The John At The Library

I was on my fourth year in college when the incident happened. We were assigned to do a research proposal as part of our requirements in order to receive our bachelor's degree. I was so busy reading a thesis in the library that I didn't notice it was already eight in the evening. The library custodian tapped me and asked me to leave as I was the only student left and they were about to close. I immediately gathered my things, thanked the custodian and left.

The Philippine Normal University's library is a five story building. The ground floor had several rooms that were used for meetings, seminars and classes. The second, third, and fourth levels were where the books were kept. The last floor had an auditorium and offices for library officials and staff. The theses for graduate and undergraduate studies were located at the third level. In addition, all floors had restrooms. Now, back to the story.

Before I went down, I dropped by the restroom to relieve myself. When I entered, I knew that nobody was there since all the stall doors were open and no one was at the lavatory. I chose to use the first stall and as I sat there, I heard faint sobs as if someone was just done crying. I thought that another person came in after me. Funny thing was, I didn't hear the restroom door open nor does does close (as it always does if someone enter). I felt the hair at the back of my neck stood on ends and I couldn't move. I was starting to freak out when I found the courage to stand up and get out of the stall.

I don't know if it was panic attack or something else but I couldn't open the door. I was trapped inside and no one was there to help me. Desperately, I crawled under the door just to get out. I was still on fours when I saw feet on the ground. I raised my eyes and was screaming like mad with what I saw because the owner of the feet had a body without a head but I could still hear the sobs.

I can't remember how I managed to get out of the john still on fours. The last thing I could remember was the roving guard asking what happened and being brought to the clinic. They called our house number and my uncle came to pick me up. I wasn't able to come to school three days after the incident. Everyone thought that I was attacked in the restroom because it wasn't until the second day that I was able to tell my story.

It was hard going back to school because I was met with cynicism and people thought I just made everything up. It's been almost five years since I graduated and every time I come across someone from my batch, I would be asked about the time that I had in the john at the third level of the library.