With whispered permission from the widow, he gently placed his fingertips on the deceased’s wrist, searching for any sign of life. The room held its collective breath, the silence broken only by the shuffling of feet and the rustling of fabric as people leaned in closer. Seconds stretched into an eternity, each tick of the clock amplified in the stillness.

Suddenly, the doctor’s eyes widened, his face draining of color. He felt it—a faint, almost imperceptible pulse. A gasp escaped his lips, and he staggered back, his voice trembling with disbelief. “He’s alive,” he choked out, barely audible over the shocked cries that erupted from the crowd.

Panic ensued as the funeral home staff rushed forward, unsure of how to handle a situation they’d never encountered. The widow, overcome with a tumult of emotions, clutched her daughter tightly, tears streaming down her face as hope battled with fear. The guests were a flurry of activity, some reaching for their phones, others crowding around the coffin to witness the impossible.