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Letters

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

By
Adrielle

Adrielle writes from a prison in QLD.

Hello, About Time,

My name is Adrielle, but everyone calls me Bubbles, which I am – the original Aboriginal, the one and only.

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

I can’t believe it. It’s nasty out there. I don’t know why someone would take you away from your one and only son. You had the biggest smile with all your beautiful teeth, and, when you were going through your ups and downs, you still had that beautiful smile on your loving face.

I’ve got to say, no one has had it harder than you, my sista.

For someone who had no one to be by her side, and for a strong Black woman who lived on the streets, you would always help anyone and everyone out.

You would even give them your T-shirt off your back.

RIP Alithea. It’s not going to be the same, my sista.

Love from your baby sista,

Adrielle

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

A dearest friend and sister, rest in peace.

I think about you every day and every evening, and, when we all go to sleep in the dreamtime, your spirit travels in the summer breeze or will be right there in the autumn leaves.

You’re in the stars up above, watching over – forever our dove.

You chose to go and spread your wings and spread your love; you always were enough.

We will miss you beyond words. See you in the dreamtime, our rainbow serp.

We will hear you when all the birds chirp.

You’re our eagle in the skies, dancing forever.

We will miss those beautiful brown eyes, and your perfect smile will never be forgotten – a smile so soft like cotton.

Now rest easy as your soul and spirit travel country roads, red dirt and gravel, sunsets and ocean waves, and all those paths you’ve paved.

You helped others; their broken souls you saved.

Now we’ll let you sleep. Your memories are what we all will forever keep.

A moment of silence as we all weep, forever in God’s hands.

Rest in peace.

Hello, About Time,

My name is Adrielle, but everyone calls me Bubbles, which I am – the original Aboriginal, the one and only.

I am writing to you about my one and only older sister, Alithea. RIP. It’s been 2 months since I lost you.

I can’t believe it. It’s nasty out there. I don’t know why someone would take you away from your one and only son. You had the biggest smile with all your beautiful teeth, and, when you were going through your ups and downs, you still had that beautiful smile on your loving face.

I’ve got to say, no one has had it harder than you, my sista.

For someone who had no one to be by her side, and for a strong Black woman who lived on the streets, you would always help anyone and everyone out.

You would even give them your T-shirt off your back.

RIP Alithea. It’s not going to be the same, my sista.

Love from your baby sista,

Adrielle

Rest in Paradise, Alithea

A dearest friend and sister, rest in peace.

I think about you every day and every evening, and, when we all go to sleep in the dreamtime, your spirit travels in the summer breeze or will be right there in the autumn leaves.

You’re in the stars up above, watching over – forever our dove.

You chose to go and spread your wings and spread your love; you always were enough.

We will miss you beyond words. See you in the dreamtime, our rainbow serp.

We will hear you when all the birds chirp.

You’re our eagle in the skies, dancing forever.

We will miss those beautiful brown eyes, and your perfect smile will never be forgotten – a smile so soft like cotton.

Now rest easy as your soul and spirit travel country roads, red dirt and gravel, sunsets and ocean waves, and all those paths you’ve paved.

You helped others; their broken souls you saved.

Now we’ll let you sleep. Your memories are what we all will forever keep.

A moment of silence as we all weep, forever in God’s hands.

Rest in peace.

This
letter
was originally printed in the
December 2025
edition of About Time.

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