Have you ever come across something that left you shaking your head in disbelief? Or, with a feeling of unease that still lingers to this day?
There have been times when I've ended up in puzzling situations. I must confess that, more often than not, I've placed myself there.
Today is Halloween. The day when spirits roam the earth. With that in mind, I'd like to share a story from a few years ago. I call this one Bus Stop.
Exploring one of the nearby graveyards, I was on a quest to find my favorite subject, angels. The weather was delightful that October afternoon, with a deep blue sky and the earth adorned with blankets of fallen leaves provided by the tree canopies above.
Photographing in the fall has always been my favorite. The grays and whites of statues and headstones contrast with the vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges of autumn.
On this particular day, as I strolled with my camera in hand, I saw in the distance a statue of an angel with long flowing hair. She had her arms crossed over her chest, holding a cross. Her wings, full of feathers, were raised on her back. The intelligent expression on her face appeared to indicate that she was prepared to tell me a great secret.
After taking picture after picture, I stopped to review my work.
While I was looking through the frames, a male voice behind me suddenly asked, "Do you know where the bus stop is?" Startled, I turned around to see a teenage boy just a few feet away. He was taller than me, with messy dark hair and dark eyes, wearing a blue plaid shirt and carrying a pack on one shoulder. I was so surprised to find someone this close that I couldn't even speak. Standing in the middle of a large cemetery with crunchy leaves underfoot, I wondered how I could hear squirrels rustling in the foliage but not the footsteps of someone approaching from behind.
Standing there without moving, he asked once more, "Do you know where the bus stop is?"
The only response I could manage was a simple "No, sorry."
My car was not very far away, and feeling quite uneasy, I started walking quickly. I half anticipated to be followed, so I glanced back, but there was no one except for the angel encircled by leaves. The boy in the blue plaid shirt was nowhere to be seen.
I entered my vehicle, locked the doors, and started the engine. Driving away from the curb, I craned my neck, searching for the boy. As I navigated the twisting roads, moving away from the angel, there was no one in sight.
I was filled with questions. Who was this boy? Where did he come from? And where did he disappear to?
Despite numerous visits to this cemetery since then, I have never experienced another encounter like this one. While I have observed people jogging, walking their dogs, and paying respects to their loved ones, there has never been another occasion where I found myself alone when someone reached out, seemingly from nowhere, looking for a bus stop. Or, perhaps just looking for me?
Have you encountered anything or anyone that journeyed from the other side, crossing through the fragile veil between there and here? Would you like to?
I'll leave you with those questions as food for thought. Something to stimulate your mind just like an excess of Halloween candy.
Christine Shephard is a photographer, writer, and avid taphophile. She makes her home in Central New York.
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