The First Encounter

The year, if I'm not mistaken, was 1984. I know because I was getting ready to start kindergarten. I lived in a town called Carolina in Puerto Rico about 30 minutes away from San Juan, the Capital. The house we lived in was shared between my Aunt Mercedes and my Mom. It was left to us by my paternal grandmother Ana. She passed away soon after I was born. I have no early recollection of what her face looked like since the only two pictures of us together are missing her face.

As with any small "barrio", Ceramica had its share of ghost stories and folktale. Unfortunately for me, one was my grandma. She was said to be a strong, tall woman of very dark skin. The neighbor gossiped about how men would fall head over heels for her. I hated all the rumors. Specially since most people claimed I looked like her a lot.

My full name is Zaranie... The last part of it dedicated to her. I never really paid much attention to all the stuff being said until one night, this drunk woman who was the odd ball in town, came to my house and claimed she had my grandmothers nails and hair in a container in her medicine cabinet. She said since my grandma was a witch, she waited 'till they buried her and cut them herself to do black magic or "brujeria".

It made me so mad, I ran out of the house, I went to my backyard. It was a nice night out with a full moon. Often I would sit by the fruit trees and imagine myself in NY. I had just returned and I loved the train. There I was just looking up at the moon when I hear a hoot on a guanabana tree. I stepped closer to see what it was and I nearly screamed when I looked into a pair of yellow eyes. An owl? In Puerto Rico? Weird. But it just stared at me for long minutes. An odd feeling came over me.

I could not move. My jaw was locked in place. My heart was drumming in my ears. I could hear my mother calling me but I could not move. I must've blinked because when I focused again there was the figure of a woman sitting on the branch of that tree. She was quiet... Just staring at me. So I screamed and I kept screaming 'till my mother came running.

My backyard neighbor was shouting at my mother that she had been in the yard when I came out and she saw me look up and that she too looked up and saw something dark sitting on the tree. Together they took me inside, although my legs refuse to work and they prayed over me and practically choked me on holy water.

After that incident, I was forbidden to go outside alone. It didn't stop my problems from coming indoors. I constantly would jump because I would see things walking past doorways. Or looking through the windows. It became almost impossible for me to sleep unless I was with a grown up. One such time, my mother and my aunt told me they had finally got me to sleep when they saw me walk out of the room and start to crawl halfway down the back hallway. When they followed me, they both saw a woman dressed in white crawling ahead of me. This I don't remember. But I'm glad they were there to get me.

A series of events occurred after that, and I feel the need to warn people who are sensitive to this situations. Things started moving around the house. Items would disappear for days, then show up on counter tops. My mom kept getting pinched... Right now as I'm writing, I have a feeling of heaviness around my throat... Difficulty swallowing... We moved from the house because one night, as I lay awake between my mother and sister, I had the urge to go to the bathroom. I kept trying to hold it because I felt terrified of waking mom or my sister Zilkia.

I counted sheep. I sang baby songs. Almost in tears I gave up and closed my eyes waiting for the inevitable embarrassment of wetting my bed. Then I got this feeling again. It's hard to describe... My limbs become very heavy and I get really cold. My skin pinpricked. I could not move. I looked up at the ceiling like a doll. There was a mist that grew heavier until I could make out a face and hands.

It floated on top of us hovering back and forth and I felt breathing near my face. Hands caressed my face and arms. It felt like if a doctor was prodding me for injuries. Then I noticed the eyes; big and dark and I panicked. I have no idea how but kicking and gagging, I woke my mom and sister and they saw me laying there and started screaming.

Whatever it was went under the bed and shook the rooms to the core. Lamps fell and wind... Wind for the love of God! Came rushing from everywhere. But I could not move. I just closed my eyes and prayed as hard as I could for as long as it took and when it was over I peed on the bed and blacked out.

We moved a lot after that. The incident marked all of us. It definitely scarred me because it seemed to open up sensors in me that took years to understand and control. My clairvoyance got very strong. I get premonitions very often. And even though I still can't understand this part... I can see spirits sometimes.

I welcome all honest readers to give me a first, second and even third opinion to what is wrong with me and to refer me to a good psychiatrist if you believe I suffer and illness.

Thank you for taking the time to read the beginning of my life.