Halloween. To this day, whenever this date rolls around I am haunted by the past. An experience I still am no closer to understanding, or coming to terms with. I have only told so very few people, those closest to me, carefully selected for fear of them carting me off to the funny farm, given its peculiar nature. So you may believe me or not- it’s entirely up to you; but I tell you, as I pray it helps me to deal with the emotions it has left behind.

2003, October 31^st. Friday night. Halloween night. I was at home in a quiet little suburban street. I had just moved to the area; well actually I had just moved to the country from Australia. I was looking forward to a little cheer after being stood up by a woman I had just travelled across the world to meet. I was all set to go back to Australia but thought I’d make the most of my trip to the US and not let someone ruin a new experience that may be great. It was my first Halloween in America and having come from a place that really didn’t ‘celebrate’ such a tradition I was looking forward to all the trick or treaters coming with their various costumes. I had my bowl of lollies ready and a bowl of fruit too, for all the kids that gave me attitude.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but from what I had seen in movies, soon kids would start rocking up to my doorstep and if I offloaded some lollies I wouldn’t get my house egged. So as night fell I curled up on the couch with a glass of red (the bottle not too far away), tunes playing in the background and a murder mystery novel, perfect for such a spooky moonlight night.

Ding dong. "Show time," I thought to myself as I made my way to the door. I was greeted by 5 little terrors, 2 dressed as little vampires, complete with false fangs and blood, and the other 3 went all out with a white sheet with eye holes cut out. “Trick or Treat,” they chorused simultaneously. I smiled at the thought that this was just like the movies. Alas I chose treat as I noticed a box-like bulge from under one of the ghosts’ sheets that resembled a carton of ‘tricks’. I watched them walk off my porch and over to next door. As I watched, my attention turned to a woman standing at my fence. She wasn’t costumed, wearing what looked to be a blue silk dress. She looked straight at me and smiled, and I smiled back. It did seem odd but I assumed she was someone’s mother, going along to supervise. I returned to my house closing the door and lay back on the couch. Within minutes the doorbell rang again and I made my way to the door and repeated the procedure with a fairy and a boy with a knife through his head. I looked up after dropping several sweets into their treat bags and noticed the woman still there. Again she smiled at me and looked away. Closing the door I couldn’t help but think of the woman. She intrigued me, both by her presence and also by the fact she was incredibly gorgeous. Dark brown hair, which fell over her slender shoulders. Light skin, full lips and an immaculate smile. Her eyes haunted me. Fiery blue like Pacific Island waters, or Antarctic Ice. I sipped my wine and