Wanted to get this story in here the very next day it happened, but I had taken a good 20 odd days to analyze the mysterious appearance and disappearance of a man, that in all means I believe, is a ghost.
After visiting my cousin in Raleigh, North Carolina, I decided to go on a road trip via the Smokey mountains and to Atlantic city with my family. My wife and kids packed the stuff in our car the previous night and we all set forth the trip at 5 in the morning. A beautiful sunny morning, a road trip, was extremely happy with the planning and we were cruising ahead in my 3 year old Ford Focus.
Driving on the highway in USA is a dream for everyone - The process is simple - Accelerate to 70 Mph, set on cruise mode, just glide along the highway. Around 1 pm, after our lunch, my wife requested that we take a break after our visit to the Smoky mountains was done, so I pulled over and stopped the car when an trooper came by. Police told me that we are not supposed to park the car on the highway unless it is an emergency and I had to keep going. I saw a board saying that there is a rest area 5 miles ahead. So I thought I will pull over in the rest area and we take a quick nap in our car and get going.
On our way to the rest area, I saw a man on the road. In his early 60s may be, he was pale and unusually thin. He was standing next to his car and asking for a ride. I did not want to stop my car there, but my wife, a light hearted person, made me stop and talk to the guy. I rolled down the windows, and had a bad stench of smell from the location.
Transcript of the conversation with the man below
Me: What happened sir? Can I assist you?
Him: Yes.
Me: Ok. How can I assist.?
Him: I don't know.
Me: What happened to you car?
Him: Don't know.
Me: Do you want me to call road side assistance or police for you? You seem lost.
Him: No.
I was getting annoyed at the man's response, but did not show it out. I told him I will leave. And he raised his voice and yelled. 'NO. You can't leave'. I lost it here. I yelled back and left. I was shouting at my wife too for making me stop and waste my time. I was looking at the mirror of my car. All I could still see is his face. I was surprised. How is this man's face not fading away as I am driving now. Shocked and confused I pulled over again and checked the mirror. His face was still there but he was no where to be seen close by. I started to panic, but did not want to scare my wife and kids. Felt a gush of wind go past me and the mirror did not have his face anymore.
Though I was troubled by this incident, I just carried on. Drank some water and started to drive towards the rest area. Stopped the car in the rest area and my wife took the kids along with her to the restroom. I was alone in the car, locked the car from inside, turned the air conditioner on and relaxed on my seat. I kept thinking about what happened, but could not find a possible answer. After 15 minutes, my wife came running to the car. She was breathless. I opened the car and asked her if she was ok. She said she saw the same old man here, next to the restroom asking her if she can help him.
I calmed her down and kids, made them sit in the car and walked towards the restroom to see him. Suddenly felt cold and then, a gush of air through me. Knew that I would have missed him, but nevertheless, searched the place and did not find him. Now, went to car and told my wife that its nothing to worry and we can leave.
We drove on for the next 5 hours without a halt and stopped for dinner. I still had a good 4 hour drive to reach Atlantic city and the time was around 7 pm already. After a 45 minute dinner break, we left and stopped at a gas station to fuel up. The moment I got down of the car, I smelled the same stench smell. Immediately turned back to check if the old man was there, to my surprise, he was just there. My eyes were glued to him and I kept staring at him like an owl. I paid for the fuel and kept continuing to drive, thinking who this guy is. The kids and wife were sleeping, so did not want to create a scene.
I was constantly checking the mirror and no one was behind. Now with less than an hour to reach Atlantic city, I saw someone waving their hand at my car. I did not want to slow down, but my inner self felt, it was the same man. And to my luck, it was the same old man with the same creepy look. This time he was so confident in looking into my eyes and staring. I lost it again. I pulled over and got out of my car and walked towards his car. The car was very old with spider webs and all the tyres were flat. The man was missing but the stench smell was still strong. I knew what was coming next - A gush of cold air. I walked backwards to my car and just got in and checked on my wife and kids. All were safe.
I left and finally we reached Atlantic City. I did not see this man again nor were there any strange incidents after we reached home.
My Questions:
What possible explanation can I get for this sighting. Why did he keep following me and how?
Who is this man? Has anyone else on this site experienced something similar?
Was he trying to off road me somehow by playing with my mind?
I am trying to get some answers by recollecting everything that happened. Any help would be appreciated.
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I had another thought about the old man: maybe he was a 'lonely' spirit who followed you for a while because you were the only ones who stopped to talk to him. He said you could help him, except he didn't know how.
About the stench smell being strong at his car - wonder if there was anything inside it? Could it hold the remains of the man and he needed to be 'found', be reunited with his folks or given a burial so his spirit could finally move on?
Oooh, I'm getting goosebumps...! I'm going to be so paranoid the next time we go on a road trip (I refuse to watch shows like "Wolf Creek"). Glad you and your family are none the worse for wear despite your experience.