The emotional realism here sneaks up beautifully. The “haunting” isn’t from beyond but from within. You capture how guilt can haunt a house more effectively than any ghost could. The way David’s skepticism and empathy coexist gives the story a real pulse.
When you wrote this, were you thinking more about belief in the paranormal or the psychology of grief and connection? It feels like David’s intuition straddles both worlds: half scientist, half empath.
David is a complex person, and was even more so back in 1997. He had previously been a hard-nosed sceptical scientist (inorganic chemist) who would not give such thoughts the time of day. He then found himself wading knee deep in what people ascribe to the paranormal. He therefore has no choice but to be empathetic, still being unsure what to regard as genuine and what is nonsense.
In later years he gains more confidence in what he does and does not believe.
Superb story - and as ever...I'm wanting more. A brilliant tease! It's so easy to get into David and Janet's world. I love the asides on the various 'gawd awful' types that they run across in the stories I have read.
The emotional realism here sneaks up beautifully. The “haunting” isn’t from beyond but from within. You capture how guilt can haunt a house more effectively than any ghost could. The way David’s skepticism and empathy coexist gives the story a real pulse.
When you wrote this, were you thinking more about belief in the paranormal or the psychology of grief and connection? It feels like David’s intuition straddles both worlds: half scientist, half empath.
Thank you sir, appreciated.
David is a complex person, and was even more so back in 1997. He had previously been a hard-nosed sceptical scientist (inorganic chemist) who would not give such thoughts the time of day. He then found himself wading knee deep in what people ascribe to the paranormal. He therefore has no choice but to be empathetic, still being unsure what to regard as genuine and what is nonsense.
In later years he gains more confidence in what he does and does not believe.
It does not go well.
Superb story - and as ever...I'm wanting more. A brilliant tease! It's so easy to get into David and Janet's world. I love the asides on the various 'gawd awful' types that they run across in the stories I have read.
You are very kind sir. I do like escaping into David and Janet’s world, it means I can ignore this one for a while.
I really enjoyed the haunting in this, coming from energy and emotions manifesting. Looking forward to more David stories.
Thank you.
I am in the depths of editing one of the big grown up David stories at the moment, but when that is done I may write another.