Alice's Life in Wonderland

Chapter Eighteen - Hatter's Letter

So Bunny hopped to Wonderland City and searched the streets for Count Chester's mansion. She had been there once or twice, delivering invitations for the Queen.

As she arrived, she knocked the door and a familiar face answered.

"Melanie!" gasped Bunny.

"Shush! Come in," whispered Melanie, and she showed Bunny in. "What is it?"

"You're... you're the Countess?"

"Yes. Now what's the matter?"

"But... Hatter! You left him and married... um... a man of a higher state? Are you kidding me?"

"No, Bethany. Now stop asking me and tell me why you're here."

"Alice, I have to see Alice."

"Find me?"

Alice descended the stairs and looked at Countess Melanie and Bunny.

"Oh, Alice! Hatter..."

"Don't speak of him!" cried Alice and she began to sob.

"Calm down, my dear," said Melanie softly and put a hand on her shoulder.

"It's so hard to accept the truth..."

"Yes, I know. I know."

"Um... Alice?" began Bunny. "He sends you a letter."

"A letter?" gasped Alice and she looked up.

"Yes, here."

Bunny handed Alice a sealed envelope and Alice gladly accepted it. The girl quickly tore the seal, took out some papers and read its contents.

As she read on, her heart began to swell and so did her eyes, for tears once again rolled down the rosy cheeks of the young maiden.

"Why, why, why?" she cried and clutched the letter tightly. "Why do we have to be separated? I have never done anything wrong!"

"I'm sorry," spoke Bunny quietly and she and Melanie comforted her.

"It's okay," sobbed Alice.

"Can I read it?" asked Melanie, for she was curious of the letter's contents.

"Here."

Melanie folded open the papers of treasured writings, and read its contents softly.

"My dearest Alice," she spoke, her voice quivering. "I am very sorry of what happened today. I had no choice..."

"But he had!" cried Alice, interrupting Melanie. "He could just... just... not accept, and let me die!"

"But he couldn't bear it, dear," said Melanie and she continued the letter. "I had no choice. I couldn't bear it, darling."

"Oh! He calls her a darling!" smiled Bunny.

"Shush, Bethany! Do you two have to interrupt in the middle between sentences?"

Bunny just shrugged and Alice cried some more.

"Fine, let me continue," sighed the Countess. "If I see you die, it will be everlasting pain. It could not be cured. I put you a place in my heart like nothing else. You represent my happiness, my laughter, and love. Once you're gone, the pain would be the deepest among all pains I've been through. Even deeper than... than..."

"What?" asked Bunny and she snatched the paper away. "Even deeper than the pain that the death of my parents gave me, and also Melanie..."

"I have to admit," began Melanie, and she sniffed, "that I'm starting to get jealous. Matthew loves Alice more than what we did years ago."

"I'll finish the letter, Countess Chester. Let's see... where was I? Oh! Okay, here we go. Heart's dearest, promise me to take care of yourself. Don't let this terrible news change your whole life. I want to see you, rosy, smiling, sunshine and all, if only I could see you again. Anyway, if you can't manage the shop for these days, don't force yourself too hard and close it for a few days, until you are alright. With all my best wishes, hope and love, Matthew."

As she ended, Alice and Melanie burst into a fit of crying. Neither could hold their emotions.

"Now, now, now," said Bunny and she handed the two wads of tissues. "Alice, follow me to your house, and please help me pack for Hatter. Queen's commands and his own pleas."

Alice stopped and looked up, red eyed and half smiling.