I was brought back to the country. The empty urn contained only a severed finger, a sight that was deeply heartbreaking.

On the day of the burial, Aaron remained silent, clinging stubbornly to my urn. He refused to let go, no matter what. For three consecutive nights, he stayed awake, his unkempt beard and the dark circles under his eyes making him look as if he might collapse at any moment.

I had few friends in life, so the scene was unusually quiet. Suddenly, an elderly figure pushed a man in a wheelchair through the crowd and entered the room with trembling steps.

When I saw their faces, I was...