THE MOURNING MAN

The cemetery stretched out before Jeremiah, a sea of solemnity under the gray sky. Dressed in mourning clothes, his gaze remained fixed on the trio of caskets being lowered into the waiting earth. Inside lay the remains of his family, taken from him by the evolved—those who had been granted extraordinary abilities in the wake of the meteor impact.

Emotionless, Jeremiah stood amidst the gathering of mourners, his heart heavy with grief. His life had shattered when his family perished, leaving behind a void that seemed impossible to fill. The weight of loss pressed down on him, suffocating any semblance of joy or hope.

As the caskets began their descent, a hand landed gently on Jeremiah's shoulder, startling him from his reverie. He turned to find another man standing beside him, his expression a mirror of Jeremiah's sorrow.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Jeremiah," the man said softly, his voice heavy with sympathy.