She was only 25 years old, and since she joined the family, she had treated her in-laws like her own parents. Her mother-in-law, Doña Helena, considered her a blessing. But the joy lasted only a little over a year.
An unexpected tragedy
That night, Elena experienced severe stomach pains. She cried, clutching her stomach. She was rushed to the hospital immediately, but it was too late. The child did not have time to cry and did not wake up. Her death caused great sadness in the family. Don Luis, her husband, stood motionless, staring at Elena’s picture on the coffin, where he smiled affectionately.
When the time came to carry the coffin, eight young men tried to lift it… without success. Despite all their efforts, the coffin did not move: it seemed to be literally glued to the ground. An old man whispered:
“She is still full of sadness.” She could not leave.
Then a shaman who was present spoke in a calm voice:
“Open the coffin.” He had more to say.
Tears after death
When the bell was removed, everyone was paralyzed. Two more tears rolled down Elena’s face. Her eyelids were half open and her eyelashes remained moist – as if she had just been crying. Doña Helena knelt down, took her daughter-in-law’s hand and begged:
“Elena… Don’t cry anymore… If you have something to tell us, tell me, my daughter…
A deep silence enveloped the court.
The depressing confession
After a while, a groan suddenly broke the silence. Luis, the husband, knelt down, his head buried in his hands, crying uncontrollably. Doña Helena asked him if he had heard anything. Luis raised his eyes, red with tears, and confessed:
“It’s my fault…” He left with a broken heart…
He explained that Elena had found out that he had been unfaithful to her. He said nothing; he just hugged his stomach and cried all night. He had promised her that he would end this relationship, but it was too late. That night he suffered a severe illness that led to his death.
“I’m sorry… I’m a coward… Forgive me, Elena…
The last sign
The shiks became more numerous. In the middle of the rain, Doña Helena cried:
“My God… Why did you suffer so much, my child? Forgive me if we did not protect you…
Luis laid his forehead on the coffin, pleading:
“You can hate me, you can be angry… Finally, let me rest in you…
Then the coffin shook slightly. The shaman nodded.
“Now he let go.
The men were soon able to lift him up. The funeral trumpets sounded again. They all bowed, silently accompanying the man who was leaving with a broken heart.
Luis was still kneeling in the rain. In his soul, every apology echoed without relief. He knew that no crying, no complaining would make up for his mistake. And that every night without peace, the image of Elena crying would haunt him as a constant reminder of his guilt.
What does this story teach us?
It teaches us that emotional wounds can be as deadly as physical wounds. Sometimes the silence of those who suffer is deeper than the loudest cry, and when we don’t listen to it, we risk losing forever the people who love us the most. Unspoken words, broken promises, and lack of empathy leave scars that time or forgiveness cannot erase.
Caring for those around us, respecting their feelings, and acting responsibly can change the course of many people’s lives. Because there are wounds… that never heal.