Dear Dr. Barnes,
I write to you in a state of ecstasy. I have just begun my journey, and I am thankful that your gift reached me before I departed. The paints and canvas you have sent me will provide me with means to materialize the inspiration I find along my journey, and I hope to one day share them with you, in the flesh. I have never used pigments of such quality, and I thank you with all my heart for your generous gesture. I have talked to an old man of my village and he has pointed me in the direction of a renowned doctor, just two days journey away. I am sure that these two days will be hard but I am sure that in the end it will be worth the journey to improve my health. I will paint my journeys so that I can describe them to you when I see you, and I look forward to learning your ways of art to bring home to my village, and spread your amazing visions with the world.
Until we meet,
Osiris
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Trying to Catch My Breath
Dear Dr. Barnes,
I write again to inform you that I am about to embark on my journey to come meet you. The journey will be long and treacherous, and there is fair chance that I will not reach you alive. However I have come to terms with the fact that this is what I must do in my life. I am at peace with the fact that I may die, but there is no point in continuing this mundane routine with no tangible end, and no expected change. I hope that I will find my way in life by taking this journey, and maybe find cleansing for my soul to rid of these terrible signs. My health continues to worsen, each breath being snatched from my lungs before I can finish it. I feel weak and I continue to feel the terrible signs that I have already described. I hope to meet a doctor along the way, as I have been told that our medicine is advanced, and this leaves me with hope of life. If you don't hear from me within the week I pray that you send word to my family regarding my death and that it was for a noble cause. They know not where I have gone, for I was too afraid that if I saw their faces of disappointment I would not have been able to leave.
Until next letter,
Osiris
I write again to inform you that I am about to embark on my journey to come meet you. The journey will be long and treacherous, and there is fair chance that I will not reach you alive. However I have come to terms with the fact that this is what I must do in my life. I am at peace with the fact that I may die, but there is no point in continuing this mundane routine with no tangible end, and no expected change. I hope that I will find my way in life by taking this journey, and maybe find cleansing for my soul to rid of these terrible signs. My health continues to worsen, each breath being snatched from my lungs before I can finish it. I feel weak and I continue to feel the terrible signs that I have already described. I hope to meet a doctor along the way, as I have been told that our medicine is advanced, and this leaves me with hope of life. If you don't hear from me within the week I pray that you send word to my family regarding my death and that it was for a noble cause. They know not where I have gone, for I was too afraid that if I saw their faces of disappointment I would not have been able to leave.
Until next letter,
Osiris
Monday, March 14, 2016
Getting Worse
Dear Dr. Barnes,
Thank you for your response, it brought me immense joy to discover that my letters found their target recipient. I also want to thank you for your concern regarding my state of health, and your consideration of taking me as an apprentice. I wish I could say that my health was improving, but that would be false. In fact, my condition is getting worse. This leads me to believe that my condition is not a curse of the gods, for I have done no deed impure since I contracted my first sign. Now I feel infected. My skin weakens and peels, and has spots of a monstrous green color. I continue to cough blood. My sickness still acts as a muse for my art, however it becomes difficult to enjoy my existence. I try to remain positive when I am around my family, but they hear my coughs and see my skin, despite my efforts to hide it. I have committed to see a doctor far from here, and I will embark on my journey tomorrow, so in case you never hear from me again, note that I hold you in the highest regard, and I greatly appreciate your interest in my cause.
Best Wishes.
Osiris Abasi
Thank you for your response, it brought me immense joy to discover that my letters found their target recipient. I also want to thank you for your concern regarding my state of health, and your consideration of taking me as an apprentice. I wish I could say that my health was improving, but that would be false. In fact, my condition is getting worse. This leads me to believe that my condition is not a curse of the gods, for I have done no deed impure since I contracted my first sign. Now I feel infected. My skin weakens and peels, and has spots of a monstrous green color. I continue to cough blood. My sickness still acts as a muse for my art, however it becomes difficult to enjoy my existence. I try to remain positive when I am around my family, but they hear my coughs and see my skin, despite my efforts to hide it. I have committed to see a doctor far from here, and I will embark on my journey tomorrow, so in case you never hear from me again, note that I hold you in the highest regard, and I greatly appreciate your interest in my cause.
Best Wishes.
Osiris Abasi
Monday, February 29, 2016
Hemoptysis
Dear Dr. Barnes,
I write to you again despite not hearing back regarding my first letter. I was in a state of good health when I sent that message that I, unfortunately, am not in anymore. I am unaware what I have done to upset the Gods but they are punishing me. For the past few days I have woken up with the taste of blood on my tongue, and dried blood around my mouth. I know not what message to draw from this morbid illness. I am fortunate that my occupation is so hidden, and for once I am thankful for feeling invisible. I am able to avoid bringing shame to my family through the misconstructions by other people of my condition. I even try to draw inspiration from my hardships like your story tells. My paintings begin to become more painful and real. I even mix my blood in with the paint for authenticity, though the government would have my head on a stake if I am discovered. They'd even kill me if they found out I had such an illness. The disease may contaminate the spirit of the dead, they would say. I come to you again with urgency. Previously I had no foreseeable limit of time, but now I fear my clock is ticking. I strive to make meaning of my life before I move on. I ask for your mentorship, and for you to bring me fulfillment. I hope to hear back from you shortly,
May you maintain good health,
Osiris Abasi
Monday, February 22, 2016
Who Am I
Dear Dr. Barnes,
I write to you from a land you may not be familiar with, far from your homeland of Turkey. Here in Egypt I am invisible. I am a simple citizen, suppressed under the dual rule of Emperors Probus and Domitius Domitianus. I live the same life as those around me, as far as I know. I have no excitement aside from my work; my art is the only source of originality and break of routine in my daily life. As much as a wish to be able to show my art to others, it is forbidden. I hold the rare occupation of being a tomb painter, the loneliest art there is. It is forbidden for those other than the painter to see this artwork, as I am the last person to leave a tomb before it is sealed. I don't even have to do my work if I don't want to but they threaten that I will be cursed and executed if it is discovered that I slack off.
Anyways, my reason for contacting you is in search for more wholesome purpose in life. I want to obtain an audience for my work who aren't rotting in a grave, and who can actually appreciate the creativity I can produce. I ask you for mentorship because you are a legend among the increasing art community in Egypt. Your paintings are told to be exquisite, and I seek the pleasure of viewing them and working under your wing as an apprentice. Please consider this proposition, I one day hope to be able to leave my small house with my family to move on to more fulfilling activities to fill my time.
Best Wishes,
Osiris Abasi
I write to you from a land you may not be familiar with, far from your homeland of Turkey. Here in Egypt I am invisible. I am a simple citizen, suppressed under the dual rule of Emperors Probus and Domitius Domitianus. I live the same life as those around me, as far as I know. I have no excitement aside from my work; my art is the only source of originality and break of routine in my daily life. As much as a wish to be able to show my art to others, it is forbidden. I hold the rare occupation of being a tomb painter, the loneliest art there is. It is forbidden for those other than the painter to see this artwork, as I am the last person to leave a tomb before it is sealed. I don't even have to do my work if I don't want to but they threaten that I will be cursed and executed if it is discovered that I slack off.
Anyways, my reason for contacting you is in search for more wholesome purpose in life. I want to obtain an audience for my work who aren't rotting in a grave, and who can actually appreciate the creativity I can produce. I ask you for mentorship because you are a legend among the increasing art community in Egypt. Your paintings are told to be exquisite, and I seek the pleasure of viewing them and working under your wing as an apprentice. Please consider this proposition, I one day hope to be able to leave my small house with my family to move on to more fulfilling activities to fill my time.
Best Wishes,
Osiris Abasi
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