Dearest Jack,

If you're reading this than I'm no longer among the living. I hope you aren't mourning over me too hard. There are so many things I have never told you, but here in these pages I have compiled a few facts and thoughts I think you should know. I hope this finds you in good health and maybe it will ease your pain at losing me. I'm writing this now because as you know I'm getting older and as a doctor I can feel that my body isn't as strong as it used to be. I pray that thirteen years is not all we'll have together, but if it is, I'm glad to have shared these last years with you.

I hope you have no ill feelings towards me. I've never regretted saving your life with that cuckoo clock but I know it's been hard on you. Please understand I was in a hurry and the clock was the only thing I could think of that would work to replace your frozen heart. You have to know how proud of myself I was. You survived the transplant with no unexpected side effects. Be proud of your heart, though it is wood and metal it performs no minor miracle. You have a clock for a heart, unusual yes, but also so very unique.

When it comes to the three rules please don't break them. I didn't give them to you to hamper your life, but to protect you. My work doesn't come without a price, one I wish you didn't have to pay. Please know that I have always hoped I was wrong about love and your heart. I want nothing more than to see you filled with the extraordinary emotion of loving someone and being loved back. Maybe someday you'll prove me wrong, won't that be something? Beware the side effects of Love most of all. You will find injustice and jealousy to be devastating on your clock. I know because I have felt these emotions myself. If by some chance you could love and be loved without any of the negative emotions maybe it wouldn't be fatal to you. Please take good care of yourself and your heart. It won't heal on its own with time so be wise with it.

I want you to know that you've made me the happiest woman because I was your mother. I've always seen you as my son and I hope you think of me as your mother. Thank you for giving me the one thing in the world I never got. I know I was busy with my patients most of the time, but so many people needed help and normal doctors wouldn't have been willing to take some of the patients I did. I always did love you. You were more important to me than any recognition or praise for my work.

Had things been different I would have spent more time with you. I hope you cherish those many sleepless nights I sang to you as much as I do. I would never trade a single moment I have spent with you.

If not for you I would die with a bitterness in my heart even death can't erase. But having raised you and watched over you as if you were my own has made me very happy and I will go to my grave satisfied with my life. Never forget that I love you very much.

Please let anyone who comes seeking medical treatment know that Dr. Madeleine is no longer practicing.

Jack, you should know that you were not the only young man I loved, years before you were born I fell in love with a handsome young doctor. He taught me certain things about medicine no one else would. I was a Midwife who wanted to know more about general medicine and helping people other than pregnant women. He saw no harm in showing me skills for taking care of simple surgeries and how certain parts of the human body work. I worked under him for over a year before I realized my feelings. He seemed to reciprocate and I confessed I was a barren woman. At first he seemed not to care so I foolishly let my heart grow to love him completely.

A patient of his soon became my rival. We battled with each other until she won by telling him that she could birth his children. Wanting a family he chose her over me. It was a painful blow to my heart. One that I never really got over. It was this facet of love I feared most of all for you. Heartbreak is the worst torment known to the human heart. Whether it flesh or gears.

I hope only to save you from that pain.

You have grown into a fine young I hope you find success in life somewhere. I know you will find something you love to do. Keep a clear head and find an occupation you enjoy. Don't let anyone make you feel insignificant or useless. People like your classmates aren't happy in life and find solace in tearing down those who are happy. They will use what they can to make you miserable. They won't vanish either. You'll meet then everywhere you go.

I wish I could be there to see you find success and joy, but I doubt I will and so I hope you make me proud. I have a lot of faith in you Jack. I have seen how eager and how persevering you are and I know it will get you far. Please don't let any sorrow hold you back in life. Regret is a terrible thing and it will eat away at you slowly. Keep me in your memory and always try your hardest.

Before I end these final words to you there are a few more things you should know. The house is yours. Attached to the end of this is my Will. The house you grew up in belonged to my father who bequeathed it to me when he died. He feared my inability to bear children would hinder my chances of marriage. He was right and this old house was a blessing. As I have raised you as my son and given you my last name I do as my father did before me and I leave you the house in its entirety.

All of the furniture and me old belongings are yours now. Take good care of the house for me. I don't expect you to keep it the same but please don't disrespect it. My home was always your home so please feel free to keep it. If you choose to sell it and move somewhere else than do so. I wouldn't hold it against you. The world is waiting for you and a house certainly can't hold you back if a cuckoo clock couldn't.

With the house comes an inheritance. Whatever money I have saved up is yours. You'll find a trunk in the attic with my savings and some other valuable belongings. There is old jewelry up there I don't expect you'll ever use. But again do as you will with it. You will also come across a series of letters I wrote when I was younger, they contain the details of my brief romance and the schooling in medicine I recieved. If you wish to know those stories about me feel free to read them.

Jack, I believe I have come to the end of this goodbye. I don't have anything more to say besides to repeat myself in saying that I love you very much and wish for only the best in your future. I do wish I could say these things to you in person but I suspect we won't be together during my last moments. Be good and take care of yourself, clock included.

Don't worry about my old patients, they'll find a way to take care of themselves. It pains me to say goodbye to you Jack. It isn't fair to put you through this kind of pain but I hope what I leave behind eases it. I know no belongings can substitute for me. Oh Jack I wish I could hug you tight right now and tell you that I won't ever leave you, but life doesn't work that way so I say goodbye until we meet again. I know you love me and I die with no regrets. I have been mother to a wonderful boy, loved one man with all my heart, and helped a great many people as a doctor. I see no holes in my life and I want you to think about me with a smile.

Don't miss me too hard. Remember I love you and keep your dreams tightly.

Love, Madeleine Ross

Here is the key to the trunk in the attic.

I wipe a tear from my eye and peel the key from the letter and pocket it. Besides doing this my brain and heart have both lost any logic or reasoning. Madeleine had left me an amazing goodbye and I am filled with more sorrow and gratitude for the woman that raised me than I ever have. I realize I really really miss her. I look at the letters knowing that they won't ever leave my possession.

I'm stunned that she left me her house and money, I know I was the chance to be a mother she never got, but I never thought she would leave me everything she owned. Honestly I don't know what to do with some of it and the idea of selling anything makes my stomach knot up. How could I be so rude to the memory of Madeleine?

Acacia places a hand on my shoulder gently and I give her a weak smile. "She left me everything." I tell her quietly.

"You're very fortunate." She says smiling at me. "Are you ok?" She asks concerned about me.

"Just in shock. She left me this house and she told me things she never said aloud." I look at the letter in my hand and sigh. "I'm not supposed to feel guilty about her death, but she once told me if she ever lost me she would lose her will to live. I think when I left she feared she would never see me again and I don't think she could handle the idea." I look down feeling miserable again.

"Everyone passes." Acacia reminds me. "If not then perhaps shortly after. I think you should forgive yourself because it wasn't your fault."

"Thank you." I say once again reminded of why I love this beautiful young woman in front of me. "So I guess I have everything I'll need except someone to share a life with." I say changing the comversation.

Acacia blushes a little surprised by my words. "Jack, thank you for the offer, but we're still young."

"And that would hinder us how? " I cut her off with a polite question.

"I still want to sing. I'm not ready to settle down and marry." She explains in a kind voice.

"I can understand that." I say. "How much time do you need?" I think about making a joke about my clock but she shakes her head.

"What if we're different in a few years?" She asks. "And is it even possible to get married when it could damage your heart?" She really is full of worries and insecurities.

"I think I can survive. And that's why we'll wait to see if we do change." I answer her questions confidently. I don't want to argue with her and she brings up good points. What if we don't want to spend the rest of our lives together?

She nods in gratitude for my understanding. I can't stand the idea of us not being in love some day but i don't want to push her.

The rest of the day is quiet and peaceful until Melies announces he is leaving. We're at the table eating dinner just the three of us. "I wish to return to my love and continue making movies. My workshop in Paris is waiting for me." He explains when we look at him.

"When will you leave?" I ask. He is after all my only real friend. I'm sad to know he'll be leaving us but I also understand. He too has dreams and plans. He helped me fulfill mine, I won't stand in the way of his.

"Tomorrow morning." Georges answers. "First I want to give your heart one more inspection and then I must say farewell. In the future perhaps we will meet again." He turns to Acacia.

"Miss Acacia I will leave with you a series of sketches and instructions on caring for Jack's heart He will need someone to repair it if he loses control of it again." Acacia nods a little frightened of such a hefty task.

"I want to thank you for everything Melies. Without you I don't know where I would be right now." I say smiling. I don't know if I'll see him again but I hope that I will. Dinner ends quietly as the bittersweet flavor of impending goodbyes settles on us. Acacia and I stay up after the inventor turns in for the night. He wishes to get a good sleep before the long journey ahead of him.

In the main room which is half parlor and half hospital we sit on two chairs and talk about what we are going to do next. "Tomorrow I will go into town and see about getting a job singing somewhere. I'm sure I can find it easy enough." She says smiling. There's nothing she loves more than singing and I certainly won't deny her that joy.

"I think that's a good idea." I say. "I also have plans to earn my keep." She looks at me intently wondering what I could possibly do. I don't really have a skill like she does, nor do I have any proper training in any occupation.

"I could probably find someone willing to teach me how to do certain things, but I think I want to write. I have so many emotions to write about. Perhaps I will get piblished." I tell her. Honestly it's not the greatest idea but I have no skills, I'm sort of weak (my clock heart isn't strong and I believe it stunted my growth just a bit), and I have an inheritance to fall back on.

She nods and smiles. "Sounds good and safe." She's still worrying about me. I wish there is a way to prove I am stronger than I look emotionally and physically, but she thinks of all the danger I could put myself in.

"If you are quite ready I think we should join Melies in getting some sleep." I don't add that I am still tired and recovering. She agrees without hesitation and we climb the stairs to our rooms. In the hall she kisses me goodnight before vanishing behind her door.