In the small town of Eustis, a young girl mourned the loss of her recently departed grandfather. Gina Campbell was having a difficult time coping with his death. She was so depressed about losing her best friend.
Most of her free time had been spent having fun with her grandfather, playing games whenever he stopped by for a visit. They were an almost inseparable pair and she was the happiest when they were together. It broke her heart when she learned he passed away. She was in denial for days as the loneliness set into her heart; she firmly believed that one day he would return to her.
He was buried in a cemetery just a few hundred yards from her house, and every evening at sunset when she looked from her bedroom window, she could see his grave.
She would stare out from between dark bangs, a tear rolling from her desolate gray eyes down her cheek, her small mouth quivering. The lost expression on her face would never change, as she yearned for her best friend to come and play.
Then something happened a few nights after the funeral.
She couldn't explain it, and she was never the same after.
That night, her parents were going out, but the babysitter hadn't arrived yet. Something about that night made it eerie. It was something that couldn't be understood by someone so young, so how could she prepare for it? An awkward feeling flowed through Gina's small body as she sat on the top of the staircase, just outside her parents' bedroom, as they got ready. Maybe it was the unpredictable storm that loomed. It hit hard in some parts of town while leaving others untouched. Even stranger was the lack of storm warnings; the turmoil came as a complete surprise.
Could the storm bring something too horrifying? Being a six-year-old, Gina had quite an imagination. This wasn't the time to make a mistake about leaving her alone. Even as they waited for Vicki, Gina knew she might never arrive to make things better; she had to endure the darkness alone. The storm was the force to be reckoned with and there wasn't any way of knowing if it was going to get worse.
"This isn't like her at all, and I just don't know what to do. I just don't feel right leaving Gina alone while we're out for a long time." Gina's mother fretted as she stood in front of the dresser and combed her dark, shoulder-length hair.
Gina knew she was talking about the babysitter, Vicki Barnes, who had always arrived on time or even a few minutes early. She could sense the apprehension in her mother as she listened to what was going on. Gina knew she was supposed to be in bed, with happy images dancing through her head, but she couldn't sleep; she just sat there at the top of the stairs, staring into the darkness.
"We're already late enough as it is. This is such a horrible night to have an appointment for my father's will. I just don't understand why it would be tonight. Couldn't they have picked a better time to have this?" she wondered, glancing to her husband with a curious look. He didn't have a response either, perhaps wondering the same thing. He just shrugged when their eyes met. "I wish she would hurry up and get here because I'm very worried that something will happen while we're out and I wouldn‘t feel right about leaving her alone; maybe we shouldn't go tonight."
"I know, Hon, this is a first for both of us," her father replied, trying to calm his wife with a gentle kiss on her cheek. Her father was a tall man with thinning brown hair that was slowly turning gray. There was a sense of importance whenever he spoke, but a tone of tenderness also came with it. He never raised his voice; he was a gentle man who loved his family. "I don't think we can wait any longer. I know it's a horrible time to have this appointment, but we should get there before the storm hits. We'll try to make it as short a night as possible, but we need to take care of this; it's too important. Besides, I think Gina's going to be fine without a sitter and Frank Gordon, from next door, said he would keep an eye on things while we're gone."
"Are you sure?"
He gave her a comforting hug. "Gina's a smart girl, and we've taught her what to do in case of an emergency. If anything should happen, she knows how to use the phone in case Vicki can't make it. Just calm down . . . She's gonna be fine."
Gina did know how to take care of herself. Yet today the thought of the loneliness awaiting her in the dark made her nervous. She never liked being alone, always wanted someone there for her to talk to. She couldn't understand how her parents could even think about leaving her to that loneliness.
Didn't they know this? I don't understand why they are doing this to me. I really don't want them to leave me here all alone, she thought frantically as she shivered with a cold chill that flowed her instantly. How could they be doing this to me? I don't want them to leave me! Don't they want me anymore?
Her anxiety grew by the minute; she wasn't the happy, little girl she once was. She didn't understand why her grandfather had to leave so suddenly. Feelings of loneliness haunted her constantly. She craved for her best friend's return, wanting the comfort only he provided. The loss was too much for her to take all at once. She needed time to outgrow the fears of her childhood to come to grips with this overwhelming loneliness.
It was nearing 7:00 when her parents realized Gina was sitting just outside their bedroom door on the first step of the staircase that lead downstairs to the living room. They wondered how much of the conversation she had heard, but they understood she was still mourning and couldn't come to terms with it just yet; it was a difficult time for her. As she continued to stare out in the darkness, it looked like she was expecting someone; her parents wondered if she heard the conversation at all, yet she didn't respond to them when her mother suggested that she should get ready for bed. Gina's parents kissed her good night as they tucked her in for the night, reassuring her that everything was going to be all right. Gina wanted to believe them, but the storm frightened her so much that the conviction was out of her reach.
She hoped Vicki wouldn't take too long.
Luckily, just as her parents were getting ready to leave, Vicki called. She said she was going to be a few moments late, and if they needed to leave before she got there, they shouldn't worry since she'd be there shortly. That decided it.
As her parents flicked off the light, eerie blackness surrounded her, an occasional flash of lightning the only illumination. Gina just stared at the ceiling before she began tossing and turning, hoping to fall asleep. She pulled up the covers to her chin and slowed her breath. An hour later, the storm continued to rage on more loudly than before. How was she going to fall asleep with the sounds of the storm going on around her?
Hours passed, and Vicki still hadn't gotten there. She always popped her head in when she arrived. Gina reminded herself her parents would be home at 11:30. The time felt like an eternity; each second that passed felt as if it lasted an hour. Gina noticed the time on the clock that hung on the wall by her bed; the large numbers read 11:58. She listened for the sound of a car engine, but only heard the storm. Wondering what had happened to her parents, she began to worry as she went to the window. She pressed her face against the cold glass and stared out, hoping to see the headlights of her parents' car. She was concerned about her parents not being home by the time they said they would be.
Something out in the backyard caught her eye, but the storm prevented her from seeing clearly. Storms always played tricks on her, and it let her imagination run rampant with her other senses imposing a dreamlike reality. Her mind wandered and the loneliness returned.
A giant clap of thunder boomed directly overhead, shaking the house violently. Gina jumped back and caught her breath. The howling wind sounded like wolves, and the storm hammered against the windowpanes, threatening to smash them to pieces. Something was out there. Something came with the storm and she couldn't tell what it could be. A chill flowed down her spine, as the thunder clapped loudly in her ears. She watched somethingwhat, she didn't knowgetting closer with each flash of lightning. The room was dark again with a sudden coldness unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her nightlight dimmed, flickered, and then went out completely. The room was pitch black. Gina ran back to her bed and dove under the covers.
Huddled in her bed, she couldn't see anything around her but the storm. It felt like something was there, something waiting for her in the darkness--a strange presence somewhere in the room, watching her. She couldn't stay huddled under her blankets forever. Silently, she slipped from her bed, planted her feet onto the firm, hardwood floor, and ran through the darkness, hoping she wouldn't bump into anything. It felt like she brushed past something in the darkness. Reaching the light, she flipped the switch, eyes wide.
Nothing.
It was just her nightlight; the electricity had gone out in the whole house. Now what was she supposed to do?
Trying to rid herself of the bizarre sensation, she wondered why a strange presence was playing games with her mind.
She stood at the foot of the bed and glanced around the room, knowing whatever was in her room was waiting and watching, but she didn't seeing anything out of place. It relieved her, only for a moment, when her eyes locked onto the doll that sat on her dresser, smiling ominously at her. It was always grinning, but why was it doing that? When the lightning flashed again, the doll seemed to move; its head turned toward her. But something else moved through the blackness, almost knocking her down. When the lightning flashed again, the doll was gone, vanishing in an instant. She glanced wildly around the room to find it, but it had moved too quickly for her to track it.
The presence was still somewhere in the mysterious blackness that surrounded her. She could hear childish cackling coming from all sides of her, taunting her from a distance. The sound was very eerie, but she wanted to know who was laughing; were they laughing at her because she was frightened? Something moved, and it used the darkness like a mask. Thunder boomed loudly, and the lightning made it difficult to tell what was really moving and what was just her imagination.
She just wanted an end to this bizarre reality, wondering why she had to be alone on a night like this. In the back of her mind, she craved the comfort she had lost when she lost her grandfather.
A sound was coming from behind her. Gina turned quickly to see what it was. She saw nothing but the darkness surrounding her. Her pulse raced, refusing to slow down. Somewhere in the stillness, the presence moved again, even as it tried to be silent. The movement was a slow creak, like someone tiptoeing across old wood. She just couldn't see anything beyond the shadows of the furniture. A yearning sensation began to pull at her subconscious, a feeling she couldn't ignore. Something was sitting on her bed; a small shape beckoned her, anxiously waiting for her to climb back into bed and fall asleep.
"Come back," it told her seductively. "You need your rest."
The yearning pulled her restless body toward her bed, hoping to get the sleep it needed. The voice made her forget about the turmoil going on around her, something she had struggled and failed to do all evening. Still, she wondered what was sitting there on her bed, beckoning her to be under the covers. Was it the same presence she felt a moment before? She knew it didn't have good intentions and took a step backward.
"Come get your rest, Little One," the voice beckoned. Step by step, Gina moved toward her bed.
Finally, she thought, sleep has come to get me. Something was sitting in the middle of her bed. The shadow didn't want her to move. It was still the darkness playing tricks on her. She just couldn't understand what was happening. All she felt was an ominous smile, piercing through the stillness, to reach the sense of tranquility deep within her. The shadow was beckoning her back from that place; it was the only place she could go when she was frightened. Her imagination didn't help matters any by adding these bizarre images to pass through her mind.
"I am not going to ask again, Young Lady," the voice called out, still urging Gina to come to rest her weary head. "You know you need your rest, you have a big day tomorrow. You have so many things to do, and I need you to finish them."
She wondered what the voice was talking about, what things? The presence needed her for something, but Gina's uneasiness continued to flow through her, making her more uncomfortable. The soothing sound of the voice brought back the tranquility as the urge to climb into bed, to lay her head onto the soft, fluffy pillow overwhelmed her. But she was still bothered by the storm that was still raging on outside her bedroom window.
No one would believe anything like this. Gina knew she couldn't convince her parents of the strangeness she witnessed. As it was, she had a problem believing it herself. It was the overactive imagination of a small child. She wondered if there was anything that could ease her anxiety. Her feelings all led back to the man she adored: her grandfather. Her sense of security and comfort disappeared when her grandfather passed away, and even though it had only been a few days, it felt like an eternity for Gina.
The phone rang suddenly. The sound made her jump instantly as a cold sensation flowed through her. Maybe it was her mother, calling to say they were going to be late. She stood there as the phone continued to ring relentlessly. She slowly moved toward the phone, wanting the ringing to stop as she covered her ears.
She finally lifted the receiver. "Hello?" she said nervously, her voice trembling. For a moment there was no sound. She thought she heard a sound from very far away.
"Hello, my Little Princess," a voice said soothingly. It sounded so familiar. It took her a moment to recognize it. It belonged to her grandfather.
"Grandpa! Is that really you?" she said excitedly. There weren't any words to express how she felt or what went through her mind. "I missed you so much. There's so much I want to tell you!"
"I missed you too, Sweetheart, and I'm sure you have a lot to say—you were never at a loss for words, and that's good," the voice said, but the tone changed for a moment. It was a tone Gina had never heard her grandfather use. Something was bothering him.
"But why did you leave me?" she asked with a sudden sadness. "Don't you love me anymore?"
"I know you have been taught better than that," the voice began sternly. "You know better than to say things like that, especially to me. Those things can hurt someone's feelings, since those words are so cruel. Just so you know, I will always love you and that will stay the same, no matter what happens."
"You left me without saying goodbye," she said sorrowfully as a tear rolled down her face. "I didn't want you to go."
"I'm sorry, Princess, but I had to go. It was my time to leave this world. It just wasn't my choice to make. Some things in the world are beyond a person's control. Believe me, Honey, I didn't want to go; this is just a part of life. If I had my wish, I would stay there with you forever." The soothing words made her feel a little better, but life would never be the same without him. "There's something I need to tell you, too."
The sounds from the storm returned to her ears. Thunder boomed loudly and lightning flashed brightly. The wind continued to howl as the apprehension flowed relentlessly through her. The storm appeared to be a supernatural force to be reckoned with. There seemed to be a force within the storm and it raged with such strength that no one knew what was going on or what would happen next. Gina's fear reclaimed her small body, sending icy ripples down her spine. She still didn't feel safe from the storm, thinking something was out to get her.
"Don't be afraid, Honey. There's nothing to fear," the voice said soothingly, stressing certain syllables to ease the Gina's anxiety. "You'll be safe in the house; just don't venture outside. Just stay inside your room and everything will be just fine. The storm will pass over."
"I will, Grandpa," she said sweetly. She started to calm down after listening to the soothing sound of his voice; her grandfather had no reason to mislead her. He was the one person she trusted more than anyone else.
"I have to go now, Honey," the voice said sadly, "but I want you to know that I love you, and I'll never stop, no matter what. There shouldn't be any reason for you to think otherwise. You're a special little girl and you have your whole life ahead of you. Just focus on the bigger and better things, instead of worrying about ever losing me."
"I love you too, Grandpa!"
"I will always be here for youthat's a promiseone that we will always share forever, no matter what," the voice explained. "Just remember the good times we had together, and that will get you through the tough times. I have big plans for you; don't let me down."
Then the telephone went silent. The presence she felt slowly faded; the man she loved left her again. A final tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't want him to go, but she finally said her last goodbye. She realized he would always be with her and that was the only thing that mattered to her. There was a lot more she wanted to tell him and though she would never have the chance to speak those words, she had the rest of her life to focus on. She didn't need to worry about death so much.
As she slowly climbed back into her bed, she glanced at her doll that sat at the foot of the blanket. It was the same doll her grandfather won for her at the County Fair the previous summer. She picked it up as she pulled the comforter over her to keep her warm. From that moment on, she held that doll close to her; it was the only thing that reminded her of him. She would always treasure that one thing and would never part with it since it meant that much to her.
Her last thought of him, handing her that doll, to walk away from the counter with a glowing smile on her face. She accepted the prize with a sweet sounding thank you as they walked away to go home for the day. This was a memory that will always be special to her for many years. After a moment, she wasn't even worried with any of it.
Gina went to bed, calm and happy. She slept well in spite of the raging storm; the violent sounds faded from her mind, becoming more distant and diminished into nothing with each passing moment. It was a pleasant sleep, the best slumber she had in her entire young life. This time she had cheerful thoughts and dreams, as everything fell silent in her mind; only her grandfather's comforting words flowed through her. Her parents finally came home and found their daughter asleep, and reluctant to wake her, so they left their questions about what happened for the morning.
When the morning arrived, the sun was out in a clear, translucent blue sky. Gina could hear the birds singing just outside her bedroom window. She wondered if the night before really happened. It almost felt like a dream she wanted to put behind her. Her mind was still half-asleep when her parents called her down for breakfast. She rubbed her eyes and slowly made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
When she reached the kitchen, Gina noticed her mother was still on the telephone; she wondered who would call so early. The tone in her mother's voice made it clear she was ready to end the conversation with the person who called. She knew her mother was trying to hide what she was feeling at the moment. She wasn't necessarily upset, but she seemed concerned.
Gina's parents were horrified as Vicki explained that she had been in an accident because of the storm and had never made it to their home. The storm had done some damage in different parts of town, and most of it wasn't serious: just power lines and trees knocked down. Leaves from all the trees cluttered the streets, along with branches and dirt from various lawns. Luckily there wasn't any property damage. Gina's parents remarked that it was a good thing nothing happened to the house. But what did Gina do all alone in their home? The look in her mother's eyes surprised the young girl.
When they asked her, Gina told them what had happened. They didn't believe her, thinking it was a child's overactive imagination, but she just smiled and pointed out her window to what she had seen the night before. The telephone line from the house was intact to the first pole, but the cable was broken by fallen limbs and had dropped into the cemetery. The end of the broken line lay across her grandfather's grave. Even her parents were surprised with what they found. Perhaps there was some truth to what she said.
To this day, they pass most of it off as her imagination, but Gina knew the truth, and that was what she believed. She could hear her grandfather laughing with her. It was such a hearty laugh, so full of life; she knew no one else could ever sound anything like it. That sound that could never be replicated by anyone; it was something she would always cherish. No one would ever try since the man affected everyone he encountered during his life. The times they shared, even now just distant memories, would always be special. Now, she truly knew she would always have her best friend with her.
His laughter was the only thing that made her feel better.
The memory of her best friend has become a distant memory, but she has never forgotten, refusing to let him go. Nothing could ever replace the love she felt. Death was never easy to overcome, but Gina realized her best friend was in a better place, not suffering. He just wanted the best for her and she wanted the same for him. It was a difficult thing to let go of someone so close, but it was going to take time.
Gina learned that lesson.