Tess hoped she didn’t stick out any more than she felt in her dark jeans and white silk blouse.Īs she walked into the open front door she was immediately struck by the uniformity of expressions on the collage of faces. There were even a few people wearing t-shirts with beautiful seascapes with BenScapes printed under the image. Most everyone seemed to be in t-shirts from rock concerts, running races or triathlons. Young children played on the swings hanging from the two large trees in the front yard and groups of people sat around small tables on the front porch. Carrying her black leather case she was drawn to the Memorial by the sounds of Led Zeppelin that kept rising in volume as she approached the big, beautiful two story home reminiscent of Kevin Kline’s Big Chill house. Tess drove by the address to find cars everywhere forcing her to park three blocks away. It’s a celebration of his amazing life and all the good he’s done for so many. Do you know about the Memorial? It’s this afternoon at his home. Now I’m too late to share so much with the man who shared so much of his life with me.” I owe him so much and was here to thank him, finally, in person. You were so very special to Professor Brewster.”Ī sobbing Tess softly responded, “He was beyond special and helped shape my life. He told me he had to stay alive until August 9 th, and he did. He was with us in ICU for several weeks and fought courageously until the very end.

I could barely continue to write when tears started streaming down my face. He made me promise I wouldn’t talk to anyone about the letter.

It was the most romantic and also the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. He had to dictate part of your letter to me after he lost the use of his hands. As you obviously know, he was a very special man. I see your name, Tess Davis, was on the list of approved visitors for Professor Brewster. Nurse Salter told her Daniel had passed away five days earlier on the evening of August 9 th. Tess pulled the handkerchief out of her pocket. In less than a minute the door opened and a nurse walked out carrying a file. “Tess or Theresa Walker, I mean Davis, I mean Tess Davis Walker.” “Good morning, I’m here to visit Daniel Brewster.”

After reading the instructions Tess pressed the intercom button. As the sliding door opened to the Intensive Care Unit Tess was welcomed by an intercom on the wall adjacent to the clouded glass doors. Searching the wall directory she found the ICU floor and proceeded to the elevators. After she wiped the beads of perspiration from her forehead, she twirled her shoulder length platinum blonde hair into a little bun, picked up her black case and walked through the front door.

August 9th by Stu Schreiber