I don't know how to feel about this or why I'm even telling you this, but as far as I'm aware, I don't have sleep paralysis, and I saw this one night. It lasted several seconds, in the middle of the night. It was so visceral, so real, that I called out to my friend sleeping in the same room and said "there's no one in the room but us, right?" She turned over in her sleep. I closed my eyes, crossed myself, and prayed to God. When I opened my eyes, it was gone.

At the time, I was a university student going down a dark path. I was severely depressed, suicidal, convinced I wouldn't live through the summer. I actually drew a picture of mine too, right away, the following morning, but that's what it looked like, kneeling at the side of my bed, smiling, eyes glowing. I felt instantly that it was death personified, mocking me.

I haven't seen it since. But every once in a while, when I roll over to get comfortable on the other side of my bed, my breath catches in my throat, in case I see it again.