Background: This story is the one and only encounter that the informant has had with a ghost. The informant just graduated from Amherst College in 2015, and she moved back home to Arizona. The informant was frantically looking for jobs, and her college reached out to offer a job in admissions for the following week. The informant accepts, and is looking for places to live and comes upon the Amherst Women’s Center as her new home. 

RM: … I was looking for new places to live and I found a house on a hill. It was the perfect location near the school. It was a historical home, built in the 1800s and the first floor was used for events and the second had 3 very large apartments. Also, keep in mind that Emily Dickinson’s old house was across the street from this house. I think the people who originally owned the home I moved to knew Emily Dickinson. Anyways…when I got to the house the lady giving me a tour told me that slaves used to live here and that was why there were mini entrances and exits throughout the house — so they could leave from anywhere in the apartment and get to where they were going quickly.

Me: Oh, wow. And what was the vibe overall in the house? I imagine it was older, but did you feel a presence among you? 

RM: No, I didn’t feel a presence among me when I first entered. Insulation wasn’t great throughout the house because it was old, so only the bedroom was comfortable to be in, especially since there were windows all around the apartment. I spent most of the time in the bedroom. 

Me: So when did the first ghostly encounter occur?

RM: The first instance was within a few weeks of moving in. I had just gotten a headboard for my bed and I installed it myself and made sure the headboard was directly touching the wall. So I go to sleep and then I abruptly wake up at 3 AM because the bed is violently shaking. Whenever I opened my eyes or would turn around in bed the shaking would stop. At first, I thought it was an earthquake, but when I looked around nothing else was moving. Then after a while I hollered “stop” with annoyance and then it didn’t happen again. 

Me: Wow, so had you ever believed in ghosts before this experience?

RM: No. I never believed in paranormal experiences until that moment.

Me: Okay. Did the ghost leave for good after that interaction?

RM: No, there were a few more instances where it appeared. The second instance, I was laying in my bed doing work online at night and then I felt a punch next to me on the bed. Like you know when you punch a bed and it leaves an indent for a second.

Me: Yeah 

RM: That happened right next to my foot. And then the third instance involves a cup of water. For a little bit of context, my mom didn’t like the water there when she visited me so she would send me huge packs of water every month or so. The ghost liked to tap on the top of the water bottles. I could see the ripples in the water bottle. So, one day I had a cup full of water and I was on Facetime with my boyfriend, when this happened. And so I drink the entire cup and go to the bathroom, but when I come back the cup was full of water. It was so weird. 

Me: Omg! Did you drink it after that?

RM: No, I poured it out hahaha. The fourth instance with the ghost happened while I was in the shower. I was listening to music and I heard my phone begin to type. I thought nothing of it until later that day my boyfriend texts me saying “What??” The ghost had texted him saying, “It’s possible.” That was extremely freaky. 

Me: That’s very scary omg. 

RM: Yeah, and then the last experience with the ghost was when my Mom was visiting me. She was upset with me and left to go to Home Depot so it was just me in the house. 

Me: Did your mom experience encounters with the ghost?

RM: No. It weirdly never did anything when she was there. But anyways, she had this brown bag with a charm tied super tight onto it– so tight to the point where you couldn’t move it back and forth. All of a sudden the charm lifts up, turns left then right as if someone is examining the charm. 

Me: Wow. So why did this story hold so much importance to you?

RM: Because you would never expect it to happen to you and its a very unique experience. 30% of people believe you when you tell ghost stories. It’s almost like I have to hold a secret that no one else knows about the world. 

Me: And how did this play a role in your life after experiencing this?

RM: My perspective of ghosts and death have completely changed. Before I used to think you die and go into the ground and that’s it. Now, I believe you go into this other unseen spectrum. You’re always there and roaming, you’re just energy

Reflection: I thought this interview was extremely interesting. I have known RM since I was in middle school, and I had never known that she experienced such a thing like this. I also haven’t heard any ghost stories from people I know personally, so it was fun to hear what she had gone through.