What would be your immediate reaction and assumption if this fictional scenario happens to you?

Me: Wow, it’s so good to see you! [tearing up]

Friend: You too . . . [author doesn’t know context to reply from]

As you wrote, there are many possibilities, which would tend to affect the dialog. Could be a dream (I do meet departed people relatively often in my dreams). Could be they faked their death, or are part of a witness protection program. Could be I’m dead too. Could be they have a twin/doppelganger. Could be some other peculiar situation.

Wait, so he’s ACTUALLY live, not some hallucination or ghost?

Me: What the F*CK!?! How are you not dead!?!

Friend: Oh, yeah. Heh. Funny story, you see….

[and then he would need a DAMN good explanation. Something like ‘the mafia was after me so i faked my death’, except then i’d wonder why he wasn’t on his way to a distant country/state.]

Imho, the appropriate response here is anger/shock. Not happyness that my friend is alive. That comes later after the shock/anger has worn off.

If I knew for a fact that the funeral took place, like if I were actually at the wake and/or funeral, I’d probably need to walk away and process my thoughts (my confusion, etc.).

If I was not actually present at the wake or funeral, I might think that it was a rumor or a hoax and the person before me (the “deceased”) was just alive and never dead.

I gave this a GQ because sometimes I have wondered what my reaction would be if I heard someone was dead and then I saw them somewhere.

There would be no dialogue.
I would be running the opposite direction.

^^Not too friendly! Lol

Great! Does this mean we have another Easter holiday date to enjoy?

Me: You look very like someone I once knew.
Friend: I am that person; I just came back for some unfinished business.

Me: But that’s impossible!
Friend: You think. Clearly I am here.

Me: What unfinished business?
Friend: I think you already know.

Me: But that was investigated, and no charges were laid
Friend: We both know what you did.

Me: Leave me or I will call the police.
Friend: (Smiling) You calling the police, now wouldn’t that be ironic?

Me: What have you done with the sun, why is it setting. Why do the clouds burn?
Friend: I have come to take you there

Me: But I didn’t know
Friend: Well you know now.

Friend: “Kisama no kobushi dato kadi nimo kinanwae!”
Me: “Omae wa mou shindeiru.”
Friend: “Nani?!”
Friend: *explodes

I would….. call someone.

@Dutchess_III
CAS, I presume?

CAS?

close air support

@flutherother is well on his way to writing a book that I will want to read.

A couple years ago I had a dream. I heard a noise outside and went to check….and in walked my beautiful Dutchess dog. We had lost her 2 years previously. It was so good to see her again!

I’d like scream, “WTF!!!”.

@mazingerz88 Have you never watched the opening scene to a zombie movie?!

^^Night of the Living Dead remake opening was good. So was the opening of Zack Snyder’s first zombie flick.

“Are you smiling because you’re happy to be back, or are you just glad to see me?” My side of the conversation is the limit to which I can stretch at the moment. Conjuring words from the mouth of a dead man is (or should be) tricky work.

Me: Whoa! You faked your death?
Friend: It wasn’t faked.
Me: Are we supposed to play chess now?
Friend: Absolutely not. You always lost, anyway.
Me: Are you mad about the things I said at the service?
Friend: No. I was fine with that. But, seriously… Who picked the music?
Me: I know! During the balloon release, they played SuperFreak! What idiot would think of that?
Friend: The DJ! I was hoping you would help me make sure that wouldn’t happen again.
Me: You want me for wet work? Isn’t that going to give me trouble when I am where you are?
Friend? Nope. He’s all for it!

Long Pause.

Me: We are talking about the same guy, right?

@mazingerz88 I don’t watch a lot of horror movies. And I have a terrible memory for movies in general. But still remember the opening to Dawn of the Dead.

All the more reason to run the other way!