johnro

Tag: fiction

  • The Korean Folktale of the Gumiho and the Fox Tail in the Moonlight

    The Korean Folktale of the Gumiho and the Fox Tail in the Moonlight

    In Korean folklore, few figures inspire as much fear and fascination as the gumiho (구미호) — the legendary nine-tailed fox. Unlike its Japanese cousin, the kitsune, or the Chinese huli jing, the Korean gumiho has long been portrayed as a dangerous, flesh-eating creature. With the ability to transform into a stunningly beautiful woman, the gumiho uses seduction and trickery to prey upon unsuspecting humans. Many folktales feature her disguises being exposed — often by a small slip, such as her tail peeking out under the moonlight.

    One of the eeriest stories passed down through generations is known as “The Tale of the Fox Tail in the Moonlight.”

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  • The Ballerina and the Mirror

    The Ballerina and the Mirror

    Growing Up with Scary Stories

    When I was young, I loved scary stories. They were more than just entertainment — they were a kind of shared ritual among friends, told in hushed voices to see who would flinch first. Some of those tales have faded from memory, but others have stuck with me for decades.

    One that still lingers is a story about a ballerina and a mirror. I don’t remember every detail perfectly, but I remember enough — and the twist ending is what still makes me shiver today.

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  • The Window Girl Who Still Haunts Me

    The Window Girl Who Still Haunts Me

    Growing Up with Scary Stories

    When I was young, I loved scary stories. I couldn’t get enough of them — the whispered tales at night, the way friends would try to out-scare each other, the mix of laughter and fear when someone jumped at the perfect moment. Most of those stories I’ve forgotten with time, but there’s one that still lingers in the back of my mind. Even now, years later, it creeps me out just thinking about it.

    It’s a story I heard from friends, passed along like a piece of playground folklore. The details may have shifted over time, but the image at its heart has never left me: a girl in a window, smiling.

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