Death Touch
An extract from Russell Lee's True Singapore Ghost Stories Vol. II

Three years ago, I became pregnant for the first time. My husband, family and in-laws fussed over me a great deal and I was given all kinds of advice. I was especially told that I should never go out of the house between 11am and 3pm and after 7 in the evening. If I had to go out during those times, I was to carry a sharp object with me, particularly a penknife or a nail. I did not take this advice seriously. Who would in these modern times? I was young and carefree and, most of all, not superstitious at all. Well at least not at that time.

My husband and I were very excited at the idea of becoming parents. The only thing we could talk about was babies. When I was 3 months pregnant, we felt that we just had to celebrate, so that night we went out and dined in an expensive restaurant in Orchard Road. After a very pleasant dinner, we drove down to MacRitchie Reservoir for a stroll. I still remember that late evening stroll...we laughed giggles and spoke so much about our growing child.

After a bit of walking, feeling tired, we sat down on a bench near the water's edge. As I sat with my hands resting on my tummy, and my husband's arm around my shoulder, I felt an icy wind whisk around me, encircling me. For a split second, I felt giddy. The cold, chilly wind seemed to go around me like a whirlwind and then disappeared.

My husband, on seeing me looking faint, insisted that we go home immediately. I did not take this incident seriously, although I did find it strange that my husband had not felt anything wen I was actually within his arms when it happened. That night, as I lay in bed, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. When I told my husband about it, he quickly bundled me into the car and took me to the hospital nearest our home.

I was warded and later told that I had suffered from a miscarriage.

That was 3 years ago. I learnt my lesson the hard way. 7 months later I become pregnant again. This time, I did not ignore my elders' advice and now I have a beautiful daughter.