
My Dearest Violet,
You can’t imagine the agony with which I write this, as I do love you so and could not imagine my life without you. I had always thought that we would be together forever. That our children would be as siblings and our husbands as brothers. That our families would be as one.
After yesterday, I cannot see how that could ever be. I have tried to embrace your husband, but he finds threat in everything about us. And I fear what he might do if we persist. I looked upon our savaged lilies, how he ripped them apart and pulled them from their earth, and I know that is what he would do to us if he could.
Please understand that what I say now I say because I love you and want the world for you: we must behave as if we’d never known each other. When we pass in the street, we must treat each other as strangers. I wither inside at the thought of pretending you don’t exist, but I sincerely worry for you otherwise. I know you’re not quite as delicate as our lilies were, but I also know your husband could be much more of a brute than he’s even let on yet.
I was able to salvage the bulbs, once he’d left. I took them home and replanted them in my front yard.
Please know that, though our paths diverge here, I am always thinking of you. Lilies are hardy and, like our love for each other, they will survive being buried out of harm’s way. It will take time for them to recover, but eventually, you will be able to look to my house, see our lilies out front, and know that as long as they bloom, I await the day we can be together again.
Love,
Your Vita
P.S. I think your home would look much better with some foxgloves.
Reading Comprehension Questions:
1. What effect is generated by the postscript? In your opinion, does this add or detract from the tone of the work? Explain your reasoning.
2. Using your knowledge of history and of the source material, explain the general attitudes about same-sex relationships in Wellington Wells. How are they similar to those held by people during this time and place in the real world? How are they different?