Another lonely walk. Another endless day.

Nothing ever changes, or he doesn't notice as he no longer cares.

Joseph keeps coming back to that little church where his life was changed forever, where he married the love of his life. However, the church is no longer the same. It lacks the color and luster it once had. Or maybe it is him seeing the world in grays and blacks ever since she died.

Even the water shimmering quietly in the sun gives him no joy like it used to because he fails to appreciate it as he stands there, all alone. Completely lost.

Even the small island the church is on is, for some reason, unreachable to him. All he can do is look from afar and wish he could go there. He wishes he could sail across the lake and into the past, into the time when the world still had color and when she was the light of his life.

It would be nice to bathe in the joy and happiness he felt back then instead of drowning in misery and sadness which is all that is left to him in the here and now. Only his memories remind him that life was once worth living, as he can no longer feel that in his heart that belonged to her since the day they met and that she took away with her in her death.

Walking along the shore, Joseph feels the same crushing loneliness that has been his constant companion, since he was left all alone in the world that is anything but kind to those broken by sorrow. Even though he tried to live a good life like Joellen would have wanted him to, he couldn't do it. He just felt empty. Every conversation, every smile, every laugh—it all felt hollow and meaningless.

How could he be happy when she was gone? How could he laugh when she would never laugh again? Nothing mattered anymore.

Still, he tries. He is determined to keep on trying till his last breath because he promised his wife, who is his heart and soul, that he would go on and gather as many experiences as he could and share them with her once they met again in the afterlife. And one thing he has always been and will always be is a man of his word. He will keep his word no matter what. He will suffer the burden of living to be able to share its joys with his wife once they meet again in a far better place.

With one last glance and one last sigh, he leaves the church behind and tries to find at least some dim light to keep him going until the time comes. He needs something to keep him going, to stop him from breaking the most sacred promises of them all, those given to a loved one.

Until he is finally allowed to hold her in his arms again.

Until he joins his beloved in the afterlife.

Until he is finally allowed to die.

Until they are together again.

In death as they were in life.

In love forever.