Rain fell heavily on the corrugated-iron roof as the solemn sound of trumpets echoed across the yard. At the center, a golden-painted coffin rested gently on two wooden benches beneath a gray sky. Friends, neighbors, and family stood together in quiet mourning for 25-year-old Elena, a cherished daughter-in-law who had passed away after childbirth.
Elena had quickly become a beloved part of the family. She was known for her kindness and gentle spirit, caring for her in-laws as lovingly as she would her own parents. Mrs. Helen, her mother-in-law, often called her a blessing—someone who brought warmth and compassion into every room she entered.
But tragedy struck just a year into her marriage. Late one evening, Elena was rushed to the hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain. She gave birth, but complications arose, and she sadly passed away soon after. Her newborn, too, did not survive.
At the graveside, the grief was overwhelming. Mrs. Helen wept beside the coffin, and Elena’s husband, Louis, stood silently, staring at a photo of his wife—her face full of light, her smile still radiant. When it was time to lift the casket, the pallbearers tried but found it unexpectedly heavy, refusing to lift from its place. A quiet murmur spread through the crowd as they tried again, puzzled by the strange resistance.
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