The Roommate

When Brien Sykes a 35-year-old massage therapist moved into his Burien, Washington apartment dealing with an unwanted roommate was the last thing on his mind.

The building that housed his new home was built in the 1940s. The first odd activity that Sykes noticed involved his cat, Sam.

When Sykes left for work he always locked his cat into his apartment but within weeks of moving in he would return home to find his cat outside.

Perplexed as to how his cat managed to get outside Sykes started to put barriers at his door and made sure the apartment’s windows were shut tight.

But when he returned home he found these barriers undisturbed and he continued to find Sam outside waiting for him.

He then began to shut his cat in his bathroom with he left but every time he came home he found him outside the apartment building.

It dawned on him something otherworldly was occurring. With the onset of strange noises and items being moved Skye concluded he must be living with a ghost.

Several months after he moved in, he had several friends from work over. As they sat talking they all heard footsteps heading down the hallway to his apartment’s door.

When Sykes went to greet the new arrival no one was there. He reluctantly admitted to his friends that the apartment was haunted and what they heard was probably his ghostly roommate.

He went on to explain that he was not afraid because he never felt threatened. One reason was because the ghost liked to do housework.

If he left his bed unmade he would return to find it made. If he fell asleep with dirty dishes in the sink he would find them in the morning washed, dried and put away.

Sykes was so comfortable with his unusual roommate when he moved to a new apartment he invited the ghost to come with him.

But this didn’t happen and he now complains he has to do his own dishes.