We Probably Aren't Alone In Case Anyone Was Wondering

Mitchell
The Epic Hero's Journey
9/7/2013

Things Haven't Been The Same Since

It tends to be the moments in life where everything is status quo and regular when things out of the ordinary, occur. On the days in which life is just grand, everyone is happy, and people are at peace- that's when they happen. You just see something that isn't where it belongs, or something really bad happens that just soils it all. I'm almost sure the latter happened to all of us, between all the storms, the Boston Bombing, and the war in Syria, life has been going down a bit of a sour slope for us all in that sense. But what about the former? Have you ever had an experience where something...just isn't right? The laws of the world we know-or for what of it we do- bend? 

If you haven't caught my drift so far, I'm talking about paranormality; phenomena that simply cannot be explained by science yet. Every so often, and to some people more than others, strange things happen that just shouldn't; you hear about it on the news, and people usually call it malarkey. "They're all on drugs," "It's fake," and "C'mon, it's a hoax- you can see the strings," are common comments, but that's why I'm here. I'm here to prove that wrong. By all means, you may believe what you wish, for I am not one to judge another on their thoughts, but if you wish to hear about a plane of existence unseen, untouched and largely unknown by the state we live in, please, reader, continue.

I've always had a bit of knack for the ethereal world; an afterlife, a place where souls go after they leave the material world. But, taking the whole "uncanny valley" deal into consideration, it tended to creep the ever-loving bejeesus out of me, which is why I held off from learning more about it. I was also pretty young the first time I heard about it, in the middle of 6th grade, so it became more of a fear than an interest. Turns out the joke would be on me, but in due time, reader, in due time.

I moved in to my step dad's house a couple of years back, back before he and my mom got married. I was around 15, and the place was like a mansion to me. Disclaimer, it's not huge, but pretty big nonetheless, and very old to boot; build long enough ago to be the official meeting and conference place of John Cushing and George Washington. If you aren't up to speed with your American history, that means it's pretty damn old. Anyway, it was a summer afternoon when I was milling around the place and thinking, "There must be some sort of ghost in here." My step dad haughtily responded, "Nah, they've left by now. I kicked 'em out." "Hah; good one," I responded, "it's our house now anyway." But I wouldn't be writing this if that was the case, now would I?

Flash forward a few months, and it's a warm November afternoon of my freshman year. Family's out somewhere, shopping if my memory recalls, and I was sitting at my dining room table writing out some notes for my history homework tomorrow. I took a peek at the temperature not too long ago and it read around 75 degrees. Pretty toasty for November. The following moments will go ingrained in my mind forever. My dog, relaxed, springs from his bed and begins barking at the kitchen sink, then quickly scurries back into his bed. As I look over, an ice cold chill, easily 40 degrees, passes over my shoulder and I am instantly paralyzed with fear. Not long after faint footsteps quickly hurry up the staircase not far from me. Looks like the joke's on me now, huh?

February now, I just finish trying up a huge essay, and it's well past 2 in the morning. Just as I lull into a lethargic slumber, a heinous scratching on my door awakens me and I am again frozen. This goes on for 30 minutes, with intervals of around 4-7 minutes and intensifying noise. Just as I think it's over, I can see the door move with the force of a psychokinetic pound that hits it, rivaling a football tackle in ferocity, and followed by the most terrifying noise I've ever heard in my life; a blood-curdling, purely unearthly yowl of frustration and fury. I try to scream for help in horror my voice fails me. I am at the mercy of this entity, and it is angry. I muster all of the meager courage I have left and open the door. Nothing is there aside from a slightly cool draft. the next afternoon I address the spirit and apologize for anything I had done to offend it, and nothing of the ilk ever happened again.

I am typing this now, with all of the lights off aside from the back light of my computer, and I feel his presence, this very instant. I'm wearing sweatpants, shin socks and a short sleeve t-shirt and shivering in a 68 degree house. I am certain that I'm not alone. I feel at ease with the entity now, and I know he knows no harm onto me. All it meant, for what I can speculate, is that it was not something to be joked about or deemed mythological. it wanted me to treat it just as I would another human. It goes without saying that I full heartily do now, and as a result it does so in kind onto me. You may be obliged to where you stand on the paranormal, reader, for I have no intention to change your beliefs. But just keep in mind; an experience like mine isn't something you can just shrug off and forget about. And neither is this cold. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to grab a sweater- it is seriously freezing in here.

Sleep tight!