I never believed in the afterlife. All my life I’ve heard various iterations of it, but for some reason I never bought into it. Maybe it was the various TV shows trying to scare the hell out of you with dramatic reenactments and the spooky music, and so I became convinced the idea of life after death had some sort of hidden agenda. I’ve never seen proof of it myself, and everyone I knew that believed it was naive. So again I’m going to say I never believed in the afterlife, until one fateful day...499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamyyaNnEre
It was near the end of my second year of college, and already the social life was catching up to me. My friend I’d made the year before had invited me to various parties, and I started going boy crazy. My mom of course didn’t know about it. At least not outright. Her mom radar was telling her I was up to something, because she was my grades and how they were slipping from A’s and B’s to C’s and D’s. Shockingly, she never said anything and it almost made me feel worse. I messed up. I knew it, my mom knew it, but the silence of it all was killing me. I was failing my mom, but I didn't know how to talk to her. It was at this point that things began to get weird.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiH5EUywfi
You see, things that happened throughout my childhood started happening again. Ever since I could remember, our house seemed to be haunted. It was never anything too strange, but something invisible would touch me. It was such a simple gesture, but it always scared the life out of me. And now it was happening at college.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHzLB0UKrq
Sometimes it was a touch on the shoulder, and I would turn and expect mom to be standing there, but she was in another room or just not at home altogether. The oddest thing that happened was when I felt felt three taps on my back. I never told my mom about it, because who would believe it? I occasionally asked if she was in my room or other things to rationally explain it, but nothing ever quite fit.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTJuywiF6z
But now, for the first time in my life this was happening outside of my house. Usually this was after a hard night of partying and being stupid. I’d come back to my dorm and I would feel the invisible hand on me. I dismissed it as being too drunk, but it happened way too often and at times when I didn’t drink anything. It bothered me to the point that I had to talk to my mom. It was driving me absolutely crazy, and I felt it was time to talk about other things too.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww3Pht63cs
“Hey, can I talk to you about something?” I prompted her one night.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4cnj7pQD9
“Of course, sweetie. What is it?” Mom said, her eyes intently focused on me now. She had probably been waiting all year for me to say something like this. We were closer when I was younger, but like a typical teenager I distanced myself from her in favor of my friends.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJXCfF5Ol6
“Um...I’m not sure how to start so I’ll blurt it out. I’ve been partying, alot.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuXPO38YLD
“Like out drinking with your friends partying?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav6Dm0zpUB
“Yeah...”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCQFmdBoEG
“I thought as much.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHphnPsfo6
"Yeah. And I just....I dunno I felt like maybe instead of hiding it I might as well talk about it. You’re my mom, after all.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJij0jVuFXq
“Well, that’s great! It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’ve known this year has been very different for you. Your attitude has changed, and your grades are slipping. But I try not to pry, and I also want you to learn how to mess up on your own and pay the consequences on your own if you do. You do remember our agreement, right?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kDMAY2kko
“Of course. If I flunk out, no more help.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxW12glT9r
“That’s right. You’re on the verge here. And while I’m glad you’ve got this far, I don’t want you to throw it all away. You are so smart and you have so much potential.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgivXliUk61
“I know, mom. I’ve kinda been a jerk, to be honest. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in my life outside of here. Country girl going to the big city and having a good time. It’s cliche, but I think I’ve gotten a good idea what the party life is about. And it’s just starting to wear me thin, I think.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMQqFSMw95
“Is a boy involved in any of this?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRwv2jHDqP
“Well, I mean...kind of. I’ve dated guys this year, but it’s sort of wishy-washy. I’ve heard the psychological thing about finding guys to fill a void in their life. And it’s even more true for girls who didn’t have a father around so I dunno...I’m just feeling so guilty all of the sudden and the guy thing made me think of dad and....”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwISg9e7jq
"Oh, honey it’s alright.” She hugged me tight for a moment, and I continued.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCpQaXoGsf
"So, anyway. With all that going on, something else started happening. And, I... and...”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSSbtG9J1X
I paused, debating over whether or not I would talk about the ghost hand that had scared me for all those years.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaj1YZakimb
"What? What is it, hun?” An intense look of concern lined her brow.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWjksowIG7
"So, the other reason I wanted to talk is...kinda weird. Um...there’s this weird thing that’s been happening. Ever since I was young. I think I was five, or four at the earliest.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiYpd9hIdS
“Okay...?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XWRGsQTia
“So, this is going to sound SO crazy, but...I sometimes get touched by something. Something I can’t see.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSQ8RXdj2B
The expression on mom’s face went very grim, and right away I knew she was going to throw me into the loony bin.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpq6NktDgX
“I know how it sounds, mom. Please don’t think I’m...”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK5R21chTm
"Crazy? No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I just...I wondered why you never told me.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA3QEdtGxW
“For that very reason! Overactive imagination or something. But it can’t be, because I felt it all the time when I was younger. I think I ignored it so much at one point that it stopped. It was only at the house, and it freaked me out so much. And now....now it’s starting again.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjPJhrpZGV
“Oh, my. So it’s all connected somehow.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6jWDHNB2c
“Yeah, exactly! I just...really felt like we should talk. We should be able to talk about anything, but this is soooo weird.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduXB3vwyxI
“That is strange. So when you say touch, what do you mean?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiHY3qZxbP
“Well, basically it felt like someone putting a hand on my shoulder, or tapping me on the back."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrrxuSXiXc
“Is that why you would ask me if I was in your room?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr8W8AucIQ
“Yeah.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqFNVw3Y3K
"That would explain some things...”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknXDiBg3nD
“So is our house haunted? Can something from a haunted house even follow you? I just don’t know, this is all so strange."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKD7ZQve2L
“So something is definitely happening here. You said it's been at college, too?499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2DpARSJqg
"Yeah, that's the weird part. Lately, it's been more frequent. In fact, the more I partied and went out with friends being stupid, the more it seemed to happen. I'd get back to my dorm, and it would start up there again. Especially when it would tap three times on my back. That was the weirdest. It would be exactly three times every time."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWk9po0xYh
At this, my mother's eyes lit up in realization and her face went white for a second.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6FOjbkdCy
"You said three times on your back?" Her word shook with every syllable.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs2lglI8r5
"Yeah, why? What's wrong?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvdraewPQf
"Sherry, are you sure?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0hdilMB49
"Yeah, it was three times. Mom, are you okay?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyvzx82rQu
Suddenly, tears began streaming out of her eyes. I put my arm around her and scooted in closer.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenHdx7TSUQ
"Mom, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaO8ZoSQQ8
She continued for a moment longer, and I brought some tissues while she regained her composure. Finally, she settled down long enough to speak again.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4YieoqGHa
"I'm sorry, honey. I'm crying because...it's.....it's a happy thing. Well sad, maybe a little bit of everything. I don't know what to call it." As she talked, she struggled to maintain her composure. Whatever this thing was, it was big.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjoRvtoFJG
"What is it, then?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfEX6WaKaA
"Sherry, what you just told me about the three taps...is a big confirmation of what this means."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARDZYI2utr
"A confirmation of what?"499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNZdD0CC64
"You remember that your father was deaf, don't you? I know you don't remember him when he was alive, but it's important."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKNA7vtLST
"Yeah, I do remember you telling me that. Mom, what are you saying? I'm so confused here."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSX4RkeJsv
"Your father...he'd been deaf since birth. Since he never heard anyone speak he couldn't say anything that you could understand. As much as he wanted to say the words 'i love you,' he could never get the words out. It broke my heart when he tried, but couldn't. He could sign it, but he wanted something that was quicker and more personal. So we made this little system, just for us. If he wanted to say 'I love you,' he would tap me on the back three times. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj2TY35Qc2
He even did this to you when you were a baby. After you'd be down for a nap in your crib, he'd watch you for a minute and tap you on the back three times before he left the room. Sherry, this experience you thought was a 'haunting'....it's been your father this whole time. I distinctly remember him saying that he would always be proud of you. Even if you messed up, he would love you just the same. He's still around, and he's trying to let you know that he's still proud of you despite all that's happened this year."499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyneBkldo8A
Now, it was me that was balling and it got her balling and we held each other until no tears were left. Ever since then, I became very close friends with my mom and I told her everything. It was all thanks to my dad gently guiding me to her with his personal, subtle sign of love. It was that day that I spoke with my mom that I knew there was something far beyond our lives here on Earth. From beyond the grave, my father was still connected to me and I welcomed every tap from that day on.
ns 172.69.7.68da2
and then Add to home screen.