Emelia

Some people knew her as Emelia. Or was it the Emelia Room or Mrs. Room. Who is she anyway? Or should I say – who was she?
      Her house was scheduled for demolition – the last program to grace her walls happened to be a children’s ministry for the Catholic Church. This peculiar old house used to be the rectory for past priests. A lot of priest lived there at one time or another, though most are not alive today. Well, not alive in the body, anyway. Who knows about the after life?
     The Adoration Chapel is not far from Emelia’s old house. Actually, it’s right next door. I went to pray at the Chapel one Monday night, as was my usual routine. The night was calm, dark, and very pleasant. The crescent moon offered a little light, but not enough to chase away the shadows. Instead of walking to the Chapel, I stopped at the house. This night I had to go inside the old house. A rubber band was needed at home for a project. I knew the children=s room would have some I could use. I walked through the dark kitchen, turning on the lights as I reached the classroom. I thought, where are the rubber bands? They had to be somewhere. As I looked, I saw a spot of something on a table. A stain? It hadn't been there before. I scratched at it with my finger.
....Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I had that feeling someone was standing beside me. Right beside me! Looking at me! I turned slowly toward it. A blank expression haunted a young lady's face. My jaw dropped. My back tingled and a chill ran through my veins. Tears entered my eyes. I blinked, and my vision cleared. Was this my imagination?.
....Being very still, I looked at her, she didn’t move. She was pale, her medium brown hair cascaded over her shoulders. She appeared about five feet, four inches tall, and maybe eighteen or twenty years old. She wore an off white dress that hung to the floor.
Who was she? What did she want? She turned her head quickly, then, she floated, or half walked across the room and into the kitchen. Then, she was gone.
...I left the house through the front door, skin tingling, slamming to door behind me. I ran to the Adoration Chapel, suddenly spooked. Why did the woman visit me? Was it Emelia? I stopped at the doorway to catch my breath, heart pounding. Did she somehow know about the demolition project? Was she sad that she will have to leave her house? Did she want it back?
...Stepping inside the chapel, I quickly made the sign of the cross, then said three AHail Mary's and two Our Father's. As I finished, I realized I had left the lights on in the house. I glanced outside through the window. Hmm, I'll turn them off tomorrow, in the daylight.
If I ever go back in there.

Jody Raney
10.14.2006