It was nearly midnight, and the rain streamed down the windows, which shook in the wind. A fog covered the front yard, and through the haze, something appeared — a ghost. Think the classic white sheet, with two eye holes, floating towards the home.

Without knowing the reason why the ghost is there, this is a frightening scene. The assumption could be that we are the ones haunted. But what if, instead, the ghosts are the ones haunted by us?

Ghost stories often explore themes such as ghosts teaching a lesson, a soul trapped between two worlds, or a ghost attending to unfinished business. But in reality, these themes terrify the living day and night. Because let’s be honest, living life as a human can be a terrifying experience.

I go to great lengths to avoid being scared. I keep clear of dark alleys at night, practice deep breathing when my emotions are high, and, if I am speaking publicly, I prepare and practice. But there are times when I get stuck in anxiety loops. Or when I want to start a new habit but never have the time. And I’ve had a big idea and stopped after the first setback. We know people sleepwalking through their lives. Maybe we are those people, living just as we envision a spooky spirit wandering a dark field.

And what if the ghosts are horrified by how we live? Because, unlike the ghosts in these haunted tales, we have a choice. The scariest stuff isn’t what happens in the afterlife. It’s the life we’re not living right now. Can you imagine ghosts seeing us be afraid of rejection, fearful to fail at something we’re new at, or even being scared of actually becoming successful? I wonder if they watch us getting caught up in these feelings. Like if they’re floating in our homes, with popcorn yelling, “Just apply for the dream job! Ask the person out already!” And just like we do with scary movies, there isn’t any kind of intervention, just watching while the worst unfolds.

Think about the ghosts wandering around Chico, watching us miss the leaves changing on The Esplanade, and seeing us walk past the Easter Peeps hidden in trees, or watching the artist visit 1078 Gallery and never asking how to get their own work on the walls. The ghosts just watch us and wait for the perfect moment that will never come.

We must look insane. We have bodies that can feel the autumn breeze pick up on the top of Monkey Face, hear all of the laughter from a comedy show at The Blue Room Theater, and can even taste a Chico Chai on a rainy afternoon. We could be their version of a horror movie, missing out on all of this.

And when ghosts encounter someone actually living their life to the fullest, they don’t stay around for too long. They know the mortal soul truly wants to live, and they respect it. Ghosts know these are the people who understand that the absolute terror is a life not lived. Because soon enough, it will be too late, and we’ll be the ones watching the living ourselves.

The ghost, ominously floating in the dark fog, might be there because your life is their scary movie. It’s an adrenaline rush for them, something they only do now and then. A reminder that sometimes people think life is long, there will be the perfect moment, and that they have time. We are a mystery thriller to watch as our true selves develop. And even though we all have the same ending —spoiler alert: it’s death —the choices we make along the way are what make up our lives.

Honestly, it doesn’t feel too far off. So, what’s haunting you that you’re alive enough to change?