What Does it Mean to be "Haunted" by Something?

Haunting: A Definitional Argument
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There are only two types of people: those who are haunted, and those who do not know that they are haunted. The good news is that even those who are oblivious of their being haunted will eventually cross over and wallow in the company of their ilk. This definitional argument seeks to explain the meaning of being “haunted” from a personal perspective and by drawing examples from “Names.” From a metaphorical angle, to be haunted means the consequences that befall an individual after failing to embrace an opportunity that presented itself in an unfamiliar form.
Nothing is as dreadful to mankind as fear of the unknown; it drives man to the edge to attempt to unravel the secrets of life, death, and other abstract phenomena. Consequently, humans have developed an inquisitive nature as well as the drive to explore, and they have adapted for the special function. For example, when an individual encounters something strange, the first thing the mind does “is try to make it into something” familiar, even if it means ignoring the fine details that distinguish the new encounter (“Names”, n.d., p. 63). Also, somehow, the challenges that people experience are matched with their inner abilities. For example, Eli’sasid, the Sewn One, appeared only to Andy’s father because he had the loving heart and bravery that was needed to save Celia (p. 64). These concerted efforts are justifiable; the price of ignorance and cowardice is too high that it takes decades to reconcile, and sometimes a lifetime of regrets – haunting.
A person must not be utterly evil to be haunted; one cowardly act is enough to earn lifetime membership. Andrew’s father was arguably a good person. As a teenager, he was hardworking, patient, and caring – he befriended the head cook, Dutchie, and frequented his home, carrying presents for his daughter, Celia, each time. However, when he had a vision into the future, in the strange form of Amalegne’j, aka the Sheeted One, he panicked and spurned it without a second thought, thus opening a floodgate of costly consequences.
The father would be haunted for the rest of his life because of one misstep. First, a day after the incidence, Celia died. A...