Once upon a time in another world, another place, a boy named Alex laid upon his bed restless. Beside him sat his mother, an elderly lady, with grey hairs that were fine in there value, she sat to coax the young child to sleep.

Alex could not sleep, his mind just would not allow it. All these thoughts ran through his head, all these questions jumping at him, filling his mind with an uneasy thirst. His mother sat beside him, trying to answer slow his thoughts to a still, trying to quench his thirst of curiosity.

"Why are the tree's green mama? Why don't rabbits talk? How does a jabberwocky sing? Oh mama how wide is a Cheshire grin? Please mama tell me, please mama" young Alex had whined. 

Slowly his mother answered the questions, telling him all about the wonderful things he asked of. She told him that the fairies painted the tree's green, that a rabbit lost his voice when he was above ground, that a jabberwocky only sings when it's heart has been touched and that no one has seen how wide a Cheshire grin is. She told him of the red queen and her cards, she told him of the vanity in the flower garden and the marvellous tea that the March hare makes. They talked for hours on end, until the young boy had only one question left.

"Mama what do I do if I fall into a rabbit hole?"

His mother looked at him with her eyes glazed, almost as if she was in a memory, a small smile appeared across her face as she thought. When she finally came to resolve, she responded.

"Find the man as mad as his hat and tell him that Alice has found her way home".

And finally, the little boy fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Many a year had passed since Alice's adventures in wonderland, the vivid memories of her time there had still yet to fade into oblivion, but now remained as dull colours. Her hair was no longer a fine grey but more of a coarse smoke. The wrinkles lining her face presented wonderful tales of joy and laughter, while her eyes told a different story one of woe and weariness.

The little boy Alex had grown too. He was no longer recognised as a boy but much rather almost a young man now, with a very long track to race ahead of him. While his face told nothing of his time, his hands were another matter as they were coloured with the tones of the world. The paint clung to him like a child to their mother, or like he did to the woman lying in front of him. They told the tales of love, romance, melancholy and regret that was hidden within his heart.

"The doctor is on his way, you have nothing fear". The old woman smiled at her sons lies, while sincere Alice knew that today was the day. She grasped her sons hand, trying to comfort the young man before the inevitable appeared.

"You know my dear, I regret not bringing you to the mad hatters tea party. He always had the best tea and the best crockery too. Of course the March hare is the one who makes the tea but all the same it's still wonderful very much like-"

"A very merry unbirthday parade without the enchanted food and silly little mushrooms" Alex cut in, a smile tugging across his lips. Alice's eyes where suddenly filled with glee, of the memories she had shared with her son. She saw the child's spark that was still lit within him and hoped it wouldn't diminish when she left for her wonder.

"I'm going to leave today, you and I both know that the doctor never arrives on time... you have a hard path in front of you Alex but remember that I'm fine. I have no quarrels with dying, for death is a chapter in the book we have yet to read, and it is awfully impolite to leave a book unfinished."

The two smiled sadly together, both refusing to cry, wanting to be strong for each other in these last moments.

Then, Alice took one last breath and fell down the rabbit hole