Hello?

Is this thing even on?

[tapping noise]

Hellooooo?

Ugh, who cares at this point. The damn recorder is either on or it isn’t . . . It is? You’re sure about that? . . . Well, okay then.

Hello to whoever is listening.

Firstly, this was not my idea. I didn’t want to record what happened. I was hoping certain people would forget about my insane stunt. [Yes, I am looking at you, Arthur]. Sadly, I have been convinced otherwise. Apparently doing this and sending it out will set a few things straight. I have no idea how, it’s gonna sound totally insane and make me look like a nut, but whatever.

My name is Aurora Diaz. Yeah, spacey name, I know. I’ve heard all the jokes. Can blame the parents for that one. I’m sixteen years old. I have kaleidoscopic eyes that change colour depending on my mood, dyed-purple long, curly hair which I sometimes straighten, and tanned skin. I also look like I’m starving myself, which I’m not. It’s just how I look. Most important thing about me—at least for the sake of this story—is that I can see ghosts. Well, not just ghost. Spirits in general, and—

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

[Stop interrupting me! I’m getting there!]

So sorry. That wasn’t directed to you. It was toward one of said spirits who is hovering nearby and telling me to get a move on.

Her name is Lydia. She’s the first spirit. I ever saw. Apparently. She talked to me as a baby (again, apparently). I don’t remember that far back. Anyway . . . If you were to look at her from the distance, you wouldn’t see much. Just some black fog hovering in the air. When you’re close enough, you can see through her fog. You’ll catch glimpses of her dark body, azure eyes, long, straight onyx hair, and the dark dress she says she died in. Depressing, right?

I’ve only seen Lydia I solid form once. It was during that incident that was totally not my fault.

[What? I had to put that on the record . . . Get it? . . . Gods, you have no sense of humour].

Now, where to start from? Hmm. I don’t want to jump straight in because you won’t understand what the heck’s going on, but I don’t want to start at the very beginning because that’ll be boring. Most of it isn’t that important—

Hmm? Oh, yes! That is a good idea. Let’s go from there.