The Journal of T. Davies -
Thaddeus Davies - January 3, 2019
January 2nd, 1889
One would think that with time, the pain would lessen. It is true that I no longer feel like I teeter on the edge of the
abyss, one second from
blundering my way into the
cavernous pit of
despair.
Endless days have been my constant companions, and I
find that in this respect, not much has changed.
Something is missing, a space previously inhabited by the
gentlest (perhaps not outwardly, but certainly inside!) person I have ever known. Suffice it to say that I had not know the
heart so capable of emotional depths, but I find it hard to fit anything into her place.
Intelligent though I may be, I have not yet found a
judicious substitute: it is abundantly clear that
killing myself with the most
laborious,
meticulous tasks I can find at the museum is not working.
Nevertheless, I find it idea of allowing myself to cut back on my work particularly
odious -- especially when it seems that I have found a sense of
purpose once again.
I suppose I have secluded myself away for too long, working
quietly on this project. My days and hours are filled entirely, as is my study with
racks full of papers and
stacks of books. I feel like I have
thousands of scribbled notes, far too many scraps to organize in any way that would make sense to another person. I certainly feel that this project has consumed me, which may perhaps be the largest
understatement of all.
And yet, despite the sleeplessness, I have to
wonder if Josephine would find any cause to disapprove of this. She was no
Xanthippe, and never disparaged my work or harassed me in any way about it.
Young though she was, I think she knew how important my work was. It was my reason for existing, and she never thought me the
zany individual that even my own family said I was.
Perhaps the crux of the matter if that I worry that I will never find another soul as kind, gentle, and understanding as she. And yet, I know that eventually my mother will begin to harrass me to remarry; Merlin can only hope that this will not be any time this year, for I cannot endure that.