Woman's Final Days Filled with Mysterious Visions

Mother sees and speaks to unseen entities in her final weeks, leaving daughter puzzled

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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In the final weeks of her life, the author's mother, who had struggled with depression, anorexia, and untreated despair for decades, began speaking to and interacting with people and entities that only she could see. The daughter sat by her bedside, effectively invisible to her mother, as the woman waved, smiled, laughed, and carried on conversations with these unseen presences, some of whom the daughter recognized as deceased loved ones. The daughter wonders if these were true supernatural experiences or simply hallucinations brought on by her mother's declining health.

Why it matters

This story explores the complex and often mysterious nature of the dying process, raising questions about the possibility of supernatural experiences, visions, or connections with the afterlife. It also provides insight into the challenges of caring for a loved one with long-standing mental health issues as they approach the end of their life.

The details

The author's mother, Marcia, had managed a gift shop for 40 years, which was her only true joy in life. In her final weeks, she was bedridden, first in the hospital and then at a care facility, where the author sat by her side. During this time, Marcia began addressing and interacting with people and entities that only she could see, waving, smiling, laughing, and carrying on conversations with them. Some of the names she mentioned were familiar to the author, while others were not, and some were of people who were deceased. Marcia would sometimes become agitated, insisting that the author help her off a 'pier' or free someone who was 'chained', but the author could see no such things. Despite this, Marcia seemed more carefree and content than the author had ever seen her in life.

  • Over the course of the author's mother's final weeks

The players

Marcia

The author's mother, a 50-year gift shop manager who struggled with depression, anorexia, and untreated despair for decades.

S. Rufus

The author, who sat by their mother's bedside during her final weeks and witnessed her mysterious interactions with unseen entities.

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What they’re saying

“Did you have lunch? Was it Chinese?”

— Marcia

“She went right up to the North Pole.”

— Marcia

“Max, which bread is best?”

— Marcia

“Joe, you have a midget dog.”

— Marcia

“Bring scissors! You might need them!”

— Marcia

The takeaway

This story raises profound questions about the nature of consciousness, the afterlife, and the human experience at the end of life. While the author's mother's visions and interactions remain a mystery, her final days provide a poignant and thought-provoking glimpse into the complex and often unexplained phenomena that can occur as we approach the end of our lives.