Oakland Cemetery Atlanta

I debated sending this in because I still do not know if there is a logical explanation for it or not, but it stuck with me enough that I still think about it years later.

I was visiting Atlanta for a concert with friends, and the next morning I had some time to kill before driving home, so I decided to stop by Oakland Cemetery because I had heard it was beautiful. I like photography and old historic places, so it seemed worth checking out.

It was bigger than I expected. Very quiet too, especially once you get farther from the entrance. Some parts honestly felt more like a park than a cemetery.

I wandered around for probably an hour just looking at names and old monuments. At some point I realized I had drifted pretty far away from everyone else because I could not hear anybody anymore.

That did not bother me at first.

Then I had this really weird moment where I suddenly became aware of someone standing behind me.

Not in a dramatic way. More like when you are in a grocery store and realize someone is waiting for you to move out of the way.

I automatically stepped to the side and even started turning to apologize because I thought I was blocking the path.

Nobody was there.

I remember actually laughing at myself.

But a few minutes later it happened again.

This time I was stopped near one of the older statues. I got that exact same feeling, except stronger. Like somebody was standing very close behind my right shoulder.

And then I heard what sounded like breathing.

I know how crazy that sounds.

Not loud breathing. Just one soft exhale like somebody had walked up behind me after a long walk.

I turned around so fast I honestly made myself dizzy a little.

Nothing.

No footsteps. No people nearby. Nothing moving.

I did notice it suddenly felt colder in that section, but maybe that was just because of all the shade from the trees.

After that I started heading back toward the front because the whole place suddenly felt very different to me. Not threatening exactly. Just uncomfortable.

The strange thing is, I never felt like whatever it was wanted to scare me.

It felt more like I was being observed.

That is honestly the only way I know how to explain it.

Later that day I mentioned it to a friend from Atlanta, and she immediately asked which section I was in because apparently other people have had similar experiences there.

I still do not know what happened.

Maybe the atmosphere got to me. Maybe being alone in an old cemetery made me hyper aware of every little sound and sensation.

But I have been to plenty of cemeteries since then and never experienced anything remotely like that again.