The Start

 

Based on a True Story

Maybe while reading my stories, you asked yourself if ghosts are for real. As what I always tell to people who don't believe, is that they are very real. For most, they say to see is to believe. Well. To believe is all up to you.

It started when I was young. At first I thought I was mentally ill because I was the only one who sees them. According to the stories of the elders, this only happens to people who were on the brink of death. In addition, a classmate of mine from elementary days called me crazy and freak. (Well, that's another story to tell). Anyway, every time these entities locked their eyes upon mine, the more they're drawn into me.

I was 7 years old when I entered this so-called "other world". We have a neighbor whose husband died because.. I actually don't know what's the cause of his death. A wake was held in their home. I still remember when Nanay Lilia's husband was still alive, sometimes when my Papa and I would pass by their house, he would always call my name "Indaylee! Asa naman pud ka mag-uban sa imong papa?" (Indaylee! Where are you going again with your papa?) I am known by the nickname IndayLee among our neighbors. My dad will just answer, and smile at him. 

The night of his wake, we were in their kitchen. Mama and Nanay Lilia were chatting, and somebody called them from the outside. Mama told me to stay for awhile and that she'll be back. 

I felt like i've been waiting so long for them to arrive so I left the kitchen, and went around the house to look where they were. However, it was all dark. Very dark. I turned my way back but I can no longer see the kitchen. There was no light or even noise. It's like you were walking blindly but your body knows where to go. I kept walking around until I saw their wooden gate. I went inside, and I saw a coffin. I peeked, but it was empty.  

I started to get scared and called mom over and over again. I screamed as loud as I could but my voice was just echoing. I cried and cried until an ice-cold hand patted my head. When I turned my head up, it was a tall, extremely pale man with a medium body build, his eyes were dark and sad. He wore a long black sleeve. He was barefooted, and floating. He was carrying a large candle. I knew his face but I don't remember his name. He asked me "nganong naa ka diri indaylee" (Why are you here, Indaylee?")  

I really cannot remember what else happened.. because

when I opened my eyes, I was still alone sitting in the kitchen, but there were already lights and a lot of noises from the outside, and I could hear Nanay Lilia's voice coming over. I hopped like a horse. She saw it and asked me, what's happened. She held my head, and asked why I was soaking wet with sweat. She said she came to pick me up because mama was waiting at the gate. As we went out away from the kitchen, I turned my head back and I saw the pale man again, holding the large candle while staring at us walking away.