Immediately after I turned off the light on my night table, I heard David's voice, loud, clear, and somewhat insistent (as though he were trying hard to get my attention) call my first name, just one time, no other words.  No visual manifestations.  He said nothing more, though I waited a while in case there was more.  I eventually fell asleep. 

I had not been thinking about him around that time, and had been using that bedroom (which he had been using 9 months earlier when he committed suicide elsewhere) for 6 or 7 months before this incident.  He had a very distinctive voice, and the voice I heard calling my name was easily recognizable as his--I didn't even have to think a moment to determine whose voice it was. I was excited, and also extremely amazed, to be hearing from him at all, and was disappointed that he didn't have anything more to say to me.   

My guess on this, looking back 25 years, is that he simply wanted me to know that he still existed and still knew who I was.

Details of location of experience and your activity at the time of experience: 

My bedroom in my townhouse.  It was around 2:30 a.m.--I had been awakened by a fire truck with its sirens blaring going around the corner my house was on.  I got up and walked down the side street to see what the fire was all about.  After talking with everyone there for about 15 or 20 minutes, I walked back home, got in bed, and turned off the lamp on the night table.  As soon as I turned the lamp off, it happened.  (The room where I was sleeping had been used by David when he was renting it from me 9 months earlier, at the time of his suicide, though he did not commit suicide in that room or anywhere in my house.)

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?         

Yes

            Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:  

(see above, 3.) He said only one word--my first name, and he said it strongly, clearly, insistently.

            Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated? 

The voice came from near the far wall of my bedroom from where my bed was--in front of me while I was lying in the bed, and it was up near the ceiling.  It was not in my head or mind, but clearly outside of me, but still within the room.  It had the same volume and reverberation it would have had if he had been standing in the same place, in the flesh and living.  It was exactly as though he were standing right there, but elevated a ways up toward the ceiling.

            If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?          

The voice was not merely similar, but it was his voice.  It was he himself.

            Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?          

Not possible.  I considered all the possible explanations while I was lying there waiting for him to say more (which he didn't do).

            Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?  

Not at all.

How long did the experience last?       

As long as it took for him to say my name, maybe one second.

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?        

All sudden, no build-up, no fadeout.

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?          

Uncertain

Perhaps insistent...trying to get my attention.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?          

Experience was definitely real

            Please explain why you view the reality of your experience as real or not real:         

I thought he was there in the room.  I turned the lamp on again to see if somehow he was standing there (he was not).  It was totally real, but also totally mysterious as he had nothing more to say other than to get my attention.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  

No

Describe in detail your feelings/emotions during the experience:          

Happy surprise, glad to hear him again.  Disappointed that he didn't say more.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?          

Uncertain

Maybe (and I'm not sure about this now, after 25 years) a sense of relief or satisfaction that he still existed somehow, somewhere.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?     

Best part was hearing his voice again, especially when he was speaking my name (affirming our long friendship).  Worst part was that I had a lot of questions, but got no more information from him.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?        

No      

What other attitudes and beliefs about your experience do you currently have?