Unseen Eyes
A Paranormal Interview
In the shadows draping Blackbird’s shelves, curious & watchful eyes linger from the Otherside. The busy customer may not notice the chill, but trust me when I say that those who are sensitive… and some of the staff… know the feeling all too well. In fact, there are two sets of eyes to be found amongst these dim lights! So, grab a cold drink to nurse, our ghostly friend ordered a Bramble Stoker from the bar, & let’s delve into this interview.
For those unaware, Blackbird Books & Spirits is a quaint speakeasy bookstore and bar tucked away in Downtown Belton, TX. The experience alone of stepping into a magically, dark academia-inspired space in stark contrast from the shops around Downtown, makes a trip well worth it! But the thrill of Blackbird doesn’t stop at aesthetics and goodies! They host a plethora of community events partnered with other local businesses: game nights, tarot & tea leaf reading pop-ups, multiple themed book clubs, writer’s nights, cocktail classes, occasional collegiate speakers, and so much more. Those who wonder and seek a hint of peculiarity out of life can all find a sense of kinship here.
One hot pre-summer day, I strolled in, plopping down at the bar with a purpose: to interview the spirit I had previously sensed hanging around. Through a mixture of psychic senses & tarot cards, “Paul” the spirit & I had an intriguing conversation before roping in the bartender of the day, Trevor, for validation. I had actually written out a long list of interview questions in preparation for this day and in doing so I had already picked up some information.
It had felt like Paul was trying to show a connection between his presence in the bookstore & something else. In this vision, everything was a gray-scaled haze of a potential past. A golden string pulled me through this vision up the road and into a barbershop. To my surprise (I’m not familiar with the area) this barbershop does exist in the exact spot I saw in the vision! I still don’t know what the connection is, only that it felt important to note at the time.
Getting to it
Paul, presenting as a 60-70yo man with a mustache to be proud of & peppery hair, generally enjoys being in this space! The community, authenticity & excitement of everyone allows him to feel a sense of belonging. Being here, he gets to see the continuation of life and the growth of new generations, which can be bittersweet at times.
Overtime, he’s come to realize that, like him, everyone is caught up in their own world, dealing with their own problems. But, it’s the manner in which people handle their mistakes that’s inspiring & kind of healing to him. It’s like, through death, he’s only now able to grasp that the themes haunting his mind aren’t solely unique to him. And with that come the hindsight of needing to lean on others for support. Paul also mentioned that he’s more likely to be noticed, not so lonely, in a place like Blackbird because of the type of people who venture in. Yay for us weirdos!
Most likely to be found lingering by the back stage, Paul often feels a paternal pride over the area & really wants people to continue thriving here, even if he gets grumpy or single-minded sometimes. And, if he’s honest, this protective ambiance comes second to Her—the other set of eyes from the Otherside. She doesn’t stop by as often as Paul, but he’ll continue to loiter, treasuring the days she does. Quite a few of my interview questions had to be abandoned because all he wanted to talk about was Her.
It seems this pair were star-crossed lovers. Paul described the situation as follows: “We were too wrapped up in life, work, stresses. Our own separate worlds and the details needed to keep those worlds going. The cycle never ended, of prioritizing everything else but each other. It just never happened, never settled. We triggered each other in the best & worst ways. The idea of us became more chased after than actually pursuing anything. But I loved her. I shouldn’t have let her go. I should’ve been more forward. Told her how I felt. Cherished her more publicly… My rose.”
I had pulled a few tarot cards to gleam insight, but those words just poured into me instead. And after such a strong message, I truly believe he just wants her to know how he feels. It’s this very regret that weighs on him most. A regret we honestly can all learn from.
To close out the interview, I asked Paul if he had any advice to share: “Don’t shy away from your reality. Lying to yourself is never helpful. We all die, it’s our fate. Don’t be afraid of it either. Let this fact push you to heal your pains, mend your regrets, and live better.”
Aftermath
After the interview, I turned towards Trevor to compare “notes.” Trevor confirmed that two spirits are felt by some of the staff: an older gentleman whom they loosely call The Conductor (it’s the mustache!) & a woman, not often around. Trevor also confirmed Paul’s generally protective demeanor, although added a comment for being known to toss the spicy books around. (To which, Paul feels slightly guilty about, but will not be stopping. “It’s not traditional. Think of the children,” he said.) And! Apparently, I’m not the first one to do ghosty chats here, which validates Paul’s expression of being noticed at Blackbird!
Whether you believe or are skeptical, the next time you’re browsing the books, maybe pause for a moment… Linger within the shadows slightly longer… See if you can feel those Unseen Eyes, too. For we are never truly alone anywhere.
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Thank you to Paul for allowing me to sit and chat with you! Thank you to Trevor for entertaining my whims and sharing in some really cool validations! And thank you to Blackbird for simply existing & being amazing!
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Alyssa
