Seven Days to Goodbye (Irene and Stellan) novel Chapter 9

After a long time, I finally walked away in the opposite direction with stiff steps.

I returned alone to the hotel where Stellan and I had once stayed.

For the next few days, I stayed in my hotel room.

I painted a picture based on the photograph taken by Eklutna Lake.

In the painting, Stellan and I were still holding each other tightly, but there was now a pair of wings on my back.

It was, in a way, making up for the embrace we had missed before.

I framed the painting and wedged a voice recorder into the gap behind

the frame.

There was only a short recording of my voice on the recorder.

“Stellan, I have always been a contradictory person. I wish you would never go to Alaska again, yet I also fantasize that one day you might return to this place…”

“If one day you hear this recording, I hope by then you are already living a happy new life.”

“As for me, I will probably have become a tree on the plateau. By then, I will surely have forgotten you completely.”

0.00%

10:55

Chapter 9

At the end, I let out a soft laugh: “See, this has become… a joyful funeral.”

1288 Vouchers

The next day, I took the painting to a private art gallery in downtown Anchorage and found Raphael.

“Raphael, I want to hang this painting in your gallery. I can pay you.”

I thought, if one day Stellan really returned and remembered this gallery, this painting would serve as my last gift to him.

When Raphael learned of my intention, he agreed without a word.

He refused to take my money and hung the painting in a prominent spot on the first floor.

He said, “Before this painting becomes a gift for your husband, it is my gift.‘

My heart was warmed, and I had a cup of tea with him before saying a proper goodbye.

I took the portrait Raphael had painted for me and went alone to the nearby St. Michael’s Cathedral.

In the last days of my life, I stayed in this chapel.

I applied for a spot in the columbarium and left my portrait in the great hall where the deceased were honored.

For decades after my death, my urn would listen to chanting on my behalf and receive prayers for my next life.

Having done all this, I could finally go peacefully to meet my last

16.14%

10:55

Chapter 9

journey.

***

288 Vouchers

Half a month later.

Stellan arrived at St. Michael’s Cathedral with Valentina.

This time, they came to arrange a funeral ceremony for Valentina’s mother, who was also Irene’s aunt, Sophie Hawley.

Last time, when Sophie was suddenly hospitalized late at night due to a critical illness, Valentina called him.

He comforted her while helping to contact specialists.

Because of the strained relationship between Irene and Sophie’s family, he had not figured out how to tell Irene about Sophie’s illness.

Unexpectedly, Irene overheard, misunderstood, and refused to listen to his explanation.

Even after so many days, she had not sent him a single message…

This time, Valentina asked Stellan to take her to Alaska because Sophie wished to have her funeral arranged at a chapel in Alaska after

her death.

Although he worried that Irene would be angry, he also wanted to explain everything to her in person and then take her back to New

York…

Soon, he made an appointment with the director of the chapel for Sophie’s funeral arrangements.

34.93%

10:55

Chapter 9

beating.

288 Vouchers

At that moment, Valentina stepped forward and spoke calmly.

“Stellan, the girl in this portrait looks a lot like Rene, but I am certain this is not Rene!”

“Besides, isn’t Rene out traveling? How could there be an urn here with her name on it?”

Only then did Stellan breathe a sigh of relief, realizing he had been overthinking.

He stopped dwelling on it and walked with Valentina toward the platform where bodies were placed for the local funeral ceremony.

When they reached the platform, Stellan entered the railing.

While a local resident enthusiastically explained, he fixed his gaze on the body in the center of the platform, wrapped in a bag and tied with

ropes.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify