We all gathered round and stared at the matching sets of wood, fastened together. The pastor talked about their strong, grounded marriage, with love that overflowed. In the outpouring we smelled something sinister, but we didn't dare speak ill of the dead.
Could the dead hear our thoughts, over the wailing and the tears? Could they hear us over the loss, the hum of the reporters next door? Could they hear the whispers of the children, the needy children, the children left alone? Could they hear it through the two caskets lined with velvet? Could they hear the questions, and the scrutiny?
Something told me they couldn't hear a thing. It wasn't the satin lining. It wasn't the white-noised whispers. It wasn't the buzz of the reporters next door. It wasn't even the wood bound firmly together. It was death. The Grim Reaper himself had covered their ears.
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