Dearest Georgiana,
The family is as well as it can be.
Now to answer your conclusory question in your last correspondence: you’re correct, I have grown accustomed to the darting eyes I receive, but that is all they are, As translucent as you feel, I endure an equal feeling of transience. A lingering look of lust which offers nothing more than what it is. It does not promise a love of my own to call home; rather it promises a hollow hope that someday someone may transform their look of lust into a look of love. At 28 I know better than to wait for such a fabled feeling. I’d much rather spend my time crafting my next letter to you! Or even dreaming of the past; when happiness was still waiting on the other side of our bedroom door.
[If Alice had been born in a different century with different technologies she would have had the following thought]
You know how this life really is, little sister. Through my eyes the world is a slot machine unplugged in the desert. People will always pull that lever even when the machine’s miles from the nearest outlet. But Georgiana, you’ve done the impossible and landed yourself a seat in the middle of the casino! Now you just need to allow your wit to lead the way.
[In the reality of 1852 what Alice actually said was:]
Don’t let your hardened older sister predestine your unique trajectory. After all I only have 2 8/10 decades worth of case files to pull from. You’ll need to develop your own working library of meaning.
That being said, if you’ll allow me this lecture: romantic love is not everything. It certainly appears to be a lovely pastime or even a way of life, but I don’t think it’s something you can choose until it’s been handed to you. Take mother and father for instance: they fell in love in the harbor of youth’s innocence (or naivety) thinking they could equip their coupling well enough to sail through the undertow of adult-love. Mixing adulthood and love is no easy task Georgiana. It takes two clear minds and double the patience between them. Believe me when I say it is okay to have hope for yourself, but I must temper such hope with a practical warning. Your mind is clear and fast as a whip, and I know you will put up with nothing less from your partner (you will find a partner). Patience is the predecessor to such love.
I apologize if my train of thought was at all misleading here—mother and the schoolhouse have kept me away from myself this week. I’m worried Georgiana that mother’s earthly clock is winding down too furiously for me to keep up with.
Keep an eye out for another letter from me this week sweet little sister. Time will be of the essence.
All my love,
Your Alice
Leave a Reply