While Valentine's Day was meant to be an enjoyable event for most romantic couples, it is a day of paranormal torment for our family. After our mother had died, my father was depressed and didn't want to go out with anyone new. However, two months into her funeral, my father found a much younger woman who was willing to be his girlfriend. She was mentally delirious from the beginning, I could tell from the expression in her eyes when I met her. My younger brother was only 7 years old at the same, so he had few memories of her. I, on the other hand, had a terrible relationship with her.
The girlfriend's name was Amber, who was later meant to marry our father on Valentine's day. However, our father did something to Amber which broke her heart. Amber was always hostile and distrustful towards me, the 11 year old. I hostile her quiet and unpredictable nature. Our father knew the tension between us would affect my brother and my health, so in the end, he decided to choose us over her. On her wedding day in the middle of Valentine's, our father wrote an apology letter to her the hour before walking down the aisle. We left the wedding without telling our family and friends that day. If our father knew how much it would hurt her and the trouble that comes along, he would've let her know.
Little did we know the effect it would have on her. Amber wrote back to our father that day, telling him all about her tragic childhood. It turned out Amber never had a father, and that her mother married off to an abusive alcoholic. After receiving that letter, Amber committed suicide. That Valentine's night, her body was hanged in the public bathroom alongside many scratches on her skin. We felt rather perturbed and resentful hearing about this. Our father went silent on us for over a week. While an ordinary person may think such a tragic incident as a past event, for us it became a nightmare.
Every Valentine's Day, my brother would claim he sees a spectre of a 20-year-old woman standing next to his bed. She would often say nothing but glare at him in hostility. The paranormal visions made Henry rather paranoid annually. We never took much account to it given that we were atheists. However, as much as I would hate to admit it, I felt a rather eerie presence in my room most Valentine's Day anyways. I was unable to see spectres the way my brother could but knew it was something there. The woman never did anything to hurt him, but it was still perturbing to see.
One particular Valentine's Day, I was already 16 years old when I heard my 13 year old brother scream from his bedroom. When I got inside, I saw a young girl similar age to my brother sitting on his bed. At first, I felt infuriated that he was already doing all these things at such a young age but, my anger was quickly distracted by the figure in the corner of the room. It slowly came out into the light where I could see it clearer. The mouth was torn just as how I ripped it. Amber looked at me with complete hatred in her eyes. The spectre then looked at my brother and his girlfriend. I was praying that she would leave us alone, I know I've sinned.
"What do you want from us?!!" Henry yelled out in frustration. "Every year, you would come and stare at me like that but never say anything. I want to know if you're alright!"
"Henry, clearly she's not normal!" Caroline answered, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, I think I know!" the spectre of Amber said while giving me a malicious smirk, "your sister knows why I'm even here today. Don't you, Cendall?"
"I'm sorry........," I could feel my voice tearing up from the fear. I tried to hide it from them. "I didn't mean to do that. You were such a serpeant, I just wanted you to leave our father alone!"
Henry and Caroline exchanged confusing looks as they looked at me. I noticed their eyes were gesticulating their curiosity at me. I sighed, knowing that I would need to explain the truth. How could I not know Amber was dead the next morning. Afterall, it was me that told her our father was having an affair with his secretary, and he would never love her. My comment made her so overwhelmed, so I encouraged her to take her life. I was there when she hanged herself. However, instead of reporting it that night, I silently slipped out of the bathroom. Now my body feels that rush of adrenaline.
"Your sister told me and forced me to do this!!" the spectre cried out while looking at Henry. "I thought you were not like your father. I thought you were someone I could sincerely love!! Every Valentine's, I came here just to see you!!" she cried out.
I felt so petrified with fear that my entire body stiffened at the spot. The spectre was not only vengeful but also paedophillic. I knew there was only one way getting it to leave us alone for the rest of eternity. I bowed down and apologized to her. Her eyes turned blood red and her hollow mouth opened with black liquid coming out. However, just as I felt like she was taking me to hell, a light came through and took her away. I assume that was someone from the spiritual realm that was accepting my apologies. We never saw her again, not even on Valentine's Day. We can now finally spend it with our loved ones.