1889 July 26 - London, UK

Artistic creation

The concluding hours of my London sojourn have arrived, and with them, a bittersweet departure from Arthur Conan Doyle's inspiring presence. Our final meeting was laden with a subtle gravity, as we exchanged thoughts on the lasting impact of storytelling and its ability to transcend the boundaries of time and culture.

In the quietude of the early dawn, before the city stirred awake, I found myself in the serene solitude of Hyde Park. There, amidst the whispering trees and the gentle lapping of the Serpentine, I indulged in a moment of reflection.

Observing the few early risers – joggers, nannies with prams, the old man feeding pigeons – I pondered the intricate dance of human lives, each with its own narrative, as complex and nuanced as any of Doyle's fictions.

This introspection was abruptly interrupted by a heated exchange between two gentlemen – a debate that encapsulated the socio-political undercurrents of the times. Their discourse on the responsibility of those in power resonated with my own eternal deliberations on the role of deities in the mortal world.

As I prepare to leave London, I carry with me the echoes of these human experiences and the profound conversations with Doyle. His belief in the power of stories to reveal truths and his dedication to his craft have left an indelible mark upon my soul. I leave behind a city teeming with life and stories, its spirit indomitable, its will unbroken by the shadows that lurk within.