Alice's shoulder's were drawn up. She sat bent forward as she sniffed. Her fingers caught strands of her hair and pulled. She let go, breathed unsteadily, pulled her hands away from her face to try to wipe her nose. Her hand trembled. Her eyes were wild. Her face blotched. It was not a pretty sight. Nor a sane one. Her hands clutched and unclutched in the air. She bit her lower lip hard, then put her wrist against her forehead and started bumping against it while whimpering. Nat's words seemed lost on her.

And then, as if in a moment of clarity, she looked at Nat sharply. The tears were still on her face, but the crying had stopped. "Then you must take my letter."