Here's chapter 2 of packet of letter, Mr. Bates is going through the shock and Denial stage right now.

Enjoy!

John woke with a start as he heard some yelling echoing in the prison. He could hear guards yelling and pounding. He looked desperately towards the door as he heard one burst open. Were the guards bursting into his cell? No, that was happening in the cell next to him. His breath evened out and he tried to get back to sleep, back to the dream he'd been having. But it hadn't been a dream, it had been a memory and he tried to recall every detail about that night. The look and feel of her long hair, the smile she'd sent him, the smell of the lavender on the bed sheets and the sight of her before him. A year ago today, he'd married the most wonderful woman in the world. He didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve anything about her, but for some reason she wanted him and who was he to say no? And now because he couldn't say no to her, she was his, in more than just name.

The guards soon came knocking. Time to wake up. Groaning, he got up and got ready for the day. Soon he was up and being led down to breakfast, after breakfast he was forced into line to get post. The line seemed especially slow today, and as he got up to the front, he found he'd gotten in line in vain. Nothing. He kept walking, making his way back to his cell. Why hadn't Anna written him? He shook his head slightly, trying to clear the disappointment. Sometimes there was a week or so that he didn't get a letter, and then the next letter he'd get was full of apologies for not writing him. He'd just wait until the next letter came. He laid on his bunk and slid his fingers underneath the bunk above him, slipping his letters out, he re-read Anna's last letter for what felt like the millionth time. He didn't even need to read it, he'd committed it to memory already, he just needed to see her handwriting. He needed to see something that was her.

My dearest love,

She always started her letters the same way and he adored her for it, it was like she knew he needed the extra reassurance that she still loved him even though they were apart and he was in this horrible place.

Lady Mary retired early so I got a chance to write you earlier than I normally do. Maybe tonight when I fall asleep I'll dream that we have our hotel, where you and I work together with our children (Nathan, Elizabeth and John Jr.) We work hard every day but the hard work is worth it because we're together.

The letter continued and when he reached the closing, he smiled at the ending she always used.

For richer or poorer, better or worse, I'll forever be;

Your Anna

Sighing heavily, he got out of bed and started to write another letter to Anna.

My Anna;

I woke up today, dreading the date. A year ago, I was the happiest man alive. Now, I'm separated from you and in this horrible place. Sometimes it seems like I've been here for ages, and then on days like today I remember just how short a time I've spent here, and how long I must continue to stay. Can it really be that only a year has passed? It seems like much longer, much longer than a year has passed since we've been in each other's arms. Although I've been apart from you for nearly a year at this point, I don't regret marrying you. I don't regret us being together as husband and wife, the most wonderful night of my life. The only thing I regret is not marrying you sooner. Perhaps if we had married earlier, we could have had more then one night together and a couple days of stolen kisses. Those memories are the only thing that sustains me in this place.

John knew Anna would blush a deep pink at that and he tried not to remember the last time he'd made her blush so deeply, the only night he'd been able to hold her. Remembering would only make this place that much more of a nightmare when he returned from his daydream. He wrote for nearly an hour, sometimes scribbling furiously and other times, he just stared at the half-written letter in confusion, trying to figure out how to word what came next. He talked of their night together, he didn't want to go into great detail as he had the feeling that the guards read his mail, but he also wanted to speak with her about it, and he couldn't exactly say anything when they were visiting. Anna had been a little more forward in her letters then she had been on their wedding night. Maybe if he hadn't been arrested she'd be more forward in person, in private. Right now however, all they had were private letters.

Finally though, he finished the letter:

Your devoted;

John

Post was delivered again two days later, he slipped the letter for Anna into the mail slot and walked back to his cell, still no letter from Anna. Had she given up on him? The very thought made his chest tighten and he had to take several deep breaths to calm himself. That couldn't be it. Despite her denials, Anna was too much of a lady to have given up on him, at least without a letter of explanation and her last letter had been full of news from the house and the case. If she had given up, she would have given him an explanation, either in a letter or in a visit. Since that hadn't happened, John could only assume that she was busy, maybe Lady Mary had been traveling and Anna had been so busy that she didn't have time to write. That was it, he just had to be patient, Anna would write in time.

Pulling out another sheet of paper he began to compose another letter.

My Anna;

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