The Letters.

Today is Everything

May 8th 2007

A nursing home in Vermont was especially lively on this particular day. Everyone's spirits were high and visitors came from near and far. A faint dogs bark surrounded by the buzz of bees and the song of birds. Beautiful, that's how I'll describe it. But now here is the twisted tale of the girl who vanished and the woman who remembered. 

" Ms. Barnet, you have some visitors." A woman in a nursing home uniform said from the door way. 

"Send them in." Ms. Barnet, the small wrinkled old woman said.

Two adults walk in, a female and male same age look quiet the same as well. They sat some flowers down on the table next to Ms. Barnet and sat down in the two chairs sat by her bed.

"Hi grandma, how are you today?" asked the girl.

"I'm as good as I can be Natalie, and how are you two? Nathan?" she asked.

"I'm okay." he said shrugging his shoulders.

Natalie smiled and looked to the table, an old shoe box sat at the edge. The lid was have off and had a ribbon hanging out the side.

"What's that?" She questioned, pointing towards the box.

With a wise, old smile she said, "Only an old story."

"Tell us, we want to hear one of your stories again!" Nathan exclaimed.

"Well, it may be a little scary, and sad." she replied.

The twin insisted on her telling the story so the old woman sat up on her bed and grabbed the box and pulled out a picture along with the ribbon.

"May 18th 1918, a "wonderful year" the newspapers said, believe it or not that's me in that picture and my best friend. We were twelve and as happy as ever, she was beautiful and popular, smart, funny. She was my one and only true friend." she said slightly tearing up and showing the picture.

"Her name was Alice, just like the story I read to you when you were younger,  blonde hair, blue eyes, she was as curious as a cat that one. We lived in a small town in Vermont, trees and mountains filled the horizon like no other. The town carnival had just arrived and it was amazing..."

May 18th 1918

Ms.Barnet (Haley) P.O.V

The town was full of spirit and happiness, everyone knew everyone. That's why no one thought that such a thing would happen. Alice was with me we were playing around the clearing where the carnival would soon take place, all the adults were setting things up. We would have never been there but Alice's father was just elected mayor. Some people weren't happy about the for the fact that they had only lived there for a good month.

"Come on Alice, we have homework!" I exclaimed from across the clearing. 

"C'mon Haley, school ended yesterday, we don't have homework." She said back in her beautiful southern accent. 

She was from Texas, her family always showed the most amazing southern hospitality. Oh and her mother, she was as sweet as the tea she made after school but, I always thought something was wrong with her. She was always coughing and taking medicine. Other than that they were a perfect family...on the outside.

Alice always wrote me letters, always every Saturday. 

(Alice's Letter #1)

"Hello, I didn't know if you had noticed me but, I knew at your school and I saw you sat alone. Kinda upset me ya know, all those kids pickin' on you and all. I wanted to know if ya wanted to be friends? Like best friends, cause' I'm new and my daddy just started running for mayor and a lot of the kids don't like that.  I don't got a lot of friends to write back home so...I mean you don't have to, but I would very much like it if ya were. 

- your new friend 

Alice  Nelson"

You could tell she had been shaking when writing the letter, she must've been so nervous. School that Monday was the best day of school I had in all twelve years of my life. She sat with me in the classroom and at lunch. She even asked if I wanted to spend the night at her house on Friday. We clicked right away and became the best of friends.

That Friday I came to her house with my mother. Mr. Nelson was quiet a bit older than Mrs. Nelson but they were just right for each other. I thought. 

"Alice dear, why don't you show your guest your room?" Mrs. Nelson said with a demanding tone.

"Yes ma'am" Alice said bobbing her head. 

"So this is your room? It's huge." I said shocked by the size.

"Yeah, it gets quiet lonely since I'm always alone." She replied while she straighten a toy on a perfectly white shelf. 

(fades back to 2007)

"I remember her room perfectly, it was the product of a major case of OCD. There wasn't a spect of dust on those shelves and the toys were perfectly spaced. Her bed was completely centered in her room." Ms. Barnet staring at the ceiling.

"Grandma, I thought you said it was going to be sad and mysterious?" Nathan complained.

"Well dear, if you wouldn't interrupt me I could get to that." She said.

"Ms. Barnet, time for your medicine." A nurse said quietly.

"Alright, kids I'll continue in a minute." she said as the kids left the room.