The Magic Within

All eyes on me

As I walked to my lori I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I looked around but didn’t notice anyone or anything out of the ordinary. I chopped it up to a bit of anxiety after the weird encounter with the strange man earlier today. I couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower. The day seemed longer than usual. I had to figure out why I wasn’t sleeping well.

I walked through my door and immediately heard the phone ringing. It was my mother. “Hi Mum”. “Hello Dear. How are you? I couldn’t help but call you as I just felt you may have needed me” she said. “I’m ok Mum. Just a long day at the pub. I just walked in actually. I’m taking the night off” I tell her. “Oh? That’s so unlike you. Are you feeling well?“ she asked. “Yes mum. I haven’t been sleeping well. I have been having a reoccurring nightmare, and it just keeps getting more intense.” I tell her. There was silence on her end for a moment. “Well I’m sure it’s just caused by stress. Take a warm bath and get into bed early. I’ll call you tomorrow or the day after. I love you.” she tells me. “Yes mum. I love you too.” I hang up the phone and go into the kitchen. I could really go for a glass of Pinot Grigio.

After pouring my wine I go and run a hot bath full of bubbles. Maybe I just need a good long soak. I put on my favorite song and grab a book I’ve been trying to read for a few days now. I honestly have no idea what the book is even about as I haven’t been able to focus. The sun is starting to set, and it’s just beautiful. I have a gorgeous view from my claw foot tub. As I’m watching the sun set and enjoying my wine, I began to see myself in the forest again. Only this time I’m running. My breath is ragged. I’ve been running for hours it seems. My clothes are torn, and I’ve lost my shoes in the process. How can this be? I was just soaking in my tub. There is a dark figure chasing me. I can feel his presence starting to encase me. I smell something burning. As I look behind me, I trip and fall onto my knees. The are so bloody from being scraped. I get up to run, and suddenly I’m back in my tub.

When I returned from this daydream, I’m covered in sweat, and the water is muddy. Am I really daydreaming? It seems more like an out of body experience. So much for a relaxing bath. I decided to take a shower. I cleaned the bathtub and got into my pajamas. They are my favorite pajamas made of a delicate pink silk. I bought them for myself as a treat on my 20th birthday. After drawing the curtains, I sink into my bed. I feel like I’ve ran 20 miles.

I awoke the next morning thankful for a peaceful sleep. My legs were sore but overall I felt fantastic. This was my day off, and I had planned to do a little grocery shopping and gardening. I have left the garden unattended for far to long. I went into town and stopped by the butcher’s. “Hi Mr McMiller” I called out. “Oh hi. I was wondering when I was going to see you again” he said. “You know me. Always working. I’ve avoided shopping for to long, and I’m out of everything.” I tell him. He gave me my usual order and told me to return sooner next time. I was off to the farmer’s market for my fruit and veg. Upon arriving I started to feel like I was being watched again. I took a look around and saw nothing suspicious. I made my way over to farmer Shawn’s stand. “Hi Mr Shawn. Lovely to see you. How are the wife and kids” I asked him. “Hi Elise! It’s so lovely to see you. They are all well. I’m afraid Matty is down with a cold, but he will be fine.” He tells me. We chit chatted a bit more about the family and how the crops were fairing this year. It had been an unusually warm year. I was saying my goodbyes when the strange man from the pub was suddenly at my side. Not wanting to be rude, I said hi. He turned and looked at me with the most beautiful green eyes I’d ever seen. I don’t know how I missed that at the pub when I saw him the first time. Lack of sleep I guess. He just stared at me and finally said hello. I felt very awkward at the way he was looking at me. Not wanting to be next to him any longer I told him goodbye and walked back to my lori.

Why was it that every time I was near him I got the urge to run? How did I not notice his eyes before? I’d never seen someone with eyes so green before in my life. Why did I also feel strangely attracted to him? I really felt like he was a dangerous man. While driving back home I really hoped he wouldn’t come into the pub again. Since we were the only pub in town, those chances were very slim. I shook my head, groaned a little, and pulled into my driveway.

My mom’s yoke was sitting in the driveway. I wondered why she didn’t call as she usually does before she visits. “I stepped out of my vehicle and saw her sitting on my porch swing. “Hi Mum” I called out to her. “Oh hi Dear. Just thought I’d drop off some tea leaves I made since I was in the neighborhood.” She told me. I always chuckle because I literally live on the edge of a forest. There are no neighbors for miles. I’ve always felt more comfortable away from town and away from to many people. It was no convenience to drive into my “neighborhood.” I told her to come in, and she followed through the door behind me. I sat my groceries down on the counter and began to soak the veggies. I turn around and my mom is staring at me with a strange look on her face. I asked her what was the matter. “How long have you been having nightmares” she asked me. “Shortly after my 20th birthday. Why Mum? Did the same thing happen to you?” I asked her. She was silent for a few moments and than began to speak. “Yes it happened to me and also to your grandmother. I don’t know why it happens after the age of 20, but it got more intense for me until I reached the age of 21. I wouldn’t worry Dear” she told me. I couldn’t help but feel like she wasn’t telling me something. We had a cup of tea and then she left.

I lit my fireplace as the weather called for a chilly night. I made myself a roast with potatoes and all of the trimmings. It would last me for a couple of days. I pulled out a vintage red wine that my parents gave to me for my birthday, poured myself a glass, and went to sit on my sofa. The sun was setting, and it was a beautiful evening. I always felt so lucky to have big windows in my cottage. I sat there watching the last of the rays sink into the night sky while eating my delicious meal. I hadn’t felt this peaceful and content for weeks.

After tidying my cottage I sat down to my computer and typed into Google out of body experiences. All sorts of things came up. Some scary. Some completely fake. But then I saw something that caught my eye. It explained in detail exactly what I had experienced. It was an article from a paper from 50 years ago called The County Herald and was based three counties away. What luck! It gave the name of a lady, Margaret O’Conner. I wondered if she was still alive or even still lived there. I printed off the article and folded it into my purse. I intended to visit Margaret and ask questions. I had to get to the bottom of what I was experiencing. I felt like I was going crazy and didn’t want to concern my parents or friends. Besides how could they help me if they had never even experienced anything like this. I felt guilty for not telling my mum, but I didn’t want to worry her. My second oldest sister was due with a baby soon, so she had enough to worry about already.