It was a strange scene inside the church, the dog Rex, appeared almost rabid as he barked relentlessly toward the coffin holding his late owner. Despite several attempts to distract him, no one dared to get too close. What did it mean? It did not appear to be an expression of Rex’s grief for losing his owner, the behavior seemed too aggressive for that. Nervous glances were exchanged between the people present. With many eyes going towards Jason, the son of the deceased.
“This isn’t right,” Jason murmured under his breath. He had suspicions about his dad’s death from the minute he heard the news, but was too afraid to share them. Afraid others would think he was crazy. He’d remained silent for so long, observing people he didn’t trust, now crying as they entered the funeral. To Jason, their tears seemed fake.
He had spent many nights trying to convince himself it was all in his head, that it was just grief-induced paranoia. But now, as Rex, his father’s former police dog, barked at the coffin, a chilling certainty took hold. “This isn’t right,” he whispered, his voice steadily rising with conviction. “This isn’t right,” he declared louder, over and over, until the murmurs around him ceased, and all eyes turned his way. Unable to contain himself any longer, he shouted, “THIS ISN’T RIGHT!!” And with that, an eerie silence enveloped the gathering.
Jason’s shout made everyone freeze and turn their attention to him. He sensed every gaze—shock, sympathy, and concern. His aunt Christel looked at him with an expression that spoke volumes, whispering to his uncle beside her. Jason knew exactly what they were thinking.
“They probably think I’ve lost it,” he thought, looking down in embarrassment. He wished he could just disappear, leave all his problems behind like they were nothing. But that wasn’t possible, and he was stuck going over the past few months in his head, again and again…
Jason gazed at the coffin a few meters away, wishing he’d made different decisions. How he yearned to rewind to last summer, when his dad was still by his side. If only I had known what was about to happen, he thought, maybe I could have changed it.
But back then, he was too caught up in his own small problems. It was summer break, and he spent those last weeks with his dad at their summer house. It was an amazing and relaxed time, just the two of them, something they hadn’t done for a long time. Maybe that’s what made it so special, but maybe that’s also what led to all this mess…