Dear Willow
by Les

Ms. Willow Rosenberg                         29 May 2001
c/o The Summers Residence
930 Ravello
Sunnydale, California

Dear Willow,

May I please distract your attention for just a few moments? My name is Les and although I'm a total stranger, I must write to you and offer my deepest sympathy and condolence to you and to Dawn and indeed all of the Scoobys for the terrible tragedy that overtook all of you and that claimed Buffy's life.

Like millions along with me, I watched everything that happened on TV; and even though I never had the pleasure and the honour of meeting Buffy, I feel as if I'm a relative although at a remove. I can say to you with complete honesty that the only time I was ever so heartbroken and so stricken and so helpless was the time when my own beloved father died.

I feel that it's not only essential that I write to you based upon my own feelings but also because I am one of the millions the world over who owe their lives to Buffy and what she did.  I feel that it would be the height of arrogance and unthankfulness if I did not tell you about the loss that I feel personally.

I wish and I hope that you can perhaps see your way clear to read this letter sometime, if not at present, when you care to learn about some of the people whom Buffy never knew whose lives she saved and are in her debt forever for doing that.

I thought and thought about how I might make your reading this letter something more than the offering of sympathy and gratitude that it is: that somehow I might be able to suggest something that might bring time and circumstande back to the way they were before Buffy died and yet not allow the beast --- I will not write her name --- to accomplish what she tried to.

If you don't mind my temerity, I would very much like to tell you about an unsolved enigma whose solution might in some way bring Buffy back.

Although I'm not Wiccan, I've long been fascinated by ancient civilizations and unsolved mysteries. One such mystery is a site located some 25 miles south of Miami, Florida where I live in the city of Homestead. The enigma is the man-made roofless tribute hewn from solid limestone called "Coral Castle."  The builder/creator, a Mr. Leedskaalnin, constructed it for his intended bride in the early years of the 20th Century. As fate would have it, the two were not to be wed; and he constructed his castle in the Florida Keys.  He was ordered to move it and he did so: overnight and by himself to its present location in Homestead.

The scientific community and many TV series, including "In Search Of..." have investigated it; and no one has ever determined how it was that the creator built it and/or how he moved it. The entrance gate itself weighs over 10 tons, yet it opens and closes with the touch of one's little finger. I know: I've done it.  There is a telescope pointing to the Pole Star, a well, a large dining table in the shape of the state of Florida and chairs, two large chairs and so on. 

To come to the point:  His writings are sold in the gift shop and I have a copy of them. He said he had long ago discovered the secrets of the pyramids as regards construction; and much of his writings have to do with the study of magnetism. 

I had the wild thought that since the creator obviously had the knowledge to construct his shrine, he therefore knew how to "cheat" gravity and/or spacial laws. 

I wondered: Could you make use of these writings in some way (inconceivable to me) such that you and Tara could "cheat" time? To be blunt: Could you be able to bring Buffy back by using or adapting what you read in the secret writings?

I can imagine this must sound incredible as well as presumptuous. It doesn't matter. What matters to me is that I bring this to your attention. 

If you wish, I will send the writings to you in care of the Summers Residence address, where I assume you will be. 

My e-mail address is Lehobe@aol.com

Please do not hesitate to contact me. I am more than happy to send them to you or to anyone else whom you direct me to, for that matter.

Just by way of further identifying myself, I should like to give you my birthdate and birthplace in the event you would care to do a mind scan or
whatever equivalent verification you may require as to my intentions, etc. I hereby consent to any means of verification you wish to employ.  So,just for the record:  29 June 1946, 4:03 A.M., Miami, Florida, U.S.A.

I have one request I should like to make, if I may. If it is possible, I
would dearly like to know the name of the resting place where Buffy is so
that I can come there and pay my respects.

I feel I've imposed long enough upon your time and your good offices. 

Take good care and please know that I think of you, Dawn and your friends constantly. You are all in my thoughts; and I wish, hope and pray that all of you can receive some sort of consolation...a balm that can cushion you...somehow, someway.

I would like to offer my services at any time, anywhere, in any capacity.

Yours in trust and truth,
Yours in respect and adoration,
Les Bernstein
Lehobe@aol.com

xxxxx    xxxxxx          xxxxxxx              xxxxxxx       xxxxxxxx       
xxxxxxx   

     
Subj: Dear Willow,
Date: 6 June 2001
From: Willow Rosenberg
To: Les Bernstein
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Dear Les,

I only now had a chance to read your letter. Please accept my apology for not responding to your letter earlier, but I have had very little time in which to answer the letters and cards of condolence that have been coming in.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your feelings about Buffy and for your obvious concern for those of us who value her friendship the most since we were lucky enough to have known her on a personal basis. 

I'm going to show Dawn and the Scoobys your letter, but I think now it's too soon, for many reasons that I hope you'll understand I can't divulge.  Knowing Buffy the way I did, I can tell you that your feelings are such that she would be pleased to have met you.

You sounded so heartbroken in your letter. I understand. I would hope that you will be able to trust me when I tell you that I am working feverishly on a plan to bring Buffy back, but that I can't say anything more about it. This is nothing at all against you or anyone else who might have any such suggestions. This is something that I'm devoting all my attention to. That, plus caring for Dawn (along with Tara ) and helping out the other Scoobies as regards patrolling.  As you probably know, I'm now the acting leader. I've devised a way to "call the signals", so to speak. 

I did take you up on your invitation to perform a "mind scan."  Tara also worked some of her ESP with which she's more than generously endowed; and we feel we can trust you.

Tara and I would like to read the writings of the creator of "Coral Castle." We've never been to South Florida (as of yet) and the Egyptian connection is one that we would like to investigate further. You may have hit upon something.

We do know people who have visited there and they told us that there's a website on line for same:  www.coralcastle.com

We'll certainly investigate. Thank you very much! 

Having said that, I'm afraid I'd rather keep the location of Buffy's resting place a secret. It's best that the fewer the number of people who know the
location, the more difficult it would be for the vamps and demons to exploit the opportunity that you wrote about: namely, paying respects. 

I accept the spirit in which your offer is given. I would like to tell you that when Tara and I visit the gravesite, we will mention your name and leave a stone there, as is customary in some religions.

Thank you again for your concern and for your letter. I hope I give you some small consolation and heartwarmth by saying that your feelings mean very much to me.

Be certain of one thing: I will do anything and everything in my power to bring about what we all wish for. I made a solemn promise to do this to Dawn, Tara as well as to Xander and Anya. 

I am very well aware of the probable dangers involved. I owe Buffy nothing less than total commitment and complete dedication. I promise you, Les, as I do to the many whose names I don't know, that I will bring Buffy back to life or die in the attempt.

I think I've gone deeper into my own feelings than I have before.  You've helped me come face to face with my feelings in a way I hadn't before. Seeing my feelings turn into words is something I hadn't thought about. I've not written them down before...only lived and breathed them. So writing to you has been a palliative in a very real way.

I must conclude now. Thank you again, kind soul.  Take Care.

Blessed Be.
Willow

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