023 - Various farewell messages from Miles
[Private to Arthur]
Good to see you again. Thanks for looking after Mal, and keep an eye on that Costigan fellow too, will you? He sounded like a sixteen-year-old boy meeting the father of his date for the school dance for the first time. It may be nothing at all, but under the circumstances, you can see why I'm wary. [No, Miles never asked anyone about the Terrible Things that happened back in February, and he never found out. Probably for the best, on balance.] In any case, good luck.
[Private to Ariadne]
Take care of yourself, and don't do anything that will keep you from coming back to school next term, right?
[Private to Angelica]
Thank you for everything. I'm glad Mal has you.
[A handwritten letter, left on Mal's desk under her communicator. Strikes unreadable.]
Mal,
It's hard to know where to begin-sitting here in your living room, so like your mother's that I expect Marie to come bursting in at any minute. It's been a strange few days. I've seen Arthur and a few other friends of yours as well, and I've talked to Angelica Sexby. She's a good woman. I like her. Arthur seems like he's doing well, and it was good to see Ariadne again-give her a chance, Mal; she's a good girl. Also chatted with that fellow Costigan, which I don't mind admitting was strange. I think he really likes you, and I'm not at all sure how I feel about that
You've been gone over two years now, Mal, and I still miss you. Sometimes I think I'll ring you up and I'm halfway to my phone before I realise it's Marie who's going to pick up, not you. Two years to get used to the idea that you're gone. So it's a bit of a shock, you know, to realise that you're not quite gone; that you're still somewhere out here. I've thought sometimes over the last few days that this was just an old man's desperate, hopeful dream, and maybe it will seem that way to me when I've gone back-but for as long as I can, I'll believe that you're making the most of this second chance that you've got.
I know what happened-what really happened with Dom, in Limbo. And yes, I'm angry with him; of course I'm angry. I've also spent the last two years watching him torture himself and cut himself to pieces. He'll pay for what he's done for the rest of his life.
But you shouldn't pay too. I don't like the thought of you being kept here forever, surrounded by vampires and fictional characters and god knows what else. Even now, Mal, you're still my daughter and I only want what I've always wanted for you-the very best. And Angelica Sexby-she wants the same thing. I know it. Please listen to her, Mal. Let her help you. I only had a little chance to get to know her, but I trust her. She'll do her best by you, I know it.
I've got to go soon, I think. I wish I could have seen you again, but these things don't work like that, do they? I miss you, sweetheart. I'll give your love to the children when I see them next, which should be soon. And Dom too
I love you.
-your dad
PS. I didn't read your diary. See? An old dog does learn a few new tricks.