The church was silent as everyone gathered around the white coffin.
Flowers covered the front of the room. Family members sat in black clothes, crying quietly while the funeral director prepared to move the coffin outside.
Then a woman in an orange prison uniform suddenly pushed through the crowd.
Woman: “Stop the burial right now!”
Every head turned toward her.
She was holding a hammer in one hand and tears were running down her face.
Man: “What are you doing? Get out of here!”
Woman: “She is still alive!”
The church erupted in whispers.
The woman's name was Maria. She had been arrested three days earlier after being accused of attacking the dead woman's husband.
But Maria had never accepted the story being told about her.
She had worked for the family for years. She knew the woman inside the coffin. She also knew something about the husband that nobody else in the church knew.
Daniel: “You don't belong here, Maria. The funeral is over.”
Daniel stood beside the coffin wearing a black suit.
He was the dead woman's husband.
Maria: “No. You don't get to bury her.”
Daniel: “She died at the hospital. The doctors confirmed it.”
Maria: “Then open the coffin.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
Daniel: “You're insane.”
Maria: “Put your ear against the coffin.”
The room went completely silent.
Maria walked toward the coffin and pointed at it.
Maria: “Listen.”
Daniel refused.
Then one of the older family members moved closer.
Family Member: “Wait.”
Everyone stopped talking.
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Then a faint sound came from inside.
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A woman near the front screamed.
Woman: “Did you hear that?”
Daniel's face suddenly changed.
Daniel: “It's probably the wood moving.”
Maria: “Wood doesn't knock three times.”
Another sound came from inside.
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Maria raised the hammer.
Maria: “Open it.”
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
Daniel: “Put that down!”
Maria: “Why are you afraid?”
Two police officers rushed forward and separated them.
Officer: “Everyone step back from the coffin.”
Daniel looked at the officers.
Daniel: “She's trying to destroy my wife's funeral.”
Maria stared directly at him.
Maria: “Your wife isn't dead.”
The officer looked at the coffin.
Then he heard the sound too.
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Officer: “Open it. Right now.”
Daniel suddenly stepped backward.
And that was when everyone realized Maria might have been telling the truth.