Ghost turned off the light

March 2, 2025

by Marcelle

A few years back, I was babysitting my nephew, Lucas, while my sister and her husband went out for the night. He was only four at the time, a quiet kid, never caused trouble. I read him a bedtime story, tucked him in, and turned off the light.

I had just sat down in the living room, flipping through my phone, when I heard it—Lucas screaming.

I ran to his room and found him sitting up in bed, eyes filled with tears. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

He pointed toward the closet. “The man,” he whispered.

A chill ran down my spine. “There’s no man, buddy,” I said, forcing a smile. “It’s just shadows. Go back to sleep.”

I closed the door, trying to shake the uneasy feeling, and went back to the couch. But twenty minutes later, it happened again.

Another scream.

This time, as I stepped into the room, I felt it—the air was different. Heavy. Cold. Lucas was curled up under his blanket, shaking.

Then, I heard it.

Thud.

It came from inside the closet.

My heart pounded. The closet door rattled. The handle turned—slowly—back and forth, like someone was testing if it was locked.

I couldn’t move.

Then, it creaked open. Just a crack.

That was enough. I grabbed Lucas and bolted out of the room. We stayed in my sister’s bedroom with the door locked until she got home. I never told her what happened.

A few months later, they moved across the country. Lucas doesn’t remember that night. But sometimes, when I visit, I wonder… was it just a bad dream?

Or was something really there?

And if so—did it follow them?

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