The Coffin
It had been a few weeks since my dad died, but I felt the same pain I did at the hospital when I learned he died. There were a lot of people there, friends and family, all of whom Dad knew. The coffin was closed, but I wished it was open so I could say goodbye to him to his face, not to a lump of polished wood, but Mom decided it would be better if it were closed. I was 12 when it happened, and I was sitting beside Mom. Even back then, I knew she was crying a lot. The priest started, but my focus wasn't on him. It was on the sound I heard. "Help me.....please." I was the only one who noticed the cry for help. I looked around to see who was begging, but to my horror, I heard it again as a bang from the coffin came before. "Please let me out." I felt my heart pounding out of my chest. He's alive, and he's in the coffin. "Mom, do you not hear that?" I asked my mom.
"Hear what?" She asked in confusion. "The banging, the cries for help. It's coming from the coffin. HE'S ALIVE, " I cried out. Everyone looked at me when I called out in confusion, even the priest. Mom grabbed my arm. "Sweetheart, he's gone; I know that's hard to accept, but it's the truth," as she said that, the banging could be heard again, "PLEASE HELP ME." In a panic, I screamed, "CAN NO ONE ELSE HEAR THAT?" Everyone continued to look at me in confusion and concern until the priest finally spoke out. "This is grief-talking, child. Your father is in a better place now. " In response, I screamed, "NO, HE'S IN THERE." I ran towards the coffin and began to bang on the lid. "DAD, IT'S ME. I'LL GET YOU OUT. " Pallbearers pulled me away from the coffin, and after I was pulled off I heard a faint whisper "Dylan.....please".
Which is why I'm here now, about to dig up my dad's grave after 15 years since his funeral. I just need to know if what I heard was really my dad or if it was just a part of a grieving child too broken to accept the truth. When I got done, I opened it, and to my horror, I didn't see a body in the coffin, only the scratch marks on the inside.
