Ashley Coats

July 30, 2019

True Horror Stories.

Thinking about the Consumer's Memoir Essay

I consume habitually true horror stories often, almost daily. I grew up watching crime

shows with my mother. I have always been intrigued to understand every view of the story I

could. I would play with my toy horses while listening to the show Deadly Woman or I Almost

Got Away With It. Reading isn’t necessarily my go to for relaxing but listening to a story helps

me calm down, relax, think about the possibilities of mankind, then have a chance to breathe.

I am more naive than I would like to admit. I feel like when I do consume such a strange

form of entertainment I am able to look at a bigger picture. I try to think about what must go

through a victims mind or the person who created this new found nightmare. Giving an outline of

what to watch out for when doing simple day to day tasks or traveling to an unknown land.

My favorites are read aloud in podcasts and on platforms like YouTube. Videos on

youtube offered by channels Cush as “Mr. Nightmare,” give you a few related images to help

paint a picture. This channel gives you a visual to look at or just sit back and relax. I personally

find that my imagination sparks when watching the videos from “Let’s Read,” these have a

constant video of puzzles and make your brain figure out patterns. Sometimes it may just be a

small simple game that is played on repeat, just to give the eyes something to do while the ears

are busy.

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 Listening to one of these when I am driving tho can help me to focus on the road but feel

as if I am not alone so I stay awake. Having my heart racing over the words I am hearing

definitely helps, i’ll admit it. One thing I don’t like to mention is how much they scare me also. It

is as if sometimes I search for the issue in life and around me. Part of me genuinely believes I

shouldn’t listen to them as often so I can be more trusting… or is that just me being naive again?

Because they a true story it gives my brain a chance to connect the similarities to my own

life. The more relatable the story time is, the more I feel like I can learn from it or scare myself

senseless. Making my heart race, beating on my chest and giving my imagination the ability to

create such a scene in my head.

Now hear me out, I know this sounds strange but it is like when you watch a horror

movie. But only now your imagination paints the picture, like reading a book. Oh and it is true…

I have learned to keep my doors and windows locked, including my car even when I am driving.

I recently actually got pulled out of my car in the middle of an intersection by a man who

apparently just wanted my number. Weirdly because of these stories I felt safe. I looked to the

cars near by and quickly the man proceeded to tell me I was beautiful as he ran back to the

running vehicle.

Maybe it is from my upbringing but feeling emotions is something I crave, Looking for

them to also help me feel intense empathy or anticipation. These stories grip at my heartstrings

and cause me to feel for those involved. I don’t want to fall victim to the cruel world I have yet

to understand, but I will try day by day to learn. I want to continue tot consume knowledge from

true horror stories and sources to know more about what really happens in the shadows.

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