I have always enjoyed late night walks. There is something about the stillness that makes everything feel simpler.
I am a welder by trade. Been doing it for over 40 years now I live alone in a big farm, just me and my dog Bosley, the house is too large for one person, but I never had the heart to downsize.
After my wife, Maria passed away, my kids moved out years ago, ever since cancer took her, it's just me and Bosley.
One night after a long day in the shop, I decided to go for a walk. My property is pretty big, so just a single loop is usually enough to satisfy my craving, the air was cool and Bosley trotted along beside me sometimes, I think he likes me more than I like him.
I have walked that loop hundreds of times but as I was heading back towards the house, something caught my eyes, I glanced up at the second story window, the only that looks out from the bedroom Maria and I used to share for a split second I thought I saw something move. I stopped dead in my tracks. Staring up at that window, there were no reason anyone should be in there.
I hadn't been in their for years. I couldn't bring myself to I felt my blood start to boil at that. The thought of some stranger breaking into my house. I wasn't going to stand for that I ran inside... my heart racing and run upstairs.
The room was empty. Just like I had left it, no sign of anything out of place. I looked everywhere. Imaginable, but found nothing. Yes, I was pretty freaked out, but I was more angry than anything. I didn't take this kind of things lightly, I figured, I had just seen something that wasn't there. I stood there for a while feeling foolish but I couldn't shake the feeling that something had been there.
The next night, I woke up to Bosley growling, he's a good dog never barks, unless there's something to bark at. I sat up in my bed listening, that's when I heard creaking coming from upstairs, it could have just been the sounds of my old house, but my mind went directly to footsteps, which were coming from right above me, I'm sure you could know which room I am talking about is directly above mine, I debated, grabbing my hunting rifle from downstairs, but didn't want to go that far, if it came down to it, I was fully confident that I could take whatever was up there Hand-to-hand. I grabbed my flashlight and went to check again.
Nothing....the room was exactly the same untouched, my anger was definitely starting to turn into anxiety at this point. Something didn't feel right inn the house.
The following night, I came downstairs to find the kitchen lights on, I know, I turned them off before bed, I don't leave lights on, there was no question anymore. Someone was in my house, I started to panic, I called the police and told them I thought someone might be sneaking around .
They came outsearched the house from top to bottom, but found the thing they were nice about it told me to call again if I needed them, but I could tell they didn't believe me, but the next night was the worst by far.
I couldn't sleep but decided to go upstairs and check the bedroom again, I don't know why maybe I thought it would settle my mind, but when I opened to the door I froze, there were clothes scattered all over the floor Maria's clothes.
I had packed them away after she died.
Now, they were everywhere.
Something like this doesn't just happen randomly, and then I saw her there was a woman standing in the doorway, just staring at me. I couldn't see her face clearly. But I could tell she wasn't Maria, she was too short, I don't know who she was, but she didn't belong there.
I had never been so afraid in my life. Without thinking I ran at her, she turned and bolted down the stairs and out the front door.
By time I got outside, she was gone... I searched the property with Bhosle, but there was no trace of her, I didn't sleep that night.
4 months after that, I couldn't sleep, I was constantly on edge convinced, I heard for steps upstairs at night, every little noise set me off. I slept with my rifle next to my bed.
Terrified that I had have to use it one night, every little noise set me off. I debated calling my brother to come stay with me, but I wasn't going to do that, I was raised to always handle my own so that's what I did.
The nightmare, didn't it at though one night. I was sitting in the living room when I noticed a figure standing in the yard, looking straight at me through the window, it was her again, my heart felt like it stopped.
I grabbed my hunting rifle and ran outside, mostly closed behind. She was still there, just a silhouette in the moonlight, watching me, I fired a few warning more shots into the air, hoping to scare her off. That was enough to get her to turn ran into the darkness, but it's not like that made me feel any better.
I was literally being torment by some random woman who was probably homeless. I couldn't even imagine why this was happening to me.
I stood there for a long time waiting to see if she had come back, she never did.
I haven't seen her since but it's only a matter of time I am fully prepared to defend myself, but I don't think living in perpetual anxiety like this is sustainable.
Thank God... Bhosle was always with me. I have no idea what I do without him.