Stand By Me: Is Gordie's Story Actually...Happening?

Okay, horror fam, hear me out. I know, Stand By Me isn't technically horror. But the tension, the darkness, the way it digs into childhood fears...it's got elements! I've been rewatching it (like, for the millionth time) and a weird theory popped into my head. What if the story Gordie is writing at the end – the one about his friends – isn't just a story? Specifically, what if Stand By Me is an extended flashback, and the 'dead body' thing wasn't the only dark secret? Think about it: Gordie's dealing with major survivor's guilt after his brother dies. His parents are emotionally unavailable, and he's basically invisible. Then there's Ace, and his gang which are just creepy. And the train scene? Nightmare fuel! I almost wish someone like Stephen King would write something scarier. But there already is a King connection, of course! Maybe, just MAYBE, the whole journey, the intensity of it all, is heightened because Gordie's repressing some trauma on top of losing his brother. Maybe something worse happened on that trip, something he can't fully confront. He filters it through the lens of 'adventure' and 'friendship' so he CAN deal with it in a story. Think about how emotional he is at the end! It feels like more than just nostalgia! I know a dead body is already dark, but maybe seeing it triggered something in him -- a repressed memory, a disturbing encounter -- it could be anything. I bet there is some dark, hidden secret there, what do you think?