From Dr. Watson's Journey

This is something I have been meaning to post for a few days now. It came to me via  my Facebook friend, David Ruffle. The following is allegedly an exact quote from Dr Watson's Journal.

"FROM THE JOURNALS OF DOCTOR JOHN H. WATSON"

December 26th 1932
An anachronism, that's how I thought of myself yesterday whilst driving down to pay my annual visit to my old friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. An anachronism in a modern world, hardly flattering I know, but something I always feel quite keenly when visiting Holmes. We both belonged to another age, an age of gaslights and Hansom cabs rattling through a London fog.

The light had gone from my life when Holmes decided to retire permanently to Sussex and I was more aware than ever that at eighty years of age, I was marking time. Marking time down to the inevitable, the one mystery that even Holmes declared he could not solve.

Christmas had a special significance for me in relation to Holmes and with no other distractions to hold me, I made my annual pilgrimage to see Holmes on Christmas day itself. It may be that pilgrimage is the wrong word, but, no, it seems just right to me on reflection. My respect and brotherly love for Holmes did indeed border on veneration.

Driving for me these days is a somewhat onerous task. The pace of modern life on our roads leaves me both breathless and confused and I have resolved to make yesterday's visit the last one, the final visit to my old friend.

As always on these occasions, I thought back to the adventures Holmes and I had shared and for the whole of the journey from my own house to Holmes's, I was young again, revitalised with the years falling away from me.
The snow was beginning to fall as I arrived on that familiar scene. I opened up the weather-beaten old gate and walked over to my friend. I had brought a small Christmas offering of seasonal flowers and these I placed beneath the headstone. I looked down with pride as I read the words.....

S.Holmes
Born January 6th 1854
Died December 25th 1927
' Fearless'
' A loyal and good friend'

I tried to put into words that I could visit no more, but speech would not come. Yet, I had made certain arrangements to ensure that my resting place would be my friend's side as it always was. Now, together for all eternity.
As I turned to go, my voice came back to me, " Soon, my friend..soon."

Editor's note:

This was the last entry in Dr. Watson's Journal. His housekeeper found his lifeless body the following morning. It was reported that he was lying peacefully on his side, a smile on his face and an arm outstretched as though in the act of greeting or being greeted.