"Courage, dear heart." - C.S. Lewis


1 January 1943

If Alice thought the days bled together during the holidays, they were nothing compared to the slow crawl of the New Year creeping towards her. It was as if she'd aged five years in the past three months, and she didn't look forward to the brand new start of a year like others around her - if anything, she wanted to turn back the clock.

The diner was near full - lots of waning partygoers looking for a good breakfast post-celebration (Alice almost envied them) - and Rufus had called her in to help out; she was grateful for the distraction. There was still no news from Matthew and Alice feared the worst; she talked with Charlotte nearly every day since the holidays and Matthew's mum was far more optimistic.

It hurt, not knowing what had happened; at first, she'd thought she had said something wrong in her letters - that she had come on too strong, but Matthew had admitted he loved her first, so it likely wasn't that. His letters to Vera, Rose, and Charlotte had stopped as well - something happened, and either the army didn't know where he was, or they did and were purposefully keeping them in the dark about it.

She hoped that wasn't the case, but it was war and the military could do what they needed to in order to keep Australia and her soldiers safe. Similar things had happened in previous wars and one of the waitresses had an American beau and their letters were sometimes delayed.

It had been months though, and Alice worried herself sick over Matthew - how much longer would she have to wait? Was it a mix-up in the mail or had something happened to him?

Biting back a sigh she felt go down to her bones, Alice smiled as best she could while she refilled a patron's coffee with the last of her carafe; the patron smiled back and looked over Alice's shoulder.

"I think that man is trying to get your attention, Miss."

Alice blinked. Man? She never got visitors at work, unless— Hope bubbled up in her as she whirled around - dying as quickly as it rose when the man waiting for her wasn't Matthew.

It fell further when she realized he wore an army uniform - nothing good came from a strange man in a uniform, they always brought bad news; her hands shook (she barely held onto the empty carafe that otherwise would shatter on the floor at her feet) and her heartbeat roared in her ears as she nearly missed the man saying her name.

"Yes, that's me," she answered - feeling strange as though she were watching this whole exchange outside of her own body.

"Telegram for you, Miss Harvey."

With still shaking fingers, she reached out and grasped the small beige envelope - not seeing the way her patrons were staring, or how the man in uniform touched the brim of his hat and left as soon as he'd appeared.

"Lass," Rufus' voice finally broke through, as did the warm weight of his hands on her upper arms - steering her towards the back, away from the stares, away from the crowds; Alice saw none of it, her eyes were fixed on the envelope clutched in her hand.

"What's it say?" Rufus asked her back in his office.

"I… I don't know."

Patting her hand (after he removed the carafe from it), Rufus left her alone - she almost called him back, but she'd dealt with bad news before alone, she could deal with it again.

Sliding a finger under the flap, Alice deftly ripped open the envelope, unfolded the telegram inside, and gasped.