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Lewdist

What was left behind

Lewdist
Feb 20th, 2014
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  1. 12/8/93
  2. I'm so nervous! Tomorrow is the big day. The DeWitt family has charged me with the care of Booker DeWitt, the nephew of Edmond DeWitt. Apparently some great tragedy struck the man, rendering him unable to speak and largely unable to care for himself. To this end they have purchased a small property in the country where I am to live with Mr. DeWitt for the foreseeable future. My duties are to include bathing, dressing, brushing of teeth and shaving when necessary. I'm also to provide him with meals three times a day and attend to any urgent medical needs that may arise.
  3.  
  4. Truthfully I wonder if I can handle this responsibility. But the money being offered is quite attractive indeed and the location of the property should prove no great inconvenience if I wish to go into town to meet with friends or purchase food for Mr. DeWitt.
  5.  
  6. Oh well, no use worrying.
  7. -Lydia
  8. -----
  9.  
  10. 12/9/93
  11. Today I met Mr. DeWitt for the first time. Truthfully he's more handsome than I had imagined. Save for his eyes. They contain such sadness and horror in them. I cannot begin to imagine what happened to that poor soul.
  12.  
  13. Our first day together passed without any major embarassment on my part.
  14. -Lydia
  15. -----
  16.  
  17. 12/10/93
  18. DeWitt has continued to prove quite agreeable. Most of his time is devoted to watching the nearby orchard from our porch. Although today he did take to rambling through the woods. I escorted him, of course. But at a distance.
  19.  
  20. I made an uncommonly good steak dinner tonight, if I do say so myself. Mr. DeWitt seemed to approve.
  21. -Lydia
  22. -----
  23.  
  24. 12/15/93
  25. My friend Charlotte paid me a surprise visit. I appreciated having some more talkative company over. As it turns out her parents live not too far away from us. I'll have to introduce myself.
  26. -Lydia
  27. -----
  28.  
  29. 12/19/93
  30. Today I ventured into town for some supplies. I returned home without incident and made Mr. DeWitt a special dinner. I'd like to think he appreciated it.
  31. -Lydia
  32. -----
  33.  
  34. 12/25/93
  35. Merry Christmas! I received a call from my mother today. Her and father are doing quite well. She said she had sent a gift by mail, but it must be late as I didn't receive any packages this morning. Oh well, something to look forward to.
  36.  
  37. I bought Mr. DeWitt a gift earlier in the week while I was out buying food, a whittling kit. He needs a hobby, a real one. It won't do it have him simply stare off into nothing all day.
  38.  
  39. In truth it breaks my heart to see him so cheerless in the face of such a happy time. I decorated the house as best I could, but I suspect he didn't even notice.
  40. -Lydia
  41. -----
  42.  
  43. 12/28/93
  44. Charlotte came calling again. She brought lunch and we chatted about some local gossip for a time. Charlotte also wants to introduce me to a young man she's met in college. Although I am curious why Charlotte wouldn't pursue the man herself. She could certainly use the attention. Truth be told I've never seen her go on a date or be seriously involved with any man for as long as I've known her.
  45.  
  46. I should end this before I turn this whole journal into a gossip column!
  47. -Lydia
  48. -----
  49.  
  50. 1/1/94
  51. I had the most peculiar dream last night! I dreamt that I jumped off a large cliff. But when I hit the bottom I suddenly found myself standing on the edge again. I repeated this action several times before I was stirred awake by my alarm clock. I wonder what that could mean? Perhaps I'll ask Sadie. She was always interested in palm reading and that sort of thing.
  52. -Lydia
  53. -----
  54.  
  55. 1/2/94
  56. I've resolved to start playing music in the hope that it will in some way help Mr. DeWitt. Perhaps in some way I can stir some emotion inside of him? A silly thought, to be sure. But to that end I had my father move my old piano into our home. It's been years since I've played, but I have plenty of time to practice.
  57.  
  58. Mr. Dalton called today. We've set up a lunch the day after tomorrow. In the morning I'll have to ask Charlotte's parents if they can keep an eye on Mr. DeWitt for the day. Hopefully they don't mind the bother.
  59. -Lydia
  60. -----
  61.  
  62. 1/4/94
  63. I had lunch with Mr. Dalton today. We get along quite well. He's handsome, charming, and quite well off financially. But I can't be expected to just abandon my duties. Nor can I just use Charlotte's parents to do my job for me.
  64.  
  65. I hope that in the morning I can think on the matter with a clear head.
  66. -Lydia
  67. -----
  68.  
  69. 1/6/94
  70. I must confess that Mr. DeWitt was being especially difficult today. He refused to eat the meal that I had spent over two hours preparing for him. To make matters worse, he refused to go to bed at a reasonable hour and kept me up far longer than I would have liked. I may have...been harsh towards him. But I have my limits!
  71. -Lydia
  72. -----
  73.  
  74. 1/7/94
  75. Mr. DeWitt continues to be a menace. I wonder if he's...jealous of Mr. Dalton? How could he be?
  76.  
  77. In any case I this bottle of wine has proven a steadfast companion these past two nights.
  78. ----
  79.  
  80. 1/15/94
  81. Edmond DeWitt came to visit today to check in on his nephew. He seems satisfied with the condition he's in and with my work. That is a relief to me. Truthfully I've grown quite accustomed to our arrangement.
  82.  
  83. I must confess to being angered by the way he treats Mr. DeWitt. As if he's more of a burden than a member of his family. I suppose that's no great surprise, but it still chafes me to see him treat Mr. DeWitt like a child.
  84. -Lydia
  85. -----
  86.  
  87. 1/17/94
  88. Curse my forgetfulness. While in town shopping for Mr. DeWitt I ran into Sadie and completely forgot to mention my dream!
  89. -Lydia
  90. -----
  91.  
  92. 1/26/94
  93. I simply must remember to write more often!
  94. -Lydia
  95. -----
  96.  
  97. 2/5/94
  98. Against my better judgement I had lunch with Mr. Dalton again. Unfortunately our lunch went longer than I had anticipated and when I returned home I discovered that Mr. DeWitt had one of his spells and dirtied himself in the process. His gaze as I bathed him was worse than any any verbal dressing down. I have betrayed his trust. I cannot bear that thought.
  99. -Lydia
  100. -----
  101.  
  102. 2/7/84
  103. I shall no longer be seeing Mr. Dalton.
  104. -----
  105.  
  106. 2/12/84
  107. I'm afraid that I've come down with a fever. I can scarcely take care of myself, let alone Mr. DeWitt.
  108.  
  109. That's all for tonight.
  110. -Lydia
  111. -----
  112.  
  113. 2/13/84
  114. Cassandra came to visit, and this time she brought Nora and Melanie. The girls were kind enough to look after me and Mr. DeWitt. I believe Cassandra has finally taken a liking to Mr. DeWitt.
  115.  
  116. I'm far too tired to write much else.
  117. -Lydia
  118. -----
  119.  
  120. 2/14/84
  121. Rest has done me well. I'm in good spirits and my fever has disappeared.
  122.  
  123. I found a small carving by my door this morning. A bird in flight, simple but beautiful. Truthfully I nearly tripped over it. Mr. DeWitt must have done it while I was under the weather, for I don't remember him making anything like this. It was a sweet gesture and I shall find some way to repay him for his efforts. Perhaps tomorrow I'll prepare him a special dinner.
  124. -Lydia
  125. -----
  126.  
  127. 2/25/84
  128. I took a walk with Mr. DeWitt today. Together this time, and not simply as some observer from afar. Truthfully I rarely venture out into the woods, but they are quite beautiful. Perhaps I'll continue to join Mr. DeWitt on his walks.
  129. -Lydia
  130. -----
  131.  
  132. 3/1/84
  133. I must make a confession. I'm afraid I've started to grow quite fond of Booker and I worry how it will affect my work. He says nothing, and does little more than stare out the window when he's not whittling. Yet I feel a strange attraction to the man and I fear one day I may do something foolish.
  134. -----
  135.  
  136. 3/5/84
  137. The Autumn leaves are quite beautiful. I must make mother some pressings while the weather still permits it.
  138. -Lydia
  139. -----
  140.  
  141. 3/17/84
  142. Something fantastic happened today! While I was playing the piano for Booker I could have sworn that Booker smiled. It was for the briefest of moments, but it was surely there! Edmond seems resigned to the notion that he shall remain like this forever, but I take this as a sign that he is wrong. I hold out hope for Booker. Even if it's a foolish hope, I know that for that one instant he was whole again.
  143. -Lydia
  144.  
  145. -----------------
  146.  
  147.  
  148. Dear sister,
  149.  
  150. Enclosed are my transliterations of mother's journal, which I mentioned in the previous letter. I'm afraid her actual handwriting was nearly illegible so it was with great effort that I was able to decipher what I did. I hope that it gives you the same solace that it gave me in this trying time.
  151.  
  152. Best wishes, Rebecca DeWitt
  153.  
  154. -------------
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