The Shroud: A Story of Love, Loss, and Remembrance
The Shroud
A Story of Love, Loss, and Remembrance
Memories from the Coffin
This book tells the story of Anna Maria, a woman who, after suffering a heart attack, finds herself reflecting on her life from within her coffin, surrounded by her grieving family and friends. As each mourner approaches, memories resurface, painting a vivid picture of Anna Maria’s past.
Childhood and Family
There was Zoila, Anna Maria’s lifelong companion and confidante. Zoila had been a source of unwavering support, acting as a surrogate mother since Anna Maria’s own mother passed away when she was young.
Anna Maria had a complex relationship with her father, who was distant and emotionally unavailable. This early experience of paternal coldness left a lasting impact on her life and relationships.
Love and Loss
One of Anna Maria’s most poignant memories is of Ricardo, her first love. Their passionate affair resulted in an unexpected pregnancy, a secret she desperately tried to hide from her family, especially her strict father. However, Ricardo abandoned her upon learning of the pregnancy, leaving Anna Maria heartbroken and alone to face the loss of their child.
Marriage and Discontent
Anna Maria eventually married Antonio, a man she initially did not love. Driven by societal expectations and a fear of loneliness, she entered the marriage with a heavy heart. Although she later realized her love for Antonio, their relationship was plagued by his coldness and infidelity, causing her immense pain and resentment.
Siblings and Friends
Anna Maria’s sister, Alicia, was a devoutly religious woman, a stark contrast to Anna Maria’s more mischievous and rebellious nature. Despite their differences, they shared a close bond, forged through their shared experiences growing up together in a Catholic school.
Fernando, a close friend and confidant, was a constant presence in Anna Maria’s life. Their relationship, however, was a source of jealousy for Antonio, who suspected a deeper connection between them. Fernando’s own life was touched by tragedy when his wife, Agnes, died by suicide, an event that deeply affected Anna Maria.
Final Reflections
As Anna Maria lies in her coffin, listening to the priest’s words, she recalls a conversation about the afterlife. While the priest spoke of heaven, Anna Maria confessed her desire to remain connected to the earthly realm, a testament to her deep attachment to the people and experiences that shaped her life.
In her final moments, Anna Maria faces the reality of her own mortality. Despite the pain and regrets that have colored her journey, she finds a sense of peace, accepting the inevitability of death and the promise of eternal rest.
Characters
:
Protagonist: The main character is laid out and named Ana Maria, her husband was Antonio and had 3 children, Albert, Fred and Anita.
She was a woman of good heart but had many problems on her cheating husband and that another woman and for that reason felt hatred. She had many problems since childhood by the absence of her mother and with his dad because he was very cold to her, and when you get married you realize that she could be alone and dependent on Zoila it was like their mother, a example is that Annemarie could not even comb alone.
Physically it looked like a pretty woman with long eyelashes with delicate hands.
His hair was thick and nice but the disease became more humid and heavier.
She had a good economic situation was somewhat capricious and lived in the country in his estate.
Antagonist: I think the opponent is the feeling of love, for love by Ana Maria suffers a lot because of Richard’s young woman becomes pregnant and not having a formal relationship with the hides of his family and especially his father for the reaction that might have to know. Although he lost the son.
And then Antonio suffers because at first she did not love him and whether and for that reason she leaves the house but then you realize if you really loved him but Antonio became cold and deceiving her.
Secondary:
Alicia: She is the sister of Amortajada (Anna Maria). Together with Ana Maria was raised in a Catholic college. Alicia was a very religious girl and always prayed the rosary while Ana Maria spent grabbing antics in that school.
Physically she was very beautiful, because she was blond and curly, girl forever when all her cousins and Anna Maria were jealous of him for being blonde and pretty, but over time it increasingly became more sad and with that change also changed his appearance physical and she was growing paler and more ugly.
-Zoila: She was his “nanny” because at birth she was always with her and the death of Ana Maria’s mother took care of her she always was the one who made all things to Amortajada both what he did for her that when he had to take her home with her because she depended on her.
It was an elderly woman with gray hair.
“Fernando: he was the confidant of Anne Marie, she had all her things. She often claimed that he never responded nor advised. He was her lover but also in their family was like the friend and Antonio had a lot of jealousy on the supposed friendship that had them 2.
Fernando was also married to Agnes, but she commits suicide with a drug called veronal, and in a moment in the play tells Ana Maria the incident. He said that his wife did not look sad to kill himself.