Chapter 21
My dear Clara,
I hope you are doing well. We all miss you very much.
Unfortunately, I do not have good news. Your cousin is still in a quite critical state and her pain seems to be increasing. She tries her best to hide it from me, as she always has but as her mother I know when my daughter is hurt. Her face loses a shade of colour every day and she gets thinner and thinner. Sometimes, when I touch her I feel afraid that I she might break like porcelain. Our dear little Lydia looks so very fragile by now. However no doctor in this country seems to be able to tell what is wrong with her. Your great uncle Benjamin has sent for a foreign doctor from Spain to visit and it may take another week before he might be able to see her.
I really do not intent to frighten you, my dear niece, but I am afraid we might lose her. She looks as if she was dying and all I can do is sit here and wait for help.
I am asking you to visit her at least for one last time after you have abandoned us so all of a sudden. I know you are doing your best to find the Doctor and the answers we so terribly need but certain events make me think that it might not succeed. Lydia misses you very much and I know it is her wish to see you again. Your imployer may allow you a few days off as soon as you mention my name and the fact that it is a family incident. We are looking forward to see you.
Love,
Aunt Kate
The letter slipped from her hand as Clara let herself sink down to the floor of her room. She let her fingers comb through the fabric of the expensive carpet and did her best to hold back her tears.
"Doctor", she whispered to herself. "Where are you, Doctor?"