All things spooky.
A small tribute for the holiday. Some funzies, with some added meaning. Divided into 4 parts.
If ghosts are real, I’ll befriend them all. They’ll provide me with clarity and detach me from things I wish not to acquire. They already did this whole thing once; they must know a few things. They’ll warn me and tell me to not stress the small things. And lecture me about the things that could make me fall. Enlighten me with asperities from their prior. And possibly save me from tears and suffering that presents with loss
If ghosts are real, I’ll ask them a few things. I’ll want to know whether they have figured out how to fly or not. I’ll ask them what kinds of lessons they’ve learned. And about the things they regret not doing the most.
If ghosts are real, I’ll want to know their story. I’ll ask them about any past relatives, and perhaps about their pets. I’ll ask them about what they enjoyed doing, and who they hated the most. And what they had for breakfast, whether they preferred coffee more than tea. I’ll make sure to treat them as an equal, and make them feel comfortable. And we’ll talk for hours, because regardless of if they’re dead or not, there’s still so much mystery.
I am made from all kinds of parts—both external and internal. They make up who I am. I’m stitched together, from all different angles. Parts that were all very much destined for me. Some already had belonged, and others came from the people I’ve encountered. And the brains and my heart were never quite for free. Slaughter of some kind had to be made as an offer.
I knew nothing of this world and yet it expected me to conform. So many rules and procedures that needed to be followed. And my intentions were always good, or at least that’s what I hoped. But I find myself feeling confused with how much I should learn to acquire. And I would never really know because I’m often never really sure. I do know, however, that I have always been misjudged and highly misunderstood.
I’m very grateful to be a part of this world. The beauty that can shine from its core always makes me smile. And I like to see the flowers when they bloom during the spring. You can find many things that make this all worthwhile. Yet, you will still have to encounter things that can make you feel a slight discomfort.
I started as nothing, a blank space of some sort. But like a flower, I too needed to be watered. With care and love in order for me to grow strong. Yet someway, somehow, seeds were planted for me. I had no choice but to tackle their wild vines so they wouldn’t outgrow my sanity.
I was a body made with regular parts. Untouched and unmarked by what existed from this world. People are quick to judge, yet they never ask questions. They assume whatever’s best, and whatever’s worst. Calling someone a monster based on the way they look. Hurting one’s feelings and identifying their worth. And there can be endless possibilities, and it only takes one conversation to know. But why stress yourself over something like that when you know it’s not going to work.
Words, thoughts, and perceptions of me—all those negative things about me. Only I know what is true about myself. You’re no one to judge, because you don’t know me well. I could be filled with beauty, like those flowers. A beautiful and worthy garden—full of interest and alive—yet you’ll never know. Endless possibilities. Quiet and obnoxious, and a very kind soul.
I’ll remain the same, and always will be. Because regardless of that, some of you decided that there was still beauty to this piece.
Yes, I’m marked from head to toe, but not in physical terms. I’m marked from within and I’m okay with that. Because everything I’ve encountered has made me much stronger. And it tailors into who I am today.
The real haunted house isn’t the one that’s abandoned. Where people have died and are labeled as scary. Or the one where you enter with friends on the night of Halloween. The one with clowns and monsters that always make you scream. And it isn’t even located on a random street either. Not opened for the public’s eye or for anyone to see. It doesn’t involve a creepy hallway or a trapped dark room. Or filled with fog and black painted walls. Not any of that, you see.
The real haunted house is way more frightening than all that.
The real haunted house is where you feel like you’re disappointing those around you. When you feel like you could’ve done more and “I’m not doing enough.” It’s when you feel like you aren’t growing, and you’re incapable of reaching more. When you feel judged or perhaps looked down upon.
The real haunted house is where you feel unwanted, rejected, excluded, and dismissed. And it makes you feel hurt and a sense of “What’s wrong with me?”
The real haunted house is where you feel a strong sense of pain. A profound feeling that takes place inside your heart. Emotional suffering that can cause all sorts of things. “Is there any hope left?” kind of thing.
The real haunted house is where you’re unable to speak. Where you feel put on the spot and excessively judged. Your palms start to sweat and your lungs kinda stop. You’re very self conscious and “Don’t look at me.”
The real haunted house is where you miss opportunities. One small mistake and it could cost you everything. It’s full of regret and “What if…?”
The real haunted house is where you’re uncertain and desperate. Where you feel like you need to steer everything about your life as perfect as you can, or else it will all fall crumbling down. Extreme and urgent “I can’t let this happen!”
The real haunted house is where any of those things may be. Who, what, how, and when those things are seen. And sometimes only their shadows can remain. But they can creep around in the darkness, and be full of bad times, you see.
The leaves are beautiful during this time. Their colors change and they’re all uniquely different. The colors it owns and how it changes with the season is something that sparks a liking to many. And they end up covering the trees at a certain point of time with their distinctive colors. They can remind you of a sunset, or a warm and cozy fireplace.
But as they transform into these lovely colors, they end up withering and fall off from their branches and covering the ground beneath us before saying their last goodbye. And we’re left with sticks in the air; trees that have lost their partner of life and are now sitting empty until it’s time for them to move on. And the leaves end up dying as they fall. So why is it that we find this sighting so beautiful, if all we’re witnessing is a sense of loss?
As the leaves fall down, they leave their trees. And the trees have to learn to move on from what they once had. Each must learn to let go from one another, and I suppose the leaves were trying to be the “bigger person” by letting go first. So now, the leaves have fallen. They’ve blown away and are never coming back.
But the trees stand strong and learn to recover from the old leaves. They are still full of life, despite not having any leaves. They lost a big part of themselves within those leaves. And they needed to learn how to move on from all of that. And with that, we can see how much time is needed in order to heal.
It takes time for them to grow their leaves back. That can be showcased as time being needed in order to heal.
And then, as for the leaves, they had to let go of their trees. Both needed to learn to let go, but perhaps the leaves needed to detach themselves first. Maybe the trees just couldn’t let go, but perhaps the leaves indeed have a more difficult time overall. Because they end up falling, and withering until their life has gone. Until there’s nothing left of them anymore.
The leaves are beautiful during this time, but maybe we can learn a thing or two about the trees and their leaves. Healing is a process, but it always builds resilience within us. Like the trees, we too will eventually grow leaves again. And like leaves, we can learn the art of letting go. And perhaps, that can be the beauty that comes with loss.
— Liz <3
The haunted house thing hit me so hard. I live with those exact same feelings every day as a guy who goes through depression.
And you have to wonder what a ghost’s go to sandwich order would be.
Thanks for allowing me to read this!
this was an amazing journey, each one of these stories was beautiful!! i wish there was an annotation feature on this app because there is so much i want to say about each piece and how much i loved them. You have a real talent at writing, each piece you post feels so real and so raw, you really sum up being a human.