Context: This story comes from the informant’s mom. This happened when she was around 14 years old, growing up in Mexico. It is a ghost story she often tells, especially when talking about strange or supernatural experiences.

The story:
“One night, my mom was struggling to fall asleep. She kept tossing and turning, so she decided to look out the window. While looking outside, she saw a large group of dogs walking together and barking loudly, which she immediately felt was unusual.

She went back to bed, trying to convince herself it was nothing, but soon after, she began hearing creaking noises coming from the roof. As the night went on, things became even stranger. She started seeing shadows moving in the hallway, even though everyone else in the house, including her sister, was asleep.

Then, objects in the house began to move. Pictures hanging on the wall started falling out of the blue. The moment that stayed with her the most was when she looked into the hallway and saw the shadow of a man slowly walking toward her.

Terrified, she tried to turn on the lights, but they wouldn’t work. At the same time, she heard heavy stomping sounds coming from the roof. Overwhelmed with fear, she hid under her blanket, covering her head until she eventually fell asleep.”

The Informant’s Thoughts:
The informant’s mom still remembers this experience vividly and often shares it as a ghost story. She never fully understood what happened or who or what he figure could have been. It could have been something supernatural, like a spirit, or simply something her imagination created in the dark. Growing up, stories like this, along with folklore like La Llorona, were often used to scare children into behaving. Even though the story may not be entirely realistic, it left a strong impression on both the informant and her mom.

Analysis:
This story really intrigued me because it falls into the common “haunted house” motif, where typical domestic spaces can cause fear. My interest accumulated as more spooky details were revealed in the story. I also find it interesting that the story is rooted in childhood, blurring the line between imagination and reality, making it hard to determine whether the experience was supernatural or psychological.