Spirits DO come visit you and they ARE real.
I saw one — with my own eyes — when I was little.

We were living in the same little house near my mother’s parents.
The little house was cold in the winter with a very drafty fireplace.
There was another little house right next to us.
Nobody lived in it anymore. The old woman had died some time ago,
but it was still set up inside like someone was.

My brother and I would peer through the little windows —
we were just tall enough to barely see through.
The lace curtains were sheer enough to tell what was inside,
and open just enough to get a real good glimpse of things.

I remember it clearly — the kitchen table still set with its dishes,
all shiny and ready for a meal that would never come,
the flowered wallpaper, the wooden chairs at the table.

I don’t know how many times I’d peeked in that window.
It held my gaze. It was so pretty.

One winter night, Mom tucked us all in the bed in the living room.
There were four of us kids then (two more came later).
We all slept in the same bed so we could stay warm.

The front door — almost right in front of me —
had a little window at the top.
I was almost asleep and my eye caught that window… There was someone looking at me!!

I’d never met her, but I instantly knew —
it was the woman who had lived in the house next door.

I was so freakin’ scared!!!

I peeked in her windows and now she was peekin’ in mine!!

I threw the covers over my head and stayed like that until morning.
I never, ever looked in her windows again after that.

Her grave is on that same property — back off in the field.
I remember going there.

She didn’t smile. No expression. Just… looking… at me.

I never saw her again.

🌻 Thanks for sittin’ a spell!

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