I enjoy going to antique stores, everything there just feels like it has a story that needs to be told. The lamps still have another room to light up, the stuffed animals still have another child to comfort, the couches still have another family movie night to host. The only thing I don't really enjoy seeing is pictures, family albums and individual photos being in a store for someone else to view. I often wonder how they end up in a store, did someone accidentally put them in a box to be sent here, did someone mean to get rid of them? Is someone looking for them?
I walk through the shop and find just what I was thinking about, a photo. A black and white photo of a young boy, no more than 10, standing in his front yard. I picked up the photo to see if there was a name or date on it. There was a name, I assume it was the boys name...Jensen- 1920. I smiled, the boy looked happy. "I wonder if older Jensen is looking for his younger self" I whispered to myself while putting the photo down.
I ended up getting a shirt and a necklace, they were very nice and antique stores usually have things priced cheap. When I got home, I emptied out my bag from the shop. Shirt, necklace...photo. "What?" I whispered to myself. Maybe it fell into my bag? It's no big deal but...what am I going to do with a photo of a boy I don't know? I sat it on my dresser in my room, I'm sure I can just take it back to the antique store tomorrow.
I wake up in the morning to hear a knock at my door, it was my neighbor from across the hall. "Hello, Sindy." I said, slightly irritated as I had just gotten up. "Hello Bonnie. I don't mean to be rude, but I would kindly ask you keep the noise level to a minimum when in the late hours." I looked at her confused, "I was in bed at 10pm, I didn't get up at night at all and my cat stays in my room with me. The noise wasn't coming from me." She nodded "My mistake dear, my apologies" she said turning around to her apartment "no worries, have a good day" I said before closing my door. Sindy was a sweet older woman, I understand sometimes she may get confused, hell one time she thought Lilith was her cat from her childhood! But she was very sweet, always checking up on me and making me cookies or other sweets.
I ran out to the store a while later, got some groceries and stuff for Lilith. Just as I was heading home I remembered I had forgotten to take that photo back to the shop! "Damnit!" I cursed to myself while hitting my steering wheel. I guess I'll just keep it for now. Not like it's taking up space. I got home and was greeted by Lilith rubbing against my legs and purring. I love her so much, she cuddles at night and just purrs all day. I noticed she kept knocking the photo off my dresser though, I mean...cats love to knock things over so I guess it's not too weird.
Night came around again and I got into bed, Lilith jumped up and curled up on my chest. It was around 2am and I woke up to a crash in my kitchen. I groaned and didn't even get up to inspect it. It wasn't until I heard a knock at my door that I got out of bed. When I opened the door it was Sindy...again. "Yes?" I asked, clearly exhausted. "I would ask of you to please keep your son from running through the halls, it is very noisy and I'm sure the neighbors don't appreciate it either." Sindy said, this time irritated. "Sindy I don't have a son." I said, in a stern tired voice. She glanced behind me for a second "Bonnie I just saw him run behind you!" She said in a louder voice. I froze, my face visibly dropping and concern filled my eyes. "You what?" I asked. Sindy hesitated, "I saw him run behind you, your son. I've been hearing him run around the halls too." I stood silent for a minute, not even sure what to say. "I just want to keep it quiet at night and in the early hours." Sindy walked back to her apartment. I was still there, frozen. I eventually closed the door and slowly turned around. "...who is in here?" I said in a stern voice, but not loud. Nothing. "Hello? My neighbor said she saw you in here just a second ago. No point in hiding!" I said, getting irritated. "Whatever." I mumbled to myself. I went back to my room and closed the door. Lilith was still in bed, unbothered by the noise. I didn't sleep much the rest of the night, part of me wanted to be awake in case more noises happened, another part of me was just terrified.
I was making coffee when I found what had fallen last night that woke me up the first time. It was the container I had put a bunch of cookies in, none fell out, but for some reason that event got me thinking. "Jensen...?" I whispered to myself. It couldn't be. A little boy from a photo haunting my apartment? I mean...whatever is in my apartment sure is acting like a child, running around the halls, knocking things over. I had the idea to take the antique photo over to Sindy and see if Jensen was the boy she had seen run behind me, I'm not even sure if she actually saw a boy or if she just saw a figure and assumed it to be 'my son.'
I grabbed the photo and went across the hall. Sindy answered the door, clearly in a better mood than this morning. "Hello, I hate to bother you...especially when I have such an odd question." I said, not really sure how this whole situation would go. "Oh it's no bother at all sweetie!" I smiled, "so...you said you saw a boy run behind me this morning. Was this the boy?" I held up the black and white photo to her, she took a good look at it and nodded. "Yes" she began "though this photo looks very old, why do you have such an old style photo of your son?" She asked, looking at the photo a little longer. I didn't know what to tell her. Do I be honest and tell her a boy from this 1920's photo is haunting my apartment and isn't my son? I got too tangled up in my thoughts and all that came out was 'thank you for your time' before I headed back to my apartment.
Walking inside I was already thinking of a million questions. Was he running around because he doesn't know where he is? Is he scared? Does he know this isn't 1920? Does he know he's dead...? "Jensen" I said out loud "I'm Bonnie. This is 2021 and you're in Detroit Michigan." I said, I don't even know if I'm talking to anyone or if he understands what I mean. I don't even know what to say anymore, do I allow him to stay? Should I tell him to leave? What levels are my ghost hospitality at? "Jensen I understand this can be scary. But...as long as you don't run through the halls and knock things over, you are safe here. You can stay." I said, very hesitant. I've heard of demons disguising themselves as kids to earn the trust from adults, but I have a photo of the boy and Sindy saw him too. I feel like he's just lost and got mixed up in everything. "Jensen did you hear anything I said? Give me a sign. You can knock something ove-" I got cut off as the cookie jar fell over once again.
About the Creator
Marissa Moore
Some stories are written just to be entered into challenges
My ideas for stories tend to be on the darker side, so take that as a you will.
Non binary (they/them)
21
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