There was once a child who asked his mother for a bedtime story. Mother: What kind of story do you want? Child: About ghosts. Mother: Why do you want a story about ghosts? Child: Because some say ghosts aren't real, that they're just demons pretending to be ghosts. But others say they do exist. Mother: And where did you hear about these things? Child: From my friends. Please, Mom, tell me a story about ghosts. Mother: Alright then. Your grandfather, who was a traditional healer, told me there are different kinds of ghosts. Some seek help and justice. They are the ghosts of those who were murdered mercilessly, and their killers were never caught or held accountable. Some turn into "Santelmo" (St. Elmo's Fire) because they either took their own lives or died from being struck by lightning. It’s believed that when you see a floating ball of fire, it’s the spirit of someone who passed away. It appears where the person died, often near seas or boats, serving as a light for fishermen. But don’t touch the fire, because if you do, it will spread and grow as though there’s a fire burning. Others appear because they left something unsaid or hidden that only they knew about. These are the ones who hid money or important documents without telling anyone. After their death, they appear to their loved ones to reveal where the hidden items are. Then there are those who can’t accept their untimely death, especially if they left children behind. For example, there’s a story your grandmother told me about a woman who died during childbirth, leaving her other children behind. Every afternoon, she would pass by the house to visit her kids. This happened daily at 2:00 PM, so the villagers would go inside their homes at that time. Your grandfather and her brother went to her grave to plead with her spirit to rest peacefully, assuring her that her children would be cared for. After that, she stopped appearing. There are also those who can’t find peace because the unborn child in their womb wasn’t taken out. This happened in a province where your grandmother and I visited her sister. Every night, along with the barking and howling of dogs, you could hear a chilling voice calling out to her children. The villagers didn’t know how to help her find peace, so your grandfather intervened. I don’t know what he did, but after that, the woman stopped appearing. Some ghosts are just there to scare people. These spirits appear to frighten others, hoping to cause someone to run in terror until they collapse and die from exhaustion. Such ghosts want company or another soul to join them. When people get scared, these ghosts grow stronger. No matter how far you run, you can’t escape because they float and follow you through the air. Child: Mom, are the ghosts shown on TV real? Mother: No, because you can’t clearly see their faces. They float and blend with the air, and their voices send chills down your spine. If you encounter a ghost, you won’t be able to look at it directly, like what happened to your grandfather. When his mother’s ghost appeared to him, he turned away, bowed his head, and asked her what she needed from him. Child: Mom, is it true there are many ghosts in cemeteries? Mother: Your dad says you’d sleep better in a cemetery than in a church. Child: Why? Mother: Probably because the body passes through the church before being buried in the cemetery. Your dad’s friends once tried sleeping in a church, but they couldn’t rest because they heard footsteps and cries near the altar. In the cemetery, they felt nothing. Child: Was it a challenge to survive sleeping in a cemetery? Mother: No, it was during a village fiesta, and they didn’t know anyone there to ask for a place to sleep. They had no choice but to stay at the cemetery or the church. Child: Did Grandpa pass on his abilities to anyone? Mother: No, because no one in the family was brave enough. Child: What’s the best way to help ghosts find peace? Mother: Pray for them. Child: Even if you don’t know them? How? Mother: You can mention the names of the spirits you know and say, “And for all the souls who haven’t found peace, may they find the light and go where they should.” Prayer is the strongest weapon; it connects us to God. So, learn to pray and follow His commandments so that when the time comes, you can face Him with your head held high. Child: But that’s hard, Mom. It’s impossible not to sin. Mother: No one is perfect, but the important thing is to repent sincerely and not repeat the sin. Child: I’ll remember that, Mom. From now on, I’ll include ghosts in my prayers. Mother: Alright, sleep now. You have school tomorrow. Do you want me to stay here? Child: Can I, Mom? Mother: Oh, you! You ask me for a ghost story, and now you can’t sleep alone. Child: Mom, you know me! Mother: You and your brother love scary stories but can’t handle them afterward. Alright, I’ll sleep here, but let’s pray first. Child: Okay. Child: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit... Lord, thank You for the blessings we received. Sorry for our sins. Guide us and keep us safe from harm and untimely death. May the ghosts in this world find the light to their rightful place. Amen. (Gives his mom a kiss on the cheek) Good night, Mom. Love you. Mother: Good night, my child. Love you too. Author's POV Prayers are what restless spirits need, especially those who have no one praying for them. That’s all, and thank you for reading my story. P.S. This is based on a real story, as told by my mom. I hope you enjoyed it.
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