Anny’s Room

It was the first time in her life that Anny was sleeping alone in her own room, in the largest apartments she had ever seen. She was eight and lived with her mother (Anita), older brother (George) and a cat (Minina). Her parents were divorced. They had moved many times, but always ended up back in the neighborhood. Washington Heights, in northern Manhattan. Her grandparents lived in the next building. They were Cuban immigrants.

The excitement was running through here blood. Her brother Georges’ room was next to hers. Her mothers’ bedroom was at the other end of the apartment. Finally it was bed time. Her bed was against the wall that connected the Georges room. She was a sensitive child, afraid of everything, and quite nervous. She went to bed, after a few minutes she heard a mans’ foot steps walking around her bed. She peeked from under her covers which were over her head. She thought it was George trying to scare her, but no one was there. She could hear his breathing emanating from the adjoining wall. Night after night the same thing would happen. She explained to her mother who shrugged it off. George was also hearing breathing from the wall. Sometimes she could feel the sensation of someone sitting on the edge of bed. The cat would stand at Annys’ bedroom door and hiss, with all her black hair standing straight up.

Several years had past, now Anny was in high school. Anita went to her room to wake her for school. She ignored her mother and turned to her side. Anita left the room and returned to the kitchen on the other side of the apartment. A few minutes later a hand pushed Anny with such force as to throw her on the floor.

Anita would put Anny on a plane bound for Miami, to stay with her relatives for summer vacation. During this time, one night her mother was sitting on the couch in the living room watching TV. The couch was facing the hallway leading to Annys’ room. She happened to look up and saw a tall man with a hat, looking at her. He came out of Annys’ room and went back in. She was horrified. She searched the entire apartment but no one was there. On another occasion her uncle Carlos was visiting. He sat on the end of the sofa and talked with Anita. He looked down the hallway and saw a young girl, dressed in white with long hair. She came out of Annys’ room and went back in. He was so shocked that he ran to the room, and found that no one was there.