Cathedral Window (Short Stories)

❀ Blythe

(Based/Inspired by a true story narrated by the author's friend)

I don't believe in ghosts, hauntings, or any of those supernatural stuff.

There are more important things to focus on than reveling in topics that remain abstract, without an absolute truth. With how fast life is right now–walking hand-in-hand with technology and modernization, there's no doubt subjects revolving around urban legends and folklore are going to be forgotten for good.

I bet you already have an idea of what I'd say next–yes, no doubt you're right.

That's what I thought.

My story happened a while back when my uncle overseas came home to spend his vacation with us for a month. There would be a grand reunion.

"This place might as well be a museum," I commented to myself after reaching the house where the reunion tomorrow would be held. "Gosh, I can even smell its oldness from afar" Sorry, I didn't mean to sound snarky but I just got out of work and traveled from afar.

The house was huge, 3-story with a gate. It could be spotted easily because it's the only property on this street that looks antique. But it was really old though, the ones who first lived here were our great-grandparents.

I raised my hand to knock when I noticed the gate was slightly ajar. Pushing it slowly, I saw Caroline on the front porch playing on her phone. "Baby girl? Why are you outside?" I glanced back at my phone and saw it died, crap! I was just about to read a chat Aunt Rowena sent seconds ago.

Caroline put her phone down and hurried to me, "Big sister Gwen! You're finally here!" She sounded excited.

Even if I didn't visit here all the time, Aunt Rowena would always come to Pasay with Caroline to drop by and so I formed a close bond with my younger cousin.

"You missed me too much?!" I joked, patting her head affectionately. "Where's your mom?"

Caroline took my hand and led me inside the house, "She went out to withdraw money and head to the grocery for tomorrow's lunch. I stayed back because I wanted to wait for you"

I stepped inside the house and nostalgia hit me in an instant. When was the last time I went here? I couldn't remember anymore.

My little cousin went to the kitchen and started taking out some plates, "Have you eaten? Mom cooked your favorite"

"I can't say no to that and tell me you bought soft drinks to go with it" I smiled widely, feeling my stomach grumble.

Caroline chuckled, taking out a 1.5 liter of soda from the fridge. "We'll never forget"

We sat around the table and ate, we talked about anything until I noticed she became wary and kept on looking behind her.

I asked, "Something wrong, baby girl?" She kept on glancing at the sink behind her.

"Nothing..." She replied.

"That doesn't look like nothing to me, what's up?" I pressed on while eating.

Caroline spoke in a low voice, "I never told Mom about this but...ever since we moved in here I see things and feel unusual whenever I'm alone, I couldn't tell her because she might get angry"

"The house is very old, it's probably playing tricks with your head" I mean, she always gets scared easily like that one time we watched a horror movie showing in Megamall and afterward she claimed to see the ominous nun in her dreams.

"No, this is different! It always happens when I'm alone" She insisted, it didn't look like she was pulling a prank on me. "...Maybe it knows I'm a scaredy-cat"