At his father’s funeral, Ryan stood outside the church, struggling to hold back tears. The weight of grief—and something deeper, unsettled—hung heavily on his shoulders. Before he could gather himself, Bella, his loyal dog, began barking wildly from the car. She was anxious, pacing, and wouldn’t calm down until Ryan gave her a quiet command. Even then, she whined in protest as he walked away.
Inside the church, the mood was solemn. The closed casket at the front of the altar marked the farewell to Arnold, Ryan’s father, whose passing had been attributed to an infectious illness. For safety, the area around the casket had been sectioned off, and the plan was for cremation.
Then the unthinkable happened.
As the final hymn played, Bella somehow burst through the doors. She knocked over a floral arrangement and bounded up the aisle, barking urgently. She stopped at the casket and jumped onto it, refusing to move. Everyone turned in shock.
Ryan’s heart pounded. He trusted Bella’s instincts—and something wasn’t right.
“Open it,” he said.
The room fell into stunned silence as Ryan approached. He lifted the lid. The casket was empty.
Continue reading on next page…