It was 1am.

My little black Beetle was snuggly parked between an old Chevy and a very practical compact. I had taken up my habitual sleeping position with drivers seat fully reclined; my head nestled by a trivial pillow, ear plugs and sleep mask firmly in place.

While the interior of my vehicle was not the most spacious accommodations, I was still very appreciative of the respite the garage and beetle offered me.

My pocket book is in the red. This fact made things like a permanent residence, or even a hotel room luxuries outside my ability.

Luckily the monthly free for entrance into the garage was agreeable to my means, and a good refuge from the streets. Cops do not look favorably onto those seeking shut eye by parking meters, or residential byways. Also much is to be worried over concerning those who inhabit parks or lonesome parking lots.

The garage was almost a perfect resting point for me in many respects… save one.

As with all things in life, saving money meant you paid other costs elsewhere.

In my case, this meant peace of mind.

For in this garage. Shadows bleed.

I read much of shadow people after the first night I spent here. Read all sorts of explanations. None of it fits what I see happening.

I considered trying the streets again after my first night here. However what Im experiencing doesn't seem to physically harm me. I also know I cannot afford the higher rates found at other garages.

So after much thought, I opted to stay.

In this garage, around 2am it sometimes happens. The cars slowly around me will start to dim, not uniformly though. More like surfaces are covered in dim patches.

The borders of these dim regions are not uniform in size or shape.

Over the course of a half hour, any and all shadows near to the dimmed areas will… the best I can describe it…. the shadows drain? into the dimmed areas.

The shadows don't alter in size, but they fad over time, as the dimmed areas darken.

As they darken, the patches expand.

Cars, walls… whatever they are on, get overtaken by shadows.

My car is often overtaken by shadows in this manner. I could drive off at any point when it occurs. If I do, the weird shadows simply vanish while I drive.

If I don't leave, they simply spill inside my car. Its like going blind. When whatever it is expands inside. I feel cold from this also, but otherwise I do not experience any physical discomfort from it happening.

Mental discomfort though is another matter. I wont describe the waking sleep the shadows give me. Nor the sounds that bleed through if I do not wear ear plugs, or the images I see if I do not wear a mask over my eyes.

I will say this though.

I feel safer chancing shadows, than I do the people who wander the city alone at night.