The Funeral Without a Body

Every seat held a family member who had attended a funeral without a body. They remembered speeches, flowers, and the moment the coffin closed.

Claire sat beside Tess.

“Lena's funeral had no coffin,” Tess said.

“Mine did,” Mara answered.

The chapel doors opened. Everett appeared in the aisle.

“A funeral is a public agreement,” he said. “It tells everyone when to stop looking.”

Claire stood. “Then we keep looking.”

The empty coffins opened.

Inside each was a paper record.