“Why can’t I sleep beside Mommy?” — the heartbreaking question from a little boy in the Philippines left his family struggling to hold back their tears.

A series of deeply moving photos showing five-year-old Khayne Castro sitting quietly beside his mother’s casket has touched hearts and been widely shared across social media.

According to Le Tribunal du Net, Khayne’s mother passed away after giving birth to a baby at the end of June. The newborn is still fighting through serious health challenges, while the family is also facing the heartbreaking reality of losing their mother.

During his mother’s funeral, little Khayne stayed close to her casket. Sometimes, he would climb onto a chair to look inside and see his mother. Other times, he would sit quietly beside it, seemingly carrying a sadness far too heavy for someone so young.

“Why can’t I sleep beside Mommy?” His innocent question left many people deeply emotional.

Marichu Gabriel, a relative of the family, was overwhelmed when she saw the photos of her young nephew. She shared the images on her personal social media page alongside a question that reflected the family’s pain: “How am I supposed to explain this to him?”

In the days before the funeral, Khayne even arranged chairs in a circle so he could sleep beside his mother’s casket, wanting to remain as close to her as possible.

“I couldn’t hold back my tears when I saw this little boy. He is far too young to experience the loss of his mother.”

“Stay strong, brave little boy. We hope you find the strength to get through this difficult time.”

Countless heartfelt messages have since been shared for Khayne, with people sending love and support as he and his family face an unimaginable loss.