Dear Grace

Dear Philip

Dear Philip,

You do not know the degree of happiness I felt when I saw your handwriting on the envelope containing your letter. I recognised it instantly from reading your journal over and over, trying to decipher your story that you were always so secretive about, unless it concerned your faery. I am touched that you considered me worthy of your life's tale and the dreadful accident that occurred. First let me assure you that I do not judge you. Fear can make the greatest of all of us weak.

I am deeply sorry that Kyle Moran's death haunted you all those years. I know it will have given you many restless nights. It was an accident, remember that. From the amount of times you tried to assure me within your letter I know you must still struggle believing it is not your fault but an unfortunate occurrence. You are a good man. My father was adamant of that.

Of course I cared for your faery. How could I do anything else when that was all that you asked of me? She hung around the house that I still live in to this day. I am still in Van Diemen's Land living in one of the houses you built. It still stands strong and solid. You were very good at your work.

I believe that she took a liking to my father. I would often see her perched on the back of a chair listening to him read out loud to me. We spent many evenings like that. He never saw her but I do not think that truly mattered. He was a calming influence to all of those around him and I believe Lauren felt the same too.

He died about thirteen years ago now. When he passed away I did not see her for several days. She was at the funeral but then I was left completely alone. I was deeply distressed. I had moved on from my loss of you but I was still fresh in grieving for my father. Now the faery had left me also. I had never gotten married so I was truly on my own.

I should have known where to look. Days later I finally found the strength to visit his grave again. Who do you think I saw there? It was our faery of course. I tried my hardest to entice her home with me. My efforts were in vain. Perhaps I needed to know your trick of milk and honey. She stays there to this day. I believe she is protecting the graves, making sure they are shown respect by any visitors.

I collected all the belongings you left behind. Part of me always believed you would be back for them one day. I have so many questions on the significance of each of the objects you chose to keep. I can only guess that the lock of hair was Lauren's, but was it a memento to remember her by or a gift? The picture of the bearded irises, what personal attachment did you have with this photograph to keep it all these years? What about the other photographs? I only recognise where one was taken. I even have your handbook from when you first went to Canada. It must have been strange and incredibly difficult to adjust from living in Ireland to going there. Even more so going from Canada to Australia. I saved your coins from your travels; I keep them with the rest of your belongings in a purse.

I have a confession myself. I should have told you about it when it happened but my father warned me not to. He believed your mind to already be unstable from your mutterings about the faery. He did not wish for me to be encouraging you with my own fanciful imaginations. Philip, I assure you though that I did not imagine it. When I went to find your faery I discovered something else also. There was a strange creature swimming alongside the ship. Have you ever heard of a mermaid? Childish tales I had always assumed. However this creature almost seemed to be out of one of these tales. Not as one of the mermaids of course, it held no great beauty. It was like no sea creature I have ever seen before or since. It frightened me. I think that was what stopped me telling you more than my father. I did not wish for you to be frightened also. You were still recovering.

I did a sketch of him; he had strange fins and a tail. I could never get his head right though. It was a peculiar looking creature. I thought perhaps he meant something but as time passed and nothing happened I realised he was probably just intrigued by our faery. Perhaps he thought he could rescue her. I will never know.

I have a dog now to keep me company. I named him Philip; I do hope you do not mind.

Wishing you a peaceful mind,

With fondest affection,

Grace