A couple years ago my cousin had to go to New York for a few months. Her house was closer to my job than my house, so she asked if I would like to stay there and house sit while she was gone. Of course I said yes. I wanted to get away from my mom for awhile and maybe scope out a new job.

I worked late bartending but I would still wake up at a decent time. I did yardwork and cleaned up after myself in the kitchen. I sat on the porch and listened to Frank Sinatra on Pandora. I worked a jigsaw puzzle and glued it together. All very boring but relaxing.

Well unfortunately not long after I was there I discovered her house was haunted. I was watching TV one day and from the corner of my eye saw a small shape creep out of one of the bedrooms at the end of the hall. I turned to look and it was gone. When I turned back to the TV I saw it again.

Now keep in mind my cousin had to go away because she had some sort of nervous breakdown. I was very worried about her. I started thinking what if there is something bad in her house making her sick? So typical me, I got up, got mad and stalked the thing down the hall to shame it and threaten it or whatever I had to do.

I started exploring the house. I had seen no reason to disrespect my cousin's things so I never went in her bedroom or her craft room or the laundry room. Now I did some investigating and noticed a few off things.

One there was a dark energy in my cousin's bedroom. And a portal on the wall where her bed was. Upon closer inspection there were odd markings on the floor in one corner of the room. I don't think she did it;she had just bought the house and moved in earlier that year. But there were stains, I got the sense maybe it was candle wax, in a semi circle on the floor, and scratches. The floors were hardwood and had obviously been redone to sell the house. This damage was under the varnish. It was old. I had a strong suspicion some dumbass had been playing at the wrong sort of witchcraft and opened a portal there.

Second, I noticed the crosses. My cousin had put up a ridiculous amount of crosses in her home. They were in every room, in all the windows, many were in her bedroom including a silver necklace hung on the wall where the portal was. It seemed obvious she had sensed something too and was trying to keep it out.

Then I noticed the ghost I had seen at the end of the hall. I went off on it. At first I thought it was some dark spirit hurting my cousin. Then I realized it was in the room I had been sleeping in. There was no portal or bad energy there. I felt like the presence was young and female, with long dark hair, hiding her face from me. This I saw in my mind's eye. I began to see this spirit was just as afraid of the darkness in my cousin's bedroom as my cousin was. I also sensed that she was attached to my cousin for some reason and was confused as to where she had gone and who I was, why I was there.

So I calmed down and switched tactics. Instead of threatening to exorcise her or demanding she let go of my cousin, I told her my cousin was sick and had to go to a hospital far away. I told the spirit who I was and that I was asked to come and watch over the place. I also told her to leave me alone and we would get along fine;after all I wouldn't be there forever.

I had this one sided conversation out loud. To a normal person I probably looked like a Looney, standing there with my arms folded having a stern conversation with a closet door.

Anyway I stayed there on and off for weeks. I came home sometimes, went there after work. My aunt and uncle came and checked on things too. My uncle helped me mow and my aunt took the pet fish home with her.

One morning I woke up and heard voices. Sounded female. I thought maybe it was my aunt dropping by so I called her name. No answer. Now I realize this was a strange house and I wasn't used to sleeping there. It could have been the neighbors. But it was like 8am why would the neighbors be outside arguing?

I rolled over to face the wall, away from the door, and tried to go back to sleep. I heard it again so i got up and looked around. No one was there but me. I went and laid back down. I really wanted to sleep a bit longer since I had to work that evening. Again I faced the wall. I swear I was not asleep. I heard heavy, hurried footsteps pound down the hall, into my room, then I felt fingers grab the blanket covering the small of my back and shake it.

I was immediately on my feet yelling and cussing, definitely not going back to sleep. Later I thought maybe it was the AC kicking on. I'm not used to a house with Central heat or air. But how does that explain the heavy footsteps....when the hallway was carpeted? Or the small, tearful voice I heard say "please leave."

The next time I slept in that house. Yes there was a next time, I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on. Anyway, the next time I slept at that house, before I went to bed I asked the spirit why she was there and what she wanted, was there any way I could cross her over or help her? The answer came to me in a dream.

The girl visited me while I slept and showed me her whole story like I was watching a movie. Her name was Sarah. She was a young Catholic girl who loved church and was very active in choir. She wore robes to choir practice that were white with a green sash draped over her neck. I think she was about 18, but could have been a bit older or younger. She had a dear friend she had grown up with and they always went to church together and sang. The friend was much bigger and taller than Sarah, she had a short Bob haircut and freckles. They didn't really look alike but I sensed they were like sisters. They were very close.

Now this is where I know I didn't imagine this dream because the friend had a really weird name that I never heard before. Idk how to even spell it. It sounded like Laerti, or Laehrtee, perhaps even Laherty.

The dream progressed. I saw Sarah and Laerti in a kitchen in plain clothes, maybe early 90s style or before that. Then Sarah showed me how she died. She and her friend were in a backroom at church in their choir robes. They were supposed to be setting a table and decorating for a party after they sang. They were alone. Idk why she did it but suddenly Laerti came up behind small Sarah and began to strangle her. I think she used her sash and just her strong arms. It was hard to watch but I was not in control of the dream. I saw every detail. The confused and painful look on Sarah's face, her pitifully trying to stop her attacker as she sank to the floor. Laerti's labored face, her bare knees peeking out from the robes as she sank into a squat behind Sarah. Then it was over. With a blank look on her face she kicked Sarah's body under a table so it was hidden by a tablecloth. Then she left. Later the choir members came in for refreshments with smiles on their faces. It was a long time before anyone found her.

Then the dream movie was over. Sarah appeared before me in a plain blue long sleeved dress, hands clasped, dark hair long and loose. She explained that she couldn't leave this world until she understood why her friend did what she did. Sarah wants to understand what makes people do unspeakable things seemingly with no remorse. She wanted to understand what was wrong with Laerti. She also explained that she had been drawn to my cousin thru her social work. My cousin has a master's in psychology and human services and has worked at many hospitals. Sarah thought maybe she could learn from my cousin the answers to bring closure to the pain and betrayal she felt.

Then I woke up. I felt a lot of respect for Sarah. Sadness too, but respect. Unlike many ghosts, she knew she was dead. She knew she shouldn't stay here. But she had to find answers. I also think some part of her forgave her friend and thought she could help cure her or save her.

I did some digging and couldn't find any crime reports online involving strangulations in the area. I also never found a specific dark spirit in the other bedroom. I also sensed a small girl ghost who had drowned. I discovered what may have been a well on the property when I was mowing. I found a report of a drowning on a bordering property in a pond, but it said child not girl.

My cousin sold her house last year. She moved back in with her parents and gave up being a psychologist or working in hospitals and psych wards. She now works at a factory that makes medicine and pharmaceutical equipment.

I now think that someone in that house did witchcraft and opened a portal. It didn't get closed. I think Sarah came through, as well as whatever darkness caused my cousin to have a breakdown. The house is in a construction zone where they are moving roads. I hope it gets torn down and no one else lives there.