We Groove with Ghosts at Tarvens, I TOOK A GHOST HOME.
Growing up, I was always terrified of girls. Coming from a poor background didn’t help my confidence either. I was the classic nerd—reserved, book-smart, and too shy to approach anyone I admired. School was my escape, and I excelled academically, earning a bursary to further my studies after matric.
After graduating, I landed a good job and focused on changing my circumstances. The first thing I did was build my parents a big house and buy myself a car. By then, I felt like I was making up for lost time. I became "for the streets," reconnecting with my past self by settling old scores with girls I liked but never had the courage to approach.
One December holiday, I came home and decided to revisit the people and places that once seemed out of reach. I spotted a familiar face at a local tarven—a girl I had a crush on for many years. She was the most beautiful, intelligent girl in our school, but I’d long accepted she was out of my league. I’d even heard she dropped out of varsity, got married to a foreigner, and moved far away.
But that night, she was there, as radiant as ever. To my surprise, when I mustered up the courage to talk to her, she agreed to go home with me. This was monumental for me, considering how untouchable she once seemed. We danced, laughed, and enjoyed the night until the tarven closed at 2 a.m.
On the drive to her place, she suddenly changed her mind and asked me to drop her off a few houses away from her home to avoid waking her parents. I obliged, being the gentleman I prided myself on becoming. I dropped her off and went home, feeling a mix of triumph and nostalgia.
The next day, I realized I hadn’t asked for her number. Eager to connect again, I went to a friend’s house, hoping he could help me find her contact information or escort me to her house. What followed left me in shock.
He looked at me as though I had lost my mind. “She passed away over a year ago,” he said. At first, I thought it was one of his infamous pranks, but when he showed me her Facebook and Instagram profiles, the truth hit me like a brick. Her family and friends had posted tributes confirming her death.
Seeking Answers
Still in disbelief, I drove to her family’s house to piece together what had happened. I told her parents about the events of the previous night and asked if she had any sisters who might resemble her. Her mother’s calm response froze me in my tracks: I wasn’t the first person to claim they’d seen her.
“She’s still roaming,” her mother said with a resigned sadness. “Her soul is not at peace.”
It’s been five years since that night. I haven’t set foot in that tarven again. The encounter left me with more questions than answers. Did I imagine the whole thing? Was it her spirit seeking closure? Or was it a warning to live my life differently?
To this day, I can’t explain what happened, but one thing is certain: some encounters go beyond our understanding. Sometimes, when we groove at tarvens, we may not be dancing with the living.
Social Plugin