The Haunted Traveler December 2017 Edition

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wonder you’re imagining things. Let’s go upstairs and you’ll get a good night’s sleep.
We’ll talk to your doctor in the morning.”
Nancy sighed. Her confession left her too tired to argue. As she walked toward the
stairs, she asked fearfully, “You’re not going to call the police, are you?”
“Of course not. Now, go change and I’ll get you some water for your pill.”
As she got into bed, Nancy said, “I really could use some sleep. You won’t leave me?”
Joan handed her the tranquilizer and watched her take it. “No Honey, I’ll be right
next door if you need me. Do you want me to leave the hall light on?”
“Yes, please, I suddenly hate the dark.”
“Good night, Nancy. Call if you need anything at all.”
After Joan left, Nancy searched the room to make sure she was alone. Satisfied, she
let the pill take effect and quickly fell into a troubled sleep. Tossing and moaning, she
dreamed of her brother. Far in the distance she could hear him calling to her. “Nancy,
I need you. Please let me talk to you,” he pleaded as his disembodied voice drew closer.
Although she couldn’t see him, the familiar spicy scent of his favorite aftershave told
her that he was nearing. Fighting to escape her nightmare before he came into view,
Nancy forced her eyes open. She found herself sitting up in her bed covered in a
clammy sweat.
Laying back down, Nancy closed her eyes and tried to calm the wild staccato pounding
of her heart. Her ragged breathing slowly returned to normal. The haunting fragrance
of Cliff ’s cologne still lingered as if he were in her room. The feeling of being watched
made her aware that there was someone with her. Remaining perfectly still she slowly
opened her eyes. She knew who would be there and let her vision adjust to the light
from the hallway. She recognized Cliff ’s familiar form, standing by her bed, dressed in
the same suit she had him buried in. He looked better dead then he had while he was
dying. He filled out the clothes that had hung on his ravaged frame and his color was
healthy, not like the pallor she had become used to. She was feeling torn, her rational
self wanted to scream, but her emotional part wanted to keep him near. She sat up and
said, “Hello Cliff.”
“Hi little sister.”
“Don’t you know that you’re dead?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you here?”
He looked her in the eyes, “Several reasons, First I wanted to thank you. I know how
difficult I made everything towards the end.”
“Is that all you’re here about? You’re not here to haunt me?”
“No, I also came because I hate the thought of you living alone like this. I remember
how much you’ve always hated being left by yourself.”
“Cliff, you can’t keep bothering me. Everyone thinks I’m crazy.”
He sat on the edge of her bed and Nancy was surprised to feel it sink under his