Chapter 2

So that was the end of my life. Well, my life in the Real World anyway. But now I, Amelie Johnson, am a spirit. At first I thought that I was a ghost, but I soon found out that ghosts go straight 'Up There'. Wherever 'There' is. Okay, lets start at the end. The end of my life in the Real World. It was 1967 and I was, still am, 13. You see, us spirits stay in the world forever, but the living people cant see us. That's how I spent my first 20 years, trying to make my family see me. I spent the rest of my time wandering around, trying to find someone in the Spirit World who I knew. I never did. It seemed to me like only a select few of us become spirits, most of us become ghosts. Up until 1988 I never spoke to anyone else of my kind when I passed them, I was too intimidated. But then I became lonely and longed for a friend, so I talked to anyone who would give me a second glance, that's how I found Claire. Claire was a short girl, 13 in age, like me, and she had the look about her that would remind you of someone who knew what she was doing, in amy situation. Claire had only been in the Spirit World for a few years, so I decided to befriend her and show her the ropes. She caught on fast. So there we were, me and Claire, together until the end. We were the best of friends and still are. But something terrible happened in the year 2000 that sent our whole world crumbling to the ground. Me and Claire were doing one of my favourite things; looking for shells. She was getting bored but I was enjoying myself. I refused to let her angry complaints get in my way. My fun was short-lived, however, as there was a sudden colossal, ear-penetrating bang that seemed to be coming from all directions. Before I knew what was happening, Claire had dragged me to the floor and was telling me to stay down until the worst of the damage was done. Apparently, she knew what was happening. 'Do NOT get up!', I heard her shout, 'The worst will be over in a few hours, so stay down!' It didn't make any sense to me, but I did as she said. She seemed pretty confident. How I wished I could be back at Greece with my parents, I was so scared . . .