The Painting of Life and Death
Greetings and Announcements!!
Hello everyone! I’m back with another blog post! I was going to write an article, but this time I wanted to try something that I never tried before. I tried writing a story! I released the teaser picture and teaser quote on my Instagram (@dailyist_blog) four weeks ago and I wanted to release the full work now. Before we get started, I wanted to thank you so much for all your support for my blog! I really appreciate all of you reading my work and watching my videos! I hope you will enjoy this story as well!
STORY!
The Painting of Life and Death
by Lars Jimin Han
Iris had always loved visiting her grandfather's big old house out in the countryside. The creaky wooden floors, the smell of old books, and the sound of the wind rustling through the trees all made her feel at peace. But on her last visit, something strange happened that left her feeling unsettled.
It was a warm summer day, and Iris was exploring the dusty attic when she came across a brown painting of a flower. She had always admired the painting, but she always wondered why half of the flower was gone as if it had been erased or cut away.
Confused and a little scared, Iris ran down the stairs to show her grandfather. But when she got to the living room, she found him sitting in his favorite armchair, staring off into space. He didn't seem to notice her at all.
Over the next few days, strange things continued to happen in the house. The clock in the hallway would stop ticking for hours on end, and sometimes Iris would think about death which she didn’t want to think about.
One night, unable to sleep, Iris crept down to the living room and found her grandfather sitting in front of the brown flower painting. He was muttering to himself and tracing his fingers over the missing half of the flower. He noticed Iris and motioned for her to sit next to him. He kept looking at the painting even when Iris sat down.
Finally, he turned to Iris and said, "I painted this with your grandmother. You see the willow tree, the one we used to do picnics under? Your grandmother and I painted this after we went flower picking. This painting is a window, my dear. A window between life and death. The missing half of the flower represents the other side, the world beyond our own. I think everything is so beautiful. Even death is beautiful."
Iris was frightened but also confused, “How could death be possibly beautiful?” The grandfather responded, “Well, sometimes it can be a bit scary. It’s what I thought at first too, I had my doubts after your grandmother passed. I mourned for years, but suddenly I realized, everything happens for a reason. And if there was a reason that your grandmother was taken to heaven for the greater good, then I should accept it and move on. Sure, I miss her dearly, but I think moving on is what makes death so beautiful.”
Iris realized that life and death were not as separate as she had once believed. They were connected, just like the two halves of the brown flower painting. And she knew that as long as she remembered her grandfather's words, she would never be truly alone.
ENDNOTES
Congrats! You finished the story! Please email me any feedback (larsjiminhan34@gmail.com) if you have any. You may also send me questions, blog ideas, new segments, etc if you want to see them here! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Lars
