The man I met in the hospital bathroom still haunts my dreams

One morning I woke up with excruciating pain on the side of my face. It was so bad that my husband took me to the e.r.<br><br>The doctor told me that I had what was called a salivary gland infection. I could only feel the pain on the outside of my face, but the infection was near my ear.<br><br>A couple hours after getting there, the staff took me to a room so they could run more tests. To tell you the truth, it was probably the most painful thing I've ever experienced. My husband was worried and scared, and so was I. The very thought of being in a hospital causes me extreme anxiety. I had only been in a hospital twice. I gave birth to both of my babies at home. I know some may think it's crazy to have a baby at home, but both births went by really fast and smoothly. I'm very glad I did it. <br><br>I could feel my anxiety and pain rising and rising till I couldn't hold it in any more. I needed to puke. I asked the nurse if I could use the restroom. I barely made it to the bathroom door. She opened the door and I threw up. I had locked the door to. Right after throwing up, I heard the door rattle and then jiggling. I said I'm busy, please wait. A moment later, the nurse knocked on the door and I could hear her voice on the other side.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>"I'm busy. Please, give me a minute."<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>"Who's in here?"<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>"I'm busy. Please, give me a minute."<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>The nurse's voice was not like a voice that I had heard before. It sounded very masculine, and menacing. I started to feel very uncomfortable and unsafe. I think she could hear my voice shaking.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>"I'm busy. Please, give me a minute."<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>The jiggling stopped, but then I heard the sound of the doorknob turning. I was in so much pain I barely had the strength to stand. But I stood up to tell whoever it was to go away. My eyes met a man's eyes. He was standing over by the sink area, a couple of feet away from me. I was standing next to the toilet. He could see the entire bathroom. The basin, the floor, and the toilet, all in his view. "Hello?" I said. He didn't say a word. I kept staring into his eyes, and into his eyes is where mine stayed. I didn't even look down to see if he was exposing himself, I just stared into his eyes the entire time. I tried to scream but it wasn't a scream. It was just a weird sounding moan. I was too scared to scream. I'm not sure why. I was scared to death. What if he had a knife or something, and I screamed? What if I couldn't move fast enough? What if I couldn't move at all? <br><br>I tried to move towards the door but he blocked me. I quickly jumped up onto the toilet seat. I don't know how I did it because of the intense pain I was in. I jumped so fast and started shaking the door to get someone's attention, I even pounded on the door. I was saying, please help me. Please help me. I was crying. I looked back at him and saw him walk towards the door. I was so scared and shaking and I felt like I was going to pass out. I was worried if I fainted where would I fall? On the floor, in an open position. I felt like I was in a horror movie. All these thoughts and what ifs were going through my mind in a second. I don't know how but I got the strength to stand up and move towards the door to keep this man out. He got to the door and stopped. I kept shaking and pounding on the door. The man never said a word, he didn't even move. He just stood there staring at me with his hands by his sides. He didn't even blink.<br><br>I kept pounding on the door till the nurse opened it and I fell into her arms crying. She shut the door and she told me to tell her what happened. I told her. She said we have to get you out of here. She holds my arm and walks me to my room. I never saw the man again but my husband and I filed a report. I looked around and asked questions before leaving the hospital and none of the nurses recognized my description.<br><br>I have no idea if the man had a weapon. I have no idea if the man was even real. All I do know is that it's been 30 years since he's been in my mind. The man in the hospital bathroom still haunts my dreams to this day.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I have learned a little more about the infection since. It was a virus I caught. It took a couple of months to heal.