When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I went to a sleepover at a friend’s house. He lived in a ranch-style home with a pool right outside, surrounded by a large patio. The living room ran along the entire length of the pool, featuring sliding glass doors that opened directly onto the patio. We were having fun watching movies until his parents told us it was late and time to go to bed.

As we were leaving the room, my friend reached over to turn off the lights. Once the reflections disappeared from the glass doors, we suddenly saw a man standing on the patio across the pool, silently staring at us. We immediately freaked out, screamed, and ran to tell his parents. But when they came back to check, the man was gone.

I never knew how long he had been watching us, but the whole experience haunted me for a long time afterward. It was terrifying to realize someone could be so close and unnoticed for so long. The fear stayed with me well beyond that night, giving me nightmares for weeks.

This story still feels surreal to me, a reminder that some moments in life are stranger — and scarier — than fiction. It’s one of those memories that sticks with you, making you double-check locked doors and windows, no matter how old you get.