“That night, Jun dreamed that his mother was coming out of the grave—her eyes were filled with tears as if she wanted to convey something. When she woke up, she insisted that her father dig up her mother’s grave, even though everyone was against it. And when the coffin was opened, the entire village was stunned by what they saw…”

Life After the Passover

In a small village in Nueva Ecija, life was quiet after Jun’s mother, Aling Lorna, passed away from a sudden illness. Their house became dark and sad. Her father, Mang Tomas, who was previously a quiet man, became even more apathetic. He spent the day in the fields, only coming home to take care of Jun, but he avoided mentioning Lorna at all costs.

Jun, who was only 12 years old, was very thirsty for his mother’s embrace. During the day, he tried to be cheerful at school, but at night, he often shed tears at the memory of his mother’s voice and smile.

The Repetitive Dream

One night, Jun dreamed of Aling Lorna—pale-faced, tearful, and as if begging for help. She pointed to her chest and shook her head slowly.

Jun woke up sweating, shaking, and unable to calm down. It wasn’t just once—the same nightmare repeated itself for several nights. And each time, the desperation on his mother’s face became clearer.

The Son’s Pleading

One afternoon, Jun mustered up the courage to say:

– “Father… I want to open Mom’s grave. I feel like she’s restless.”

Mang Tomas was surprised and his face darkened:

– “Don’t talk like that! Let’s let your mother rest.”

But Jun became even more stubborn. He refused to eat, crying every night, and repeatedly saying:

– “If we don’t open it, I’ll just run away!”

Finally, Mang Tomas was moved. He wondered if the dreams might be telling him something.

The Opening of the Grave

The next morning, news spread through the village that Mang Tomas would have his wife’s grave dug up. Some sympathized, others mocked:

– “Maybe the child was just dreaming…”

– “This is a sin, disturbing the dead!”

But Mang Tomas was unmoved. He offered a candle and prayed, while Jun held onto the hem of her father’s robe, tears streaming down her face.

The diggers arrived, and slowly removed the earth. The weight of each swing of the shovel made a noise. When the coffin appeared, everyone was nervous.

When the lid was lifted, a sight emerged that took everyone’s breath away:

Aling Lorna’s body remained intact. It had not decomposed as expected. Her eyes were wide open, glaring as if she were suffering from pain; her lips were pursed in a look of suffering.

– “My God… she’s still alive!” – a neighbor shouted.

Mang Tomas fainted and fell to his knees. Jun, on the other hand, began to cry loudly:

– “I told you, Dad… Mom can’t rest!”

The Investigation

Words immediately began to circulate: perhaps Aling Lorna was not really dead when she was buried.

An old villager said:

– “There are people who mistake her for dead because of illness—her heart stops beating but then comes back. Maybe she was buried alive.”

Officials arrived and called a forensic team from the city. The results of the examination showed: Aling Lorna died from lack of air inside the coffin—not from the illness they initially thought.

The doctor explained:
– “What is called ‘clinical death’ occurred. The heart and breathing stopped, it was thought that she was dead, but there was a chance that she would come back. Unfortunately, the caregivers did not see this and the burial took place first.”

The Deepest Regret

The pain in Mang Tomas’ chest was excruciating. In front of his wife’s picture, he cried:

– “Lorna, forgive me! If I had just waited… you would not have suffered such hardship.”

Jun hugged his mother’s picture, the dreams and visions he had seen would be etched in his mind for life.

The Last Farewell

On the second hill, the family decided to have Aling Lorna cremated so that she could finally be at peace. Despite the pain, they felt that it was the only way to end the nightmare.

This incident became a lesson for the entire village: people were more careful in confirming death, especially in areas with a lack of medical equipment.

From then on, Mang Tomas became more caring towards Jun. He always said:

– “Son, live a life of honor. That is the only way for your mother to be at peace.”

And Jun, although still young, learned to appreciate every breath and every moment with his loved one.

Because there are wounds that will never heal, but serve as a reminder of how important life and the love of family are