A/N: This was just another school assignment, but i liked it, so I'm posting it. I know it's a little late for Christmas, but that's not really when this takes place anyway. Enjoy. And a review or two never hurts. :D

Disclaimer: I did not write A Christmas Character, nor do i own the characters, if i did, I'd be dead by now.

Dear Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge,

My name is Eva Gallagher and I am a woman of many secrets. I apologize for the matter of this letter, but some things just need to be done. We have never met before, yet I feel that I must expose to you a secret. You see, at first it seemed there was little hope for me, and then I heard of the recent transformation of a wealthy man. He became generous, honest, and perhaps more easily befriended. Instead of begrudging people their needs and wishes, he instead helped them to obtain them. This man I heard of was you, and that is why I am writing to you now.

First, I must explain more about myself and my business with you. I was married young to an elder, wealthy man. The marriage was very secretive, and only a very few ever knew about it. Arranged by my father, the sole purpose was to help rid him of some of his heavy debt. Always having had fine taste, I was excited for the chance to lead a life full of wonderful gowns and jewelry, and that was worth it enough to me. Of course he was older, exposing the threat of me being left as a widow, but I was willing to take that chance. I won't expose his name now, but I will tell you that you were close to him, and of the situation he has left me in.

As time went on, the signs began to expose themselves. Message carriers and debt collectors arrived at our door in the middle of the night, but I pretended not to notice. The fancy luxuries kept coming, and that was enough to appease me. His standing with the men around him did not change, I doubt even one of them knew of his situation. He promised the collectors a bigger payout if they agreed to only come at night when nobody was around, and to keep his business to themselves. This was enough to keep anybody from knowing, and enough to make his debt greater and greater by the day. He was a man of many secrets, and was he very good at keeping them to himself.

Eight years ago, on one of his very few days home from work, I walked into his chamber to finally have a talk with him once and for all. The midnight visits had grown with frequency and soon it would be harder for him to keep his secret. I needed to do something before it was too late. I knew I could never go back to how things were with my father; I would never be that poor girl again. And that is when I found him. More secretly in debt then anyone would ever know, he killed himself. The constable said the death was due to old age, but I knew the truth. I had found remnants of the fine powder on his lips, and in an attempt to keep his good name, I wiped it away and told no one.

Within the next week, I found that his debt had transferred to me. Along with being a widow, I now owed thousands of pounds. I do not know what he spent his money on that could have produced such a debt, but there it was, and I had no idea what to do. I had not inherited anything from him, he had left what we did own to someone else, once again to keep the secret of our marriage. These secrets so longer seem as smart as they did back then.

I have been able to hold of on paying the debt, staying with family and often hiding. But I can feel it, Mr. Scrooge, something is coming for me, so I must finally let go of my secrets and ask for help. I have nobody else to turn to besides you, so please hear my plea. Help me to pay back my debt Mr. Scrooge, not because I'm a poor widowed woman, but because Jacob Marley was my husband.

With all hope in you,

Ms. Eva Gallagher