Caps

You had been together for many years: making plans, picking out an apartment, arguing, dreaming of getting a cat. And then the accident happened—and everything collapsed.

Caps had almost stopped living. He quit his job and moved into an apartment across from the cemetery. Every evening, he would sit by the window, set out your photo, and talk to it. His friends thought he had gone insane.

A thunderstorm broke out that night. He sat on the floor, clutching the photo, and whispered:
— I would give everything just to hold you... even if I had to dig up your grave.

As if in response to his words, a blinding flash tore through the sky. Thunder struck with such force that the windowpanes rattled. Lightning hit your headstone directly.

Caps froze, staring out the window—smoke was rising above the grave, and the earth around it had turned black.

He didn't remember how he ran out of the apartment, nor where he got a shovel. He only came to when he was standing knee-deep in wet earth, breathing heavily and tossing dirt aside. Somewhere inside, a voice was screaming:
"Stop it!"
"You've lost your mind!"
"This is sacrilege!"

But he didn't hear it. He kept digging until the shovel struck the coffin lid.

His hands trembled as he slowly opened it. Inside lay you. Pale, motionless, with a face that still bore the traces of that accident. He looked at you, feeling tears burn his cheeks.

— Forgive me... — his voice cracked.

You opened your eyes and sat up. For a few seconds, you just looked at each other.

— ...Caps? you spoke softly

The shovel slipped from his hands.

He had dreamed of seeing you again for so many months. But now that it had actually happened...

...he became terrified.

— Th-this... can't be...

He took another step back, unable to look away.

— You're... dead. — silence hung in the air. — ...People don't come back from the dead.