My Parents Come To Visit

Moving away from my family's home back in California was one of the hardest things I had to do. I couldn't continue to live in a home where my parents were no longer living. With both my mom and dad deceased, I allowed my sister to keep our childhood home.

Ever since I was young, I wanted to move across the world. I wanted to be connected with my family history. With my family descendants being from Germany, I packed up everything I could and moved just outside of the Black Forest.

As soon as I landed in Germany, the stories of "the haunted Black Forest" flew by my ears, Knowing that the Grimm Fairy Tales is mostly based in Black Forest, Germany; I could only assume the worst. I spent a week fixing my small cabin to my comfort. Making my new friends teach me a new language.

Many of my friends told me the stories, some being about the dangers where others were about seeing signs of your ancestors floating around. I am not one to be easily scared, nor am I to believe the tales of "ghost". I let my friends sleep over so they can see if they hear any "strange" noises floating from the outskirts of the forest. They didn't allow me to sleep a single minute without them begging for us to venture into the dark abyss this forest creates.

So being the skeptic that I am; we packed up some sleeping bags, backpacks, and food, left as soon as sunrise. We walked about 2 miles before we set up camp. The forest was truly beautiful. We had passed old castles and walked through overgrown trails.

Our day wasn't anything scary. We saw wild animals, ate food, talked about what we hoped to see later tonight. They were hoping for "big foot" and "fairies", well I was hoping to get a glimpse of something paranormal. By the time they were done fantasizing about the stories they could tell their families, it was already getting dark.

Our original plan was to split up and venture north and south of our campsite. That was up until we heard this ear-piercing scream. It reminded me of the old tale of "La Llorona" which my great-grandmother would scare me with. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and chills ran down my spine. We had all huddled together so nobody's backs were facing the woods. Slowly we started to move north, towards what one local said was an abandoned castle. I want to say we hiked for 20 minutes before I noticed a green light following us. Thinking it was just my imagination, we continued our journey north.

Finally making it to the castle, we noticed green lights on in the right end. Thinking someone was inside, we called out towards them. Waiting for a reply, another green light made its way into my peripheral. Scared I tapped on my friend's shoulder to ask if they could see it too. But, to my luck, he couldn't. With no response from inside the castle, our friend pushed us inside. Praying that the door doesn't lock and the castle doesn't crumble down on us. I follow behind.

The whole time we walked down the vacant hallway, I felt eyes on my back. I started to turn when once again a scream echos through the castle. Without a second thought, all of us run, stupidly, in different directions. I make it into a room with half of it broken and wide open to the dark forest. Sitting down on one corner of the room, I wait for a friend to come and find me. Hyperventilating, I see two green lights floating over my head. Freaking out I stand, pushing my back as close as I can towards the wall, the lights follow me. Once they are a millimeter away, they start to change. Growing in size and shape, they start to look familiar.

Shock shoots through my whole body, as I stare at my parents surrounded by green light.

"M-mom. D-dad"

Tears welt in my eyes, as I try to hug the people who left so abruptly. I couldn't feel them, I couldn't hear them. But, I knew who they were. Smiling at my crying form, they kissed my cheek and disappeared into the forest.

Waking up in the same corner as last night, I hoped what had happened wasn't just a dream. Hearing my name yelled throughout the castle brought me back to my senses.

"Coming!!!" I yelled with a smile on my face. Waving to the forest, I now know my parents are watching over me.