The mournful sound of the funeral trumpets echoed, blending with the pattering of rain on the old corrugated iron roof.
In the middle of the yard, a gold-painted coffin was placed on two wooden chairs. All around, mourners sat tightly, each bowing their heads in sorrow for Elena – the gentle daughter-in-law who had just passed away due to premature birth.
Elena was only 25 years old. Since becoming a daughter-in-law, she had always respected her elders and taken care of her parents-in-law like her own.
Mrs. Helen – Elena’s mother-in-law – was still proud: “Any family with a daughter-in-law like Lan is a great blessing.” But after just over a year, disaster struck.
That night, Elena had severe stomach pain, clutching her stomach and sobbing. By the time she was taken to the hospital, she was exhausted.
Before the baby could cry out at birth, Elena passed out, never to wake up again.
The whole family was devastated. Mrs. Helen cried and fainted.
Mr.
Louis – her husband – just sat silently, his eyes lifeless as he looked at his daughter-in-law’s portrait placed on the coffin lid. In the photo, Elena smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
When it was time to move the coffin, eight young men stepped forward, put their hands on both sides of the coffin, and prepared to carry it to the hearse. But strangely, no matter how hard they tried to lift it, the coffin would not budge.
Everyone’s face was red, the veins on their hands stood out, but the coffin seemed to be stuck to the ground. An old man in the neighborhood sighed: “She must still be upset and can’t leave yet.”
The shaman standing nearby said softly:
“Open the coffin, she still has something to say.”
The latch was removed. When the coffin lid was lifted, everyone was stunned.
On Elena’s face, two lines of tears still lingered. Her eyes were half-closed, the corners of her eyelashes were wet as if she had just cried. Mrs.
Helen burst into tears, knelt down beside the coffin, grabbed her daughter-in-law’s hand, her voice trembling:
“Elena… don’t cry anymore… If there’s anything you haven’t said, please tell me… I beg you, my child…”
The funeral atmosphere was dead silent.
Suddenly, a sob rang out. Everyone looked towards Louis – Louis’s husband. He fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands, sobbing.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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