Vision Of Darkness

1: The day

"Es gibt nichts für das es wert ist zu leben. Oder ist es Liebe die uns am Leben hält?"
( There is nothing worth living for. Or is it love that keeps us alive?)

Simoun Pérez sat alone in his dimly lit study, staring blankly at the empty page in front of him. The loss of his wife had left him feeling hollow and empty. His pen, once a constant companion, had been silent for days. He was about to get up when he heard a light knock on the door. He looked up to see his brother-in-law, Julio, standing there with a solemn expression on his face.

"Hey, Julio," Simoun said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What brings you here?"

"I came to check on you, Simoun," Julio replied, concern etched on his face. "How are you holding up?"

Simoun sighed heavily. "To be honest, I don't know. I feel lost and alone."

Julio placed a hand on his shoulder, offering a small smile. "I know it's hard, Simoun. But you're not alone. We're all here for you." Julio cleared his throat and held out a small envelope. "I have something that I think belongs to you."

Simoun took the envelope, studying it for a moment before opening it. He recognized his wife's handwriting on the front, and his hands began to shake as he opened it. Inside, he found a letter, written in his wife's delicate handwriting. The letter reads:

"Hello, Simoun

I am no longer with you as you read this letter, Simoun. Please consider this as my final wish. My love for you will endure despite my physical form deteriorating. The island we saw in that painting at the auction last year, The Isle of the Dead, holds a significant place in my heart. Before my death, I had a profound experience on that island that I can't put into words. I believe it may provide you with the comfort you need.

I urge you to visit the island, to explore its mysteries and secrets, and to find the peace that eluded me in life. My time there was transformative, and I want you to experience the same. As my partner, my friend, and my rock, I'm grateful for every moment we spent together. I'll always love you, and I'll be thinking of you wherever I am. But be warned, my love. The island holds many secrets, and not all are meant to be discovered. You may find yourself confronting your deepest fears and desires. But I have faith in you, that you'll emerge from this experience stronger and wiser.

Please go to The Isle itself, for me. And for yourself.

All of my love,

Abigail"

Simoun's heart raced as he held the letter in his hands, reading it once again. The weight of Abigail's final wish was heavy on his mind, but he felt a glimmer of hope in his heart. He looked up to see Julio standing by his side, watching him with a sad expression.

"She wanted you to have this, Simoun," Julio said softly. "She believed that you would be the one to find that island, to fulfill her dream."

Simoun looked at Julio, his eyes filled with tears. "She loved that painting so much," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I never understood why, but now I do."

Julio nodded, his hand still resting on Simoun's shoulder. "Abigail was a mystery, but a beautiful one," he said. "She saw things that we couldn't, and she felt things deeply. That painting, that island... it changed her."

Simoun listened, his heart heavy as he tried to make sense of it all. "Do you think... do you think she knew she was going to die?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Julio hesitated before answering. "I don't know, Simoun. But I think she wanted to leave you with something that would bring you comfort, something that would remind you of her love."