I don’t want to be alone anymore

I didn’t grow up popular or with many friends, but I never imagined how lonely my life would turn out. I never got married and I don’t have kids. I spend a lot of my free time online. There are few people I talk to regularly but it doesn’t feel like enough. At times it feels like the weight of my loneliness keeps me from enjoying anything else. My absence from people only perpetuates my ability to make friends. On the good days, everything feels inadequate, on the bad days, it’s crushing.

The other day I found an obscure post on Reddit on a ritual to help lonely people. To be honest it seemed stupid and I don’t believe in magic, but It was something to pass the time. I said what the heck, it’s not like I’m busy with friends.

Late one night, fueled by boredom, I followed the instructions. I lit the candles, I drew the symbols on the floor, and chanted the incantation. I wasn’t scared or anything, I’m not a wimp. But it was creepy, even for me. The air was heavy with sorrow that night and the final words left my lips, the room grew cold and then, nothing. Nothing happened. As I figured from the beginning. I stayed up watching some videos and then went to bed.

However, a few nights later, once the sun set, these people started appearing in my yard. They looked old and their skin looked gray. They would stand there looking for me through the windows in the dark. I’ve never let them in but when I listen to them, they speak in low hushing, mournful tones, telling me how they died and how they need me. I try not to look in their eyes, they are sullen and filled with desperation.

I think I’m the only one that can see them. As soon as the police show up, the old people are gone. I’ve done it 3 times already, and they’ve said I can’t call anymore else they might charge me for prank calling an emergency line.

This all started with a few of them, now there are dozens. What’s worse, they’ve started getting into the house. Tonight, they are standing outside of my bedroom door trying to get in. I can hear their hushed voices overlap. I’m tired. I haven’t gone to sleep in days. I am afraid they will never stop visiting me with their anguish. All I want is to just be left alone.