Dear Kitty,
             I didn't think it would be this dreadful. It's a weird experience - I'll be fine for a bit, and then all these horrible empty feelings will suddenly hit me and I feel so indescribably sad. It's hard to cope with, even though it's only been two days. I suppose the best thing to do is follow Julie Andrews' advice - 'you cry a little, and then you wait for the sun to come out. It always does.' And it's true - it always will, even when it feels like it won't. I can tell you that from experience, Kitty. It's just times like this, when it's hard to believe, that are the real tests of characters.
            There was something that Hector told me a long time ago: 'you never remember the last kiss, because you always assume there's going to be another one.' It's so true, and I never really realised. I'm aching for Alex, and dying to remember our last kiss - but I just can't.
             Mum did send me into absolute hysterics earlier, though. I was playing Christmas carols on the piano, and ruining them, so she came and joined in. It was fine until she got out her viola - and then played the spoons, and then it all ended up with William, Mum and I pretending to ride horses around the kitchen to something like 'Charge of the Light Cavalry'. Also William just came in and did a very convincing impression of someone driving an Aston Martin (with sound effects).
I love my family.
Yours,
      Francesca