Chapter Twelfth (The Death of James)

Isla approached her father's bed, wanting to check on him. She felt his body and found it as cold as ice, as if death had come to seek his permission to take him to the other world. She heard him whisper in a faint, broken voice, asking her to go live with her mother's family in America and to hand over the file to Daniel. She couldn't hold back; tears began to flow down her cheeks uncontrollably, despite her attempts to remain strong—without success. The poor girl never imagined that the day would come when her father would say goodbye, leaving her alone in this life.

Life has never been secure; how many times has it torn families apart, orphaned children, and left them strangers in a world that knows no mercy? While Isla thought about her situation and waited for Daniel to arrive and offer her some hope—the only hope left so that her father wouldn't leave her—the death hungered for his soul, eager to tear it from his body and lift it to the heavens. Not long after, Isla heard her father's last breath and the departure of his spirit, bidding farewell to that world full of dreams, ambitions, and disappointments. Surely, he was at peace now, freed from the heavy burden he had carried, lightened, soaring to a realm of purity and serenity.

Isla continued crying out loud, her sobs echoing in the room, with Rocky by her side, groaning in his own way. He had never imagined life could be so hard, that it could bring about such sorrow. Exhausted, she eventually fell asleep, only to be awakened by a voice behind her. It was Daniel, accompanied by two others. Before she knew it, she had thrown herself into his arms, weeping with a depth of sorrow that stirred compassion in anyone who saw her. Even Daniel could not hold back his tears; he cried with her but managed to steady himself, gathering his strength to comfort her. He reassured her that he would take care of her, that he would stand by her as long as he lived.

He told her to rest in her bed while he would take care of everything, carrying out her father's will—who was no ordinary man, but a person of great respect and importance in their country, whose final wishes held weight and value.