Virginia Henslowe's 2nd Letter to Joyce

23 Old Hope Road
Savannah, Georgia

Dear Joyce,

Thank you so much for taking my Douglas with you. Things are bad here, 
very, very bad, and I cannot tell you what a comfort it is to my soul to 
know that my boy is safe with you.

Dr. Teake died last week, poor man. He was hit by the lightning. They've 
closed Joy Grove, of course. Carruthers told me that most of the patients 
went home to relatives, which must be a comfort before the end.

For it is the end, Joyce. We both know that, don't we? I've gone back home 
for the end, and be honest, Joyce -- I really didn't belong in Richmond, did I? 
I'd like to die in my own bed. Carruthers is gone, too. I'm not sure how, but I 
pray for him. And, Joyce, it's all right. I don't mind dying alone, for I'll be 
going to a better place afterwards, and I know my boy is safe.

Don't bring him back here. It will just break his heart, seeing me, seeing what 
the old place is like now. And, please, Joyce, please, for the love of the All Mighty, 
do NOT bring my boy back to Johns Hopkins.

It isn't about the doctors, I promise you that. Joyce, they are very good men, or 
they were, and I bless them for that, and I pray for their souls. But, Joyce, 
Johns Hopkins is the worst place to be right now. It's in Baltimore, you see, and 
Baltimore is where that light comes from.

It's a blue light, as bright as day, but not like proper daylight. It's like it 
comes from everywhere and also from nowhere. I'm sorry, Joyce, I'm not making much 
sense to you, am I? It's hard to explain. But, the light isn't right, and the shadows 
are all wrong, and it's not a good place. The lightning storms are worse there than 
anywhere I've seen. Worse than Savannah or Richmond. It's no place for my son to be, 
no place at all. And the ash is worse there, too.

I will pray for them while I have breath in my body, and for you and Miss Avery and 
Mr. de Genarra. But, please, do not bring my son here. Keep him safe until the Lord 
sends his angels to bring you all to His bosom.

Very truly grateful to all of you for all that you have done for my son,
Virginia Henslowe