Here’s something you don’t usually think about while savoring a romantic evening at a local hot spot.

Another couple likely remembers the same romantic setting as the location of a breakup. A massive fight. An emotional confession. Maybe all of the above.

And perhaps the spirit of their relationship-destroying moment is lurking directly above your date.

Pretty scary, huh? Now you understand why I usually block out all references to ghosts on the nightlife scene.

However, I made a recent exception while attending a Walk with the Shadows ghost tour in downtown Columbus.

Monica Cobis, owner and operator of Southern Odysseys, invited me to one of her Saturday night ghost tours. Since I’m intrigued by any situation that allows for potential use of the phrase “heebie-jeebies,” I accepted.

I brought my boyfriend along, too -- partially because I secretly hoped we’d reenact some portion of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video by the end of the night.

We arrived at the designated starting point -- the Marriott hotel lobby -- and found Cobis in a getup resembling a Grim Reaper costume. Perfect. After a promise that dark corners would await us, I was ready to succumb to our city’s shadows.

Cobis led us on a journey through downtown Columbus, securing our attention with mysterious tales involving landmarks like the Chattahoochee River and the Springer Opera House. We also heard stories about paranormal activity centered outside the downtown area.

As we wrapped up the tour, my sense of intrigue outweighed my sense of horror.

Make no mistake: I’m not signing up to spend a night alone in the Springer with a Ouija board and a “Poltergeist” DVD.

But in a world where most questions can be answered with a simple Google search, it’s nice to be reminded that unsolved mysteries still exist.

Don’t believe me? Take one of Cobis’ ghost tours, which are recommended for guests 13 and older.

We’ve entered a time of year when weekend date options often test the limits of fear. No, I’m not talking about a rise in local karaoke offerings.

Ghost tours, haunted houses and scary movies highlight our vulnerabilities -- the place where confident curiosity turns into paralyzing terror. We usually visit that place only momentarily.

That way, we can return to our comfort zone -- a place with barriers large enough to block frightening elements.

Except for shadows, of course.