Shit

He thought as he raced down the flight of stairs

Shit

He screamed at himself in his head as he forced his way through a throng of people idling down the hallway. He sped up his running pace as fast as he could as he barreled around a tight corner, nearly taking out a janitor in hi path.

Alice…. Wait for me…

Hatter was pleading in his mind, trying to force his legs to go faster. She had said she was finally heading home, back through the looking glass. He had tried, tried to be happy for her while inside he was silently dying. He couldn't tell her how he truly felt about her, he tried to avoid coming to see her off that afternoon for the fear he wouldn't be able to let her go. She deserved better than him. They both knew that. Still, somehow, as the clock struck 2:30, only minutes from her departure, he somehow realized that he had to be there. Even just to see her one last time.

He slammed into the revolving door at the end of the long hallway, pushing it as fast as he could and slipping through it into the main room. It was crowded and filled with people bustling about, looking at the Looking glass. Then, He saw her; through a small break in the crowd he glimpsed her long black hair. She was facing his way though not seeing him. She instead had her eyes focused on the man before her.

Jack

Anger and confusion filled him as he watched Alice smile at Jack then lean forward and hug him lightly. Together, they turned, without noticing him to the Looking Glass, him holding her hand as he helped her up onto the platform. Hatter's head dropped slowly, she was about to go and she hadn't even said goodbye. Sadness filled him as he turned, unable to watch her leave him. He stared for the door, deciding it best if he could slip out unnoticed. Then..

"Hatter..?"

He froze. Twisting around he saw her staring at his reflection in the glass. Then she turned around and made her way back down the platform towards him. He smiled, his heart aching in his chest as he moved back into the room towards Alice.

"Um.. . I … Hey Alice." He muttered quietly.

"Hey Hatter." She said smiling

Hatter could feel his heart drop into his stomach. That smile. That beautiful smile, that after today, he would never see again.

"I… thought I'd missed you" He said slowly, forcing out a painful smile.

"Cut it close, but I'm glad you came." She smiled again

"Me to. So.. I guess this is goodbye then?" He said slowly, his heavy accent slurring the last few syllables.

"Maybe. Unless, you know.. you want to come visit my world sometime?" She said slowly, staring directly into his eyes.

"Ya… we could uh… we could do ..p-i-s-ah" He said, trying to recall the name of the strange oyster food.

She giggled

He died a little more inside.

"Sound fun. Oh… right" She slid the jacket he had given her which seemed like days ago off her arms and handed it to him.

"Oh you don't have to… uh…you can keep it , as a way to remember me." He said quickly, pushing the jacket back into her arms.

She nodded slowly. Then glanced behind her towards the glass.

"You shou'd go." He said quietly, not looking her in the face.

She nodded and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Hatters back and pulling him into a hug.

"Don't forget about me." She whispered

"I wont… trust me?" He whispered back

She laughed softly and as she pulled back she turned quickly to hide her face from his view. He swore he saw a single small tear running down her cheek. She once again stepped back up onto the platform, gazing intently at her reflection. An operator stepped up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't forget to breath!" he said loudly. Then he pushed he roughly through the glass.

As she fell forward, her body sliding through the glass, she, for the last time, locked her eyes on the reflection of one individual in the room.

Goodbye hatter

And she was gone.