Homecoming of the Dead

“…It's so dark.”

   Magdalene's husband, Herbert, had passed away, after suffering from colon cancer, a couple of month ago. They could not afford the chemotherapy due to lack of money. The agonizing death of the breadwinner of the family left an awful impact to Magdalene and her kids. She did not know who to run to.

   Magdalene's brother and his companions volunteered to build a wooden casket for Herbert. They could not afford even the cheapest casket.

   The funerary box was finished and was ready to be concealed by Herbert's body. He fit perfectly inside the coffin. The tears were visible, drowning Magdalene's eyes, as she watched her breathless husband be placed inside the wooden casket. The scent of agony rose up through the air. Magdalene felt like the anguish was never going to leave.

   The burial ceremony took three days. Family, friends, and loved-ones came to visit and drop condolences. It was  three o'clock in the afternoon when Herbert was buried the only public cemetery in their town. The burial ground lied on steep mountain, by the national highway. The bearers had to walk up to the mountain just to deliver the casket to its final destination.

   The final messages were spoken. The sadness was surrounding the grave. Cries could be heard everywhere.

   The night had arrived. It was raining. The furious rain drops slammed on the roof of the house. Magdalene was still not able to make any movement; still covered in sadness and grief. Her two kids were sitting by her. The kids tried to wipe her tears away.

   "Mother, do not be sad. Dad is watching us," Harry told her weeping mother, trying to make her feel better. "He is just there. He is not going to leave us."

   "Your father is gone," Magdalene replied to Harry. "he left us already."

   A roaring thunder blasted and broke the silence. The gloomy sound that was produced by the rain hitting the house's rusting roof was becoming heavier and heavier. The power went out as a simultaneous series of lightning struck the town. It was now surrounded by darkness. Only the lightning provided brightness through the stormy night. The heavy pouring of rain caused the water level to rise up dramatically.

   A flood was just about to form.

   "Mom, I'm scared. It's so dark." Harold cried.

   "Don't worry son, I'm getting some candles for us, hold this flash light for me." Magdalene replied.

   The water sneaked into their house. The flood was getting greater and greater. Magdalene could now feel the water on her bare feet.

   She finally found the candles, lit them up and placed them on the table in the kitchen and in the living room.

   The water level was about to reach Magdalene's knees. The flood had become worse. Harry and Harold held their feet up on the couch, while their mother was placing the candles.

   Magdalene sat down on the partly wet couch to accompany her kids.

   Suddenly, a large knock hit the aged door of their house. They ignored it. The knock continued to bother them. Magdalene got up and walked towards the door. Her feet were struggling to get through the flood. She pointed the flashlight at the door knob as she was about to open the door.

   She gently held the knob with angst...

   When she opened the door, there stumbled in a wooden casket: the casket of his husband. It was the coffin which she knew was buried in a grave on top of the mountain. The mysterious event had baffled her mind. Under the stormy night, it was apparent; it was the homecoming of his husband. It was the homecoming of the dead.