We finally landed on the island after gazing at the ocean for what seemed like ages.

There was a small town at sight, a bunch of cabins jammed together.

All looked the same, like they were each other’s reflections in the mirror.

A man in a gray uniform and a baseball hat walked towards us and clapped to get our attention even though no one was talking.

“Please get your things and choose a cabin to your liking, the staff will show you to your rooms”

No one said anything and no one asked a question, better say no one dared to ask anything.

I felt a sting in my head and touched my temple before I took my stuff and walked in.

The first day of our stay was very calm. They moved each of us to separate rooms. We ate dinner in the dining hall that had tables so large, they could hold 30 people.

The rooms were around the cabins’ second floor with hallways that you could see downstairs from.

The moment I sat on the bed I looked at my wedding ring and was thinking whether I should take it out before sleeping, but I fell asleep without even changing my clothes.

The second day when we woke up for breakfast a group of us were told to wipe the floor but none of them protested or thought it was unfair that we ate bacon and eggs beside them while they worked.

I found myself fiddling with my wedding ring nervously. I couldn’t understand why I’m here and I couldn’t remember getting on a boat. I also didn’t dare to ask anyone questions related to the matter.

After breakfast two young girls in their 20s approached me trying to make conversation about the beautiful scenery.

“I really like the vibes here” said the brunette one with round glasses

She looked like the type of person who solves math for fun.

“the way we arrived here reminds me of the river Styx”

They both looked at me with confused looks and I realized they’ve never heard that name which made me chuckle a bit

“I’m sorry, I have this habit of thinking everyone knows about Greek mythology like its general information.” I cleared my throat and tried to put a smile on my face “so actually-” I fell silent before I could finish my sentence and I realized I really can’t remember a thing about how I got here.

I know I’m a literature professor and I know I’m married, with three small poodles my husband and I own.

Thinking about my husband made me reach for my wedding ring again.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s alright” the other girl with short curly hair gave me a reassuring smile.

“We were actually going to Italy for summer and I think there has been a mistake but the staff keeps saying nonsense like, “Sorry we’ll look into that” and then nothing.”

They looked sad and confused, but everyone here had that same face and I somehow couldn’t figure it out.

Suddenly I had such a huge headache that I couldn’t open my eyes very well anymore, so I excused myself and went back to my room.

Before I sat down I took out my ring and put it on the bed stand.

The third day I saw some people from other cabins running towards the boats with one thing in their hand with a panic attitude.

And as more people came to witness the scene the staff came to separate us and led us to the dining hall.

That man who spoke to us on the first day with the same baseball hat came forward and clapped to get our attention, everyone immediately went quiet and waited for him to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have to inform you that your stay here will end soon and we’ll divide you into groups before we send you away. There’s one thing I have to tell you before you ask any questions: Please be careful while you pack your stuff, you’ll know what I mean later.”

The crowd went silent. The same girl with curly hair last day raised her hand “where are you taking us?” she asked with a tremble in her voice and I saw that her friend held her hand for support.

“You’ll know that very soon and we’ll answer every question you have, but please for now enjoy these last day you’re here with us”

Suddenly, like a group of scared children, everyone ran to their rooms and came back with one single item in their hand and ran towards the boats.

I was confused about why no one is taking more than one thing with themselves. Did they take our stuff? Are they not allowing us to take more than one thing?

As I was thinking about the possibilities, I felt an overwhelming feeling in my chest which urged me to run to my room and the moment I opened the door I grabbed my ring on the nightstand and ran back to the cabin door.

Right where I wanted to go towards the boats I saw the two girls sitting on the chairs in the hall and looking at the floor.

And it was at that moment that I realized what’s going on.

Suddenly I felt relieved and relaxed and I walked towards the girls.

When I got close to them I saw the baseball hat guy sitting beside them with a reassuring smile. When they all noticed my presence he offered me a seat.

“So you figured it out”

His voice was kind and very soothing, almost like an old friend

“Are you God?” was the first question that ran out of my mouth.

Like he was used to that question he gave me a soft smile and shook his head.

“No I’m not God I’m just a simple caretaker here”

“Caretaker?”

“Of the lost spirits whose fate is to be decided”

“Is this related to how I died?”

As soon as I said that my head started to hurt and there was a flash of a scene before my eyes, a loud roaring sound and then everything went quiet and blank.

I shot him and his mistress when I found them together and the third bullet went into my own head and I did all that not even longer than 10 minutes.

I opened my palm and looked at the ring, the symbol of our holy union, in sickness and health, till death do us apart.

“Ironic isn’t it?”

I sat up and walked towards the door and as I reached the water I soaked my feet into the wet sand, and threw the ring as hard as I could before I got on the boat and looked at the cabins that faded away from my sight into nothing.