The old swing

in #hive-1776828 days ago


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That summer afternoon, the young girl was playing alone in the park near her house.

Suddenly, she noticed something strange: the old swing was swinging slowly, as if an invisible force was propelling it.

Intrigued, she approached it and an icy breeze brushed her cheek.

It was then that she saw her: a long-haired woman in a white dress staring at her with dark, empty eyes.

She held her breath as the stranger gave her a soft smile.

-Do you want to play with me? -she asked in an ethereal voice that seemed to come from everywhere.

Fear and curiosity mingled in the young girl's chest.

-Who are you? -she managed to stammer out.

-I used to live here a long time ago, but now I am alone. Come with me and I promise you'll never feel abandoned again.

She hesitated, remembering her mother's warnings about talking to strangers. But there was something hypnotic in those somber eyes that drew her dangerously close.

Suddenly, an elderly neighbour burst into the park, brandishing a rosary and shouting:

-Leave her alone!

The chilling apparition vanished like the morning mist. The woman embraced the young girl and explained that she was the spirit of a mother who, consumed by loneliness after losing her daughter, was eternally searching to fill that void with unsuspecting girls.

That night, the young girl made a promise never to play alone at dusk again.

And although the swing sometimes moved on its own, she knew that the ghost was still there, lurking, waiting for the chance to catch some unwary girl to soothe her endless loneliness.