A Dream, or the Ghost of a Deceased Friend?

How many dreams do you remember in true detail? Have you ever had an encounter with a ghost that you brushed off as a dream? Don't dreams usually fade after a few minutes, or even a few days? Do you remember the details like it just happened last night or even last week? Well, I had an experience that I first thought was a dream, but it turns out that it might have been more than that. I have had fair share of true ghost events, but nothing like what happened 22 years ago.

The year is 1987. It is fall of my freshman year in high school, and all of the autumn school activities were blooming. Cross-country was one of the after school sports that was very popular at that time of the year. It was just a normal day at school. My friend and I were sitting in our 7 am class, finishing up our typing assignment when we realized that the school announcements were being read over the speaker. Class was almost over and it was time to finish up and then meet our friends outside. This particular set of announcements started out different. It wasn't the normal lunch schedule or after school events. It was the principal and he was very solemn.

He announced that there was an accident the day before and many of our cross-country team was injured as they practiced yesterday. My friend and I looked at each other and quickly tried to finish our typing to get out and see our friends. Before we knew it, the principal was announcing the names of the injured over the loud speaker. One really nice guy was still in a coma, a few girls were hurt, and there was one fatality. I refused to believe this happened. (I have issues with death.) I stopped and thought for a minute. They never mentioned my friend Robbie. As I sat and listened, the principal cleared his throat and announced Robbie's full name, and that he had succumbed to his injuries from the accident. I looked at my friend next to me and asked her to repeat what was just said. I quickly stated that there must have been two Roberts on the team because that could never happened to the guy I knew... the guy I knew since I was a kid.

We finally got out of class to see a quad full of crying teens. I refused to admit it. Robbie was alive and he was just hiding. He was just not coming to school because this was a practical joke and he was going to get the best of me. I just saw him yesterday and he was fine.

The rest of the day my friends tried to convince me that it was true. I didn't believe it. I refused to believe it. It was not possible. It hurt too much. He was just a few days shy of his 14^th birthday. I was in denial. I could not even go to his funeral because I was still convinced that it was not real. (I still regret that to this day.)

A few days after his funeral something strange happened. I was at school talking in a circle with a few of my friends, when I felt something. I turned around and saw Robbie. I looked through the quad and saw him. It was Robbie! I knew he was faking it and it was all a practical joke. (Yes, I know I was narrow minded at the time.) He saw me and did something I never thought I would see him do. He lifted his finger to his closed lips and shh'd me. I ran over to him. He was wearing his simple black leather jacket, and a white t-shirt. I almost tripped going to him and he looked me in the eyes and I almost started to cry. It was Robbie! He was alive and I needed to let everyone know he was here!! I reached out to hug my childhood friend and right when I was going to cinch my arms around his chest, he pulled me away. He grabbed my arms and pulled me away. Stunned, I looked him in the eye and asked him why he didn't want a hug.

Robbie slowly opened his jacket to show me why. I was shocked, stunned, and every other emotion all in one. He opened his jacket and there was blood coming through his shirt in little jagged splotches. I looked at his eyes and he was tearful, but never said a word. I asked him what happened and why he was gone for so long. Then he finally spoke. He told me not to tell anyone he was there. I was almost hysterical because he was bleeding and didn't want me to help him. I begged him to let me help, but he closed his jacket and started to walk away. I called out to him. I begged him to stop. "Robbie come back, let me help you" I called out to him. He just put his finger to his lip again and then waved. That is all I remember.

The next day I thought I had dreamed it, and all these years I still thought it, until just recently. It will now be 22 years this month, November, since he has been gone. I still remember the event like it was yesterday. I miss him dearly, and all he could have been, but I am at ease with his passing because of his visit to me. Somehow he knew that I could not deal with his death, but in his own way, he helped me to accept it. I believe in ghosts, and I believe his was real.