Maybe Not Just A Dream

I am relatively new to the site and have not experienced much when it comes to the paranormal, although I have had a few encounters if I may call them that, which have left me baffled.

Just a bit of history, the house I am living in now, in Midrand, was left to my brother and me by my mother who passed away three years ago. She herself had only just bought the house and had lived in it for two months before her tragic accident. I first saw the house after her funeral because I was in Durban at the time of purchase, working in a mobile theatre which travelled a lot. When I did finally move in everything was still in boxes, and when unpacking I found an old photo album belonging to the previous owners. Now for my story...

This happened at the beginning of the year, in January, I had just come back from a trip to Durban, visiting friends, and because I took the Greyhound, a 6hour drive, I was bushed by the time I got home. My boyfriend picked me up and dropped me off at home, then headed back to work. Now our property is enclosed by very high walls, and a heavy gate that makes a lot of noise when it's being opened. Having locked the main gate I mounted the few steps that lead to the kitchen, I closed the screen door and left the kitchen door open to let in fresh air because the house was stuffy. Being tired, I went straight to my bedroom and flopped onto the bed. I don't think I had been asleep for long, when I heard what seemed to be someone sweeping outside my kitchen. Curious more than anything, I got up and walked to the kitchen and lo and behold, a gogo (granny) was outside my kitchen, sweeping frantically. She seemed oblivious to my presence and I, still being confused, first looked towards the main gate which was still locked, then I turned to her and watched her for a second before asking, 'How did you get in?' She dropped the broom, ran up the stairs and grabbed a hold of my wrist which was still outstretched, my hand keeping the screen door open. Then she started muttering words that were incoherent to me, except, 'Mntanam, mntanam! This means my child, my child! I then looked into her eyes and they were dead, there was no life in them. It just seemed like a bottomless pool of darkness. That's when I freaked out. I scream, 'oh my gosh, you are dead!' I then hurried on to tell her to leave, that she did not belong here and to go back to where she came from. I yanked my wrist free from her grip and closed the kitchen door.

Then I woke up.

I sat up from bed, still baffled by my 'dream' because that is what I thought it was, but because it was so vivid I got up and walked to the kitchen. The gate was still locked, the screen door closed, and the kitchen door open. Nothing seemed out of place. Even the house was quiet.

It MUST have been a dream.

I decided to run myself a bath and while I was undressing, I happened to look at my wrist and it had the clear imprint of a human hand around it. I was bruised...

(Just as a side note, don't know if it's relevant but the broom she was using I also found in the house. It's one of those old straw brooms. And I looked through the photo album, I don't think she is in it but I am not sure. Her face has become fuzzy; it's the eyes I will always remember).

Thanks for reading my encounter, sorry for going on and on... I am just curious, has anyone ever experienced something like this or was it just an overactive imagination due to fatigue?

Your comments would be appreciated.