Eerie Night

It’s only few days left before Halloween. Spooky stuff and Halloween costumes abound in Malls.   TV channels are showing timely features about ghosts, life after death incidents and eerie experiences just like what is shown on a local TV morning show I was watching a while ago.  That brings to mind a weird incident I encountered at a friend’s wake many years back.  Here’s what happened:

A friend of mine (actually, she was a sister of a close friend) committed suicide by shooting herself at her heart one early dawn.  She was 40 and single and has 10 siblings most of which have families of their own. Having considered myself very close to her sister and to her, I opted to spend the first whole night of the wake with the siblings to show my sympathy. Yes, with the siblings! Or so I thought!  Early that night, most of the relatives were present but at around midnight, I realized that we were only three left inside the big funeral room. The two other people who remained along with me were mutual friends who has no relation with the departed friend except being close friends.  For us, it looked like it wasn't right but couldn’t do anything but to carry on with the vigil.   We just played some card games to while the time away and to avoid getting sleepy. . The huge funeral room was so quiet.  Not a single sound could be heard except the low hum of the aircon. The three of us were too engrossed with our game when all of a sudden, we heard a very loud thud that appeared to be someone has dragged and dropped one of the long heavy pews fronting the casket. We were somehow terrified but no one made the slightest move.   We chose to ignore and went on with our game.  "It could just be sound from the outside” our male companion rationalized.  “Okay, just don’t mind it.  It's nothing.  Let’s continue with the game!” We girls seconded trying to brush our fears away.  After  only few minutes, the silence in the room was broken again by another disturbing sound. This time resembling the sound produced by someone coughing out a lump from her throat.  We were stunned!  Horrified!  We looked at each others eyes trying to sense each one.  I had goose bumps and found out we all had.  Each very well knew where the coughing sound came from.  Yet, our male friend still investigated the surroundings. No one was around. It was only us.  I froze at my seat while our male friend walked straight to our friend lying in the coffin after he's done investigating the premises.  He talked to her as if she was alive. “Please don’t scare us dear friend. We are the only people here with you now as all your siblings have gone home.  You know Ate Beng is sick, but chose to sacrifice the night with you. And “friend” and I have office work tomorrow but doesn't mind the inconvenience of sleeplessness just for you.  Now, if you’re gonna scare us again you might be left alone here. I don’t think you’d want that to happen. So please refrain from doing that again.”   

After that, nothing eerie followed. We managed to stay awake for the vigil all through the night 'though we were somehow horrified. 

The morning after, the siblings and  relatives came in, one after another looking well rested.,  fresh and lively.  For a moment, I thought I was the relative and they, the friends!

...How could I forget?!

Note:  I later learned that in her last breath, that was the exact sound they heard from her.