Hey again! I was glad you all liked last chapter. Thanks so much for those amazing reviews; they were truly spectacular. Here's the next chapter; Enjoy!


September 1, 2011 - 10:50 A.M.

Alison's syrupy sweet voice cuts through the surrounding air, sharp as a knife as she reads the letter. Her eyes are downcast, and her lips curve up into a sour smile. Her twinkling eyes shine brightly with unshod tears as she reads the letter aloud.

"September 1, 2009. Dear girls,

"The police sirens blared all night long; in the woods, behind my house, even in front. It was declared an official disappearance this morning. I watched as the cops declared me a missing person and sent multiple search teams for me.

"They aren't going to find me. I know how to hide too well. I've watched my brother do it for years with the drugs and alcohol; his buddies and him taught me without them knowing. There is no possibility that I'll get caught. Anyways, I have my safe houses. For a whole year I've been planning this. It was perfect that no one guessed. All the easier for me to get away.

"I need my freedom. But before I set onto the road, I visited the girls. I snuck by Aria's house this morning first. I'm not proud of this, but I peeked in her windows; I had to see how she was. I wanted to know if she was hurt at all that I was missing. I wanted to know if it meant anything to her, just as I did with all the girls.

"Next came Spencer's house. I figured her family would have a calm head about it, but Spencer was crying. Truly crying; I felt terrible. 'Why did I have to do this to the girls?' I kept asking myself. But I knew why. It was the right thing to do. I couldn't bring this person into their lives, too. I had to get away.

"Hanna's house was after, and just as I had anticipated, she was crying up a storm. With a tissue box at her side, she blew her nose as she watched the news and ate rocky rode ice cream; her favorite.

"And Em was last. I knew Em would be torn up about it, because of her immediate and unbreakable liking toward me, but I didn't know just how sad she would be. It was heartbreaking to watch her cry. After a while, I was forced to walk away. I just couldn't take it anymore.

"And so here I am, in his car, regretting what I've done. Because for the first time, as I lose the four girls before my eyes, I realize that I needed them more than I knew. That I relied on them for more than I let on. They grew to be a part of me in the last few years, and I couldn't live without them.

"Why did I do this?"

Alison pauses. At the end, her voice wobbled a bit, and a sob caught in her throat. She waves her hand, passing it off as nothing major.

Her eyes are glistening from the tears slipping over the rims. She looks around the room at her friends, glad to be with them once again after so long. The cool breeze from the window leading outside the stuffy room provides a small amount of comfort. The sunlight shining across the mahogany floorboards of the room cast shadows from the objects obscuring their path.

No one breathes as Alison stops reading. They stare around at each other, still processing what they just heard. What did it mean?

"Ali, what does this mean? Can we at least have some answers?" Aria asks almost angrily.

She smirks kindly, "Possibly. What do you want to know?"

"Well," Aria starts, "Why did you plan your own death? What were you running from? How are you still alive? How are the cops not on your trail? Why did you come back after all this time? Why did you check up on all of us, when you should have, logically, been running from the police?"

"I planned my own death because of something that is also tying you four to Rosewood, also. I can't tell you very much; this is meant to be a short visit. I- I have to read you these letters. They'll explain a lot, I promise," Alison stares each of the girls in the eyes, begging them to trust her. She continues, "Please let me continue. I'll try to answer as many questions as I can before I go."

The girls' eyes sweep across the room and lock with each other, communicating in their silent yet efficient language. After a minute, Emily nods, "Fine, continue."

Ali throws the letter she was originally reading aside, and pulls the next one from the thick stack. It, too, crinkles as she opens it, and she looks at it fondly.

"August 30, 2010. Dear Em,

"After an entire year, you moved on. I knew you were stronger than you looked. After a tragic year of grieving over me, you decided to put it behind you. You'd heard the news and couldn't ignore the facts; it was obvious that I was dead. I had been missing for over a year, and then my body was uncovered in my old backyard. The police stations were rolling with questions and suspicions; it was hilarious to witness what they had come up with.

"They claimed I had been murdered. It was obvious that your heart shut down that day; I knew that you had been in love with me. Your tears, sweeping down your fragile cheeks in beautiful arcs, shook me to the core. I still can't shake that image for all I'm worth; it's stuck with me no matter what.

"For a year before you discovered I was dead, you had been searching for a part of yourself that was missing. A part of me, that had traveled with you for so long.

"I knew you missed my laugh, my smile. And I ached to give it back to you. But I couldn't. It is best that everyone thinks I am dead.

"Emily, you're so strong to be able to move on. I knew in my heart, even back then, that you were in love with me. I just refused to believe it.

"Your kiss, that gentle kiss that day, meant the world to me. I knew that you were in love with me before that. I could tell; it was the sparkle in your eyes; how you were so excited to see me each time I arrived wherever you were. And when you kissed me, it made me realize. That I love you, too. I lied that day, though. I didn't use that kiss as practice for the real thing. It meant something to me, but not exactly what it meant to you.

"Honestly, I'm not interested in being your girlfriend to this day. I never was. But I still cared for you, Em. Like a older sister would for a younger sister; I wanted to look out for you no matter what.

"I shouldn't have acted as I did when you kissed me; I was harsh. Too mean. You didn't deserve it; you were a lost puppy and you didn't know how to find your way back home after I bluntly told you that I used you. I felt terrible afterward, but like always, I wouldn't let it show.

"I'm proud of you. You got over my death as quick as you could, although it did take a little time. You decided to concentrate on your schoolwork and you attempted to the best of your ability to fit in again and make life as it was work for you. I've watched you this past year.

"Of course I know what's going on in your life; did you think I'd forget about you? No, never. Emily, you are beautiful. I was jealous of you; you knew what you wanted, and although you were shy at getting to it, you had a determination that I didn't have. Not like you had, at least."

Ali takes a deep breath, pausing in her reading.

Emily hardly can believe what she just heard. She's clothed in her usual jeans, simple T-shirt and sweatshirt, but despite the seemingly natural situation cannot trust her ears. Her chocolate brown eyes are wet from the tears sliding down her cheeks in rivers. Rivers of happiness.

Suddenly Emily sobs out loud, and jumps up, diving straight into Alison's arms. She could barely believe it was true; Alison was there, in the flesh. After two tough years of believing her to be dead. Emily's first and only true love was back for good. To be honest, she had never been missing.

Cries shook the room; tears of joy and disbelief, tears of happiness and frustration. Why didn't Ali tell her? Why didn't Ali give her a hint? She led her to believe that she was dead, and she knew how much it broke Em's heart, and yet she didn't do anything about it. Was that really fair?

Finally, as the cool air calms Emily's racing mind, she whispers to Ali, "Go on, please."

She is still hugging Ali like there is no tomorrow, and doesn't have the nerve to let go of her yet. Emily's face displays a mixture of sadness, regret and happiness as she grips the girl tighter. Finally she lets go with a radiant smile lighting up her face.

"And then you lost touch with the other girls. I was terribly disappointed. I wanted to come back into your life and make you girls friends again. But I couldn't. I still can't. It's a few months later, after you girls drifted apart, and I still am unable to come back into your life.

"I feel awful, Em. I'm still declared missing. But I'm not; I'm right here in Rosewood, under all of your noses. I feel terrible. I miss you girls. I miss your laugh especially, Em.

"I miss you.

"If I ever get to see you again, I promise to apologize. And if I don't, this is me doing that right now.

"I'm sorry, Emily. I'm sorry for all the pain that I caused, all the loss that I made you feel, and all the sorrow that you had to bear in my name. I wish I could take it all back; I truly do.

"Emily, I hope you the best in life. This is my goodbye letter in case I don't make it out of this situation alive. I realize that I have left you with more questions than answers, but please trust me. Out of the four girls, I think you will do that the best.

"Goodbye."


Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story. I'm having a lot of fun writing it! Did anyone see tonight's PLL? Oh. My. Goodness. It was outstanding. So many answers, but still twice as many questions!

Thoughts?