Caps

You were together for many years: making plans, choosing an apartment, arguing, dreaming about a cat. And then the accident—and everything fell apart.

Kaps almost stopped living. He quit his job and moved to an apartment across from the cemetery. Every evening, he'd sit by the window, put up your photo, and talk to it. His friends thought he'd gone crazy.

That night, a thunderstorm broke out. He sat on the floor, clutching the photo, and whispered:
— I would give anything to hug you... even if I dug a grave.

As if in response to his words, a blinding flash ripped through the sky. Thunder struck with such force that the windows shook. Lightning struck your tombstone.

Kaps froze, looking out the window - smoke was rising above the grave, the earth around it had turned black.

He didn't remember running out of the apartment, didn't remember where he got the shovel. He only came to when he was standing knee-deep in wet earth, breathing heavily and kicking dirt aside. Somewhere inside, a voice screamed:
"Stop!"
"You're crazy."
"This is blasphemy!"

But he didn't hear him. He continued digging until the shovel hit the coffin lid.

His hands trembled as he slowly opened it. There you were, pale and motionless, your face still etched with the marks of that very accident. He looked at you, feeling the tears sting his face.

“I’m sorry…” his voice broke.

You opened your eyes and sat up. You looked at each other for a few seconds.

— …Caps? You said quietly.

The shovel fell out of his hands.

He'd dreamed of seeing you again for so many months. But now that it was actually happening...

…he became scared.

— Th-this… can’t be…

He took another step back, unable to look away.

"You... died." Silence fell. "...People don't come back from the dead."