Downing

As Mrs Downing strode out of the tiny solicitors office, she remarked to her husband on what a waste of time that had been.  The Downing's had only flew out to England in the hope of being the only relatives of Jane left, therefore inheriting the vast amount of money Jane had possessed before passing away.  After all, Mr Downing had jovially said, one could never have too much money.

Walking down the cobbled street, high heels clacking, Ruth thought about the others who had been present at the reading.  She had recognised the woman as Linda, the fat, plain little girl who had used to follow her sister around as though she was some sort of grotesque puppy.  No surprise to see her there, probably trying to cash in on her friendship throughout the years.

Yes, Ruth had known since the day she had set her eyes on Linda Harrison, formerly Thomson, that she was going to cause problems in the future.  The girl had come to a party held on the Mallard Estate for Janes's 10th birthday.  A small, dumpy thing, in a cheap, knock-off sequined dress.  At the time  she tried to warn her sister, thinking Linda was going to steal something off them or only befriend them to get at their money.

Of course, as soon as Ruth had spoken out loud her dislike of Linda, both her and Jane became inseparable.  Jane stopped playing with Ruth, instead, she invited Linda over, leaving Ruth alone.

Old hatred bubbled inside Ruth's chest, licking at her insides like tongues of fire.  She and Jane hadn't seen eye to eye over anything after Linda came into the picture.  Except, of course, when it came to...

shaking her head as if to clear away cobwebs, she led the way to the silver Porsche parked outside the post office, ready to drive to hotel they were staying in, in the town a few miles away. 

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Once safely inside her hotel room, Ruth let out a sigh she had been holding in.  Sitting down, she finally withdrew the crumpled paper envelope from the pocket she had stuffed it into.

Slowly, as if the letter would explode, she unfolded the page and began to read.

To My Dearest Sister,

                                   If you are reading this, I have since past from this life.  It has been many years since we last saw each other.  This I sorely regret.  I wish we had spent more time together.  I wonder if the time that has passed has dulled your hate of me.  Somehow I doubt it.

As I write my last words to you, dearest sister, I feel my mind fill with the memories of what once was.  Do you remember, when we were both small, the day we got lost in the middle of the City?  How I cried and you held my hand and told me to be brave?  How times have changed us.

What happened?  Where once were playful jokes and light-hearted jibes there is treachery and hatred.  I know that this is my fault, and there is nothing I can do to mend our relationship.  Believe me, however, if there was a way, I would go to the ends of the Earth to get it and have my sister back.  I would undo that awful night  in a snap, but I can't.  It is written in time, a scar on mine and your lives.  For this I am truly sorry.

In my Will, I bequeath to you all our memories together as children, in the hope that they can erase the way you think of me now.  I ask not for forgiveness, but for you to think of me as that child, your little sister, not as the person  became that night.

Your Sister

Jane xxx

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As she read the last line of the letter, a single tear dripped down Ruth's face and splashed onto the letter, making the ink smudge.  And in that moment, Ruth Downing truly forgave her sister for what happened all those years ago.

Too late.

.