The first time you step into a hushed room of an open casket funeral,

It's like entering a different world.

The air feels heavier, laden with a blend of sorrow and something else-something eerie.

There's an uncanny stillness to the person lying in the casket, 

their features too serene, almost as if they're caught in a deep sleep from which they might suddenly awaken.

You can't shake the feeling that any moment now, their eyes could flutter open, and they would rise, breaking the spell settled over everyone.

The sadness is palpable, a tangible cloak that drapes over the shoulders of the mourners,

each lost in their own memories and silent goodbyes.

The grief yet is communal, yet deeply personal, as tears are shed and hearts ache in the shared understanding of loss.

As we all ready to walk out of the funeral room, we stand, and line up to take one lasting look at our beautiful loved one, as they are then lowered into the ground for their eternal, peaceful slumber.