Sleepless Nights

Sleepless Nights(Nikki) My sleepless nights all started on a velvety summer night. My family and I went on a vacation in Scotland in mid-July where we rented a massive, old castle. The castle looked rather grand and luxurious but dreadfully spooky and isolated. Upon entering there was this grand wooden staircase with portraits on each side and chunky gilded furniture which had candelabras on each side with glittering candles in it. The room was rather creepy and I could not wait to see what my room looked like.

As I made my way up the grand staircase there was a winding corridor which led me to my room. In the middle of the room sat the four-poster bed I always dreamed of. From my moonlit room I could see shadows but I tried to ignore this as I was too tired. I said goodnight to my parents and went to bed. It was only 10 o'clock but I didn't feel like unpacking so I drifted off to sleep. It wasn't long after I drifted off to sleep that I heard a loud shriek followed by some rustling. I was suddenly wide awake yet my vision seemed blurry and I could not make out who was making the dreadful noise. The sky was star-studded and the moon gleamed hazily. I heard the shriek again and my eyes drifted to the presence sitting on the window sill. I let out a scream and tried to get out of my room as fast as my legs could carry me. However, when I tried to open the door it was locked. As I turned around a firm hand grabbed me and I could see a middle-aged woman dressed in a white dress. She looked mournful and restless although very beautiful. When I looked at her it sent chills down my spine.

"Help me", she cried eerily.
I was too stunned for words.
"Tell my son that I love him. I didn't manage to say goodbye, please tell him", cried her echoing voice again.

"Oh ....okay", I managed to say despite my terrified voice and trembling hands. The woman dematerialized and I went back to bed bewildered. However I couldn't sleep. The voice and presence of the woman who appeared in my room terrified me so much that I could not close an eye while I was in bed. Everything about the house seemed creepy and I made myself believe it was just a dream. However as the next day came to an end, I found myself again in my moonlit and mysterious room. Once alone, I was terrified that the ghost of the woman I saw yesterday would wake me up again. I lay awake in bed too scared to close an eye when I heard the voice again,
"You didn't tell him", she screeched.

I was getting used to the voice and by her tone and appearance she meant no harm and so I plucked up courage to say, "What is your name and who is this son you're talking about?"

She whispered, "My name is Marie and my son is the lord of this castle; his name is Hector and I see you've met him before, he rented this castle for you. I used to live here with my husband and our only son Hector, please tell him I said goodbye."

Uneasily I replied that I would deliver the message to him when we leave the castle at the end of our holiday. She thanked me and her glowing figure shimmered and vanished into thin air. During the stay in the castle I consequently stayed awake thanks to the presence of the lady who visited me every single night at about midnight to leave the message with her son and talked to me about her previous life. She was greatly troubled and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She died with her husband in a car crash not so long ago and now couldn't lay to rest without saying goodbye to her son.

Our Holiday came to an end as eventually the week went by. I was glad it was over as I was in desperate need of a good night sleep, not having slept a full night since. When we handed the keys to lord Hector, I asked him if I could talk to him in private and he replied that I could. I told him that his mother appeared every night to tell me how much she loves him and to say goodbye. His blue eyes filled up with tears as he thanked me for being there for his mother and asked us to come again.

Before we left, as I was packing, the ghost of the woman came and her tear filled eyes gleamed when she thanked me for passing on her message.

The next year we decided to go again however the soul of the woman was at rest now that her message was delivered and I had no more sleepless nights.