Ever since I was young, I was always told stories of the "Santelmo" or St. Elmo's fire. Often described as a ball of bluish or white flame, curiously, it is not hot in anyway. Some say it is the spirits of men who have died near a body of water or during heavy rains, others say it's the souls of children who were not baptized, leading those who follow it to their doom. I didn't really heed these stories, not until one night while I was on campus anyway.
It was the middle of July, I just finished my assignments and was packing up to go home, all was normal. I've walked home before, memorized each street like it was the back of my hand, but when I reached the old bus stop near my school... I saw it, a ball of flame, just floating. I was dumbstruck, I mean, I've heard the stories, the legends, but that doesn't prepare you when you see it in person. I was like in a trance, like I had the sudden urge to follow it, but I remembered what my Lolo and Lola always told me.
"Pag may makita ka na bola ng apoy Iho, baliktarin mo ang mga damit mo." "Para lumayas yong masamang elemento" (If you ever see a ball of fire Iho, turn your clothes inside out) (So the bad element leaves) I quickly turned my clothes inside out, even my underwear, when I looked back at the ball, it was gone...
Just vanished right before my eyes, I quickly ran home, not caring about the darkness, I just wanted to get back home safe. When I got home, I quickly called my Mom and Dad, screaming in the middle of the night.
They came running down the stairs, asking what the hell happened, and why my clothes are inside out. I quickly explained all that I saw, the ball of flame, and how I remembered my Grandparent's warnings. They hugged me tightly, my Mom said I was "lucky" while my Dad ran for the neighborhood "Albularyo" (Medicine Man) and had me checked if I had any lingering bad spirits. All was fine, I was home...
Though when I lay in bed at night, I sometimes see light shining through my windows, sometimes it's just cars passing by, but I always cover myself with my sheets. Never knowing if the Santelmo would come back for me...
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