Watching

I can hardly think of what to entitle this story, and I must firstly begin by saying I have never really been one to 'believe in ghosts'.

However, from a very young age I have always been quite scared and managed to freak myself out and now I can relate to my childhood experiences with some recent events.

When I was younger, about 7 or 8, I used to think someone was watching me every time I went to bed. It was just a strange feeling, and being such a young child then, I have always thought I was just being silly. But this feeling made me petrified; I would be scared of the dark and silence, and for no real reason.

As I have grown up in my house, in England, my room has been situated right beside my next door neighbor's stairway; so I would excuse any strange noises for them running up the stairs. Yet, I have always heard footsteps and creaking. Again, as a child, this would scare me... A lot!

It occurs to me now that I have grown accustom to these strange noises and feelings, but very lately, very weird and unexplained things have happened. One night, a few weeks ago, I came home rather late and very quietly opened my front door, careful not to wake my mother or sister. As I stood in my hallway, I heard whispering and obviously assumed this was my mother and sister in the living room. With a smile on my face, I opened the living room door to greet them. It was pitch black and silent. The whispering had stopped. Now, I remember hearing very similar voices/talking when I was younger and again passed it of as my family.

Just two days ago, I was taking a shower when something else very strange happened. As a child, I didn't like getting in the shower as you clearly can't see or hear as well, and I used to convince myself someone was with me; no idea why. Anyway, the other day my sister walked in as I was showering just to wash her hands, she left and I continued. When I stopped the shower, I reached for my towel and suddenly heard something.

I turned around and saw the tap on full. Turning it off, I yelled at my sister for leaving it on to which she responded she had definetly turned it off. At first, I didn't believe her but then I realized I hadn't heard the tap running until I had my back to the sink. The same night, I, my mother and my sister were watching TV when I turned around and rather abruptly said 'pardon?' They looked at me as if I was insane, 'we didn't say anything!' they responded. I burst out laughing, not quite sure why. I had definitely heard a loud and rushed conversation but didn't quite hear it all, hence asking 'pardon?' It was very strange, and all that night I had that feeling that someone was watching me.

I have never been able to work out if it is just me being silly and paranoid or whether someone really is in my house with us. All I can think of is that my grandmother had died a few months before I was born; maybe it is her watching me? That is a nice thought, but these experiences and feelings really do set my heart racing; they are frightening. Does anyone have any ideas?