St. Philip's Graveyard

My family would travel to Charleston SC somewhat regular for vacation. This one particular vacation was very different though. Ghost tours, the market, restaurants, and carriage rides were all regular on our agenda for our vacations to Charleston. We had always admired the beautiful churches but had never attended a service until this one vacation. My grandmother was fascinated in St. Philip’s. We got up that Sunday morning and took the time to admire the beauty of the grounds and architecture before the service. My mother and wondered off from the group in the graveyard and that’s when things took a turn. My mother just behind a structure was no longer in my view, nor I in hers when I felt what to me was a punch to my gut. I buckled over gasping for air as the wind seemed to have been knocked out of me. My mother hearing my faint gasps came to investigate and was concerned to see me leaned over holding my stomach and unable to breath properly. She did what most mothers would do. She ran over placing her hand on my back to ask if I was okay. Just like that, the second her hand touched my back the pain stopped and I began to catch my breath. She again asked if I was okay as she noticed my breathing becoming more normal. Of course I wanted to scream no and runaway without looking back but I pulled myself together and said I was fine, just felt a loss of breath for a moment but she shouldn’t worry. We then went in for the service but as soon as it was over I darted off the church grounds. It was later that night that we went on a ghost tour and I found my heart racing as we made our way closer to the church gates. My mind repeating “ don’t stop at the church. Not the church”, I seemed to have jinxed myself as we of course land right at the gates. Our tour guide then preceded with his duties and began to tells us about Sue. As the story went on I could feel the color fleeing from my face. I won’t spoil the story for you but if you know the stories or find yourself reading about it after this, then you will understand the fear that crossed my mother and I as we looked at each other in shock.

January 2020