These aren't the stories your mother told you.

No, these are the other stories.

Today's episode of the other stories is the spirit Artist, written by Siri Harrison and narrated by

Eric Ventora.

Summer. One day, I found something on the internet, an ad for a psychic soulmate finder.

As my fingers hovered over the trackpad of my Dell, I considered if the operation was

legit. My hand acted before my brain. After staring at my computer screen all day, my eyes

were on fire. I closed it, stared into the dark living room for a moment, and shuffled to my

bedroom to sleep as I waited for the spirit artist to do her magic. The process took 24 hours, according to the website.

I passed the day with buzzing excitement in my stomach, which made my head clearer.

Working at the garage, I felt more purposeful and methodical than ever.

Best mechanic in the game right here,

announced Tucker, snapping and pointing finger guns toward me.

I beamed at the customers who dropped off their car.

Even as I was plucking dead mice from the air filter,

my euphoria persisted.

I returned home to an empty inbox.

There was still time, but disappointment settled to the bottom of my stomach in a tickly swoop. The next morning, my fingers stretched out to brush the cold sheets. The room was dark and still.

I felt a pleasant sort of flustered since I had dreamt of encounters with good-looking men.

My hair was plastered to my forehead.

I rolled out of bed, one quivering calf after another,

and plodded barefoot into the living room. My computer

...