Fading Friend

Secret Friend

The gentle scent of a carefully prepared meal filled the air as Simon practiced his piano in the other room, the notes dancing softly in the air adding to the kind and happy atmosphere of the house hold. Lamb, backed potatoes and warm vegetables attract the small child; Sky ran to the dinner table excitedly and I walked through the doorways of the dining room as Skylar's father was setting down silverware. White walls were lined with a calming blue surrounded a wooden table in the centre of the room and the carpet felt soft beneath my feet. The small collisions of metal were drowned out by the transition of single notes to loud cords in the other room as the Simon's song peeked in intensity. Dad, the middle aged man stood proudly, his sleeves rolled and slightly dirtied from where he was cooking; his white shirt tainted with cooking oil and juices from cooking.

I've always been a part of this family, never really knowing when I came into existence. All I really remember is being here, with these three other people. Nothing more, nothing less. I remember being with the small girl beside me for a long time, her brown hair always brushed nicely and her smile always wide. However Skylar had eyes of crystals, a cold blue which (If you made her angry) would strike you down in an instant. Even when I annoyed her a frosty shiver went down my spine as fear crept into my neck, strangling me until in forced it back down.

Even though all I know are these three people, I've never really being acknowledged by any other member of the family other than Sky. Dad and Simon would always be oblivious to me, running into me in the hallways and not even noticing. My existence was only ever realised when Skylar would remind them. Even now as I say Hi to Dad, he continues to do as he was before.

"Hey!" Sky announced as she sat in her seat.

"Something wrong?" Her dad asked about to leave the room to fetch dinner.

"You didn't say Hi back to Philip!" She pouted

"Oh I'm sorry Philip I didn't hear you, let me just go get dinner." Sky always been there for me, being my spokesperson despite her age but also... She's always been there in the literal meaning, like actually there, existing. I don't remember having any memory of her not being in my life, being near me, being around. She starts school soon and I don't know how that will turn out but I'm excited, we'll both be seeing the outside world for the first time.

I don't know where I've been or what I've done but I have an idea of where I want to go and where ever I end up, I hope she's there too.

An off note was followed by a discussing chord or bad ones. There was silence before footsteps could be heard coming down the hallways towards the dining room. A teenage boy stepped through the door and he sighed heavily, fixing the collar of his shirt, pushing his glasses further up his nose and adjusted his hair. He stretched as he stepped towards his seat, taking it and sighing heavily, "What did I miss?"

"Nothing really." I sit in my own chair as I say drowsily.

There's a brief moment of silence before Skylar looks at him annoyed, "He's talking to you."

"Who is? Oh right sorry Philip, I didn't hear you. What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter Sky." I give a reassuring smile which was ignored by the stubborn four year old.

"It does matter, he should listen to you!"

"He does sometimes..."

"No he doesn't!"

"Hey I'm sorry Sky, I'll listen to him more in the future I promise!"

"I hope you two are behaving yourselves in here, you'll get no dinner if you argue and I don't want this to go to waste." Dad walked through the door way, plates across his arm like a waiter at a restaurant, the balancing act holding up quite well as he served his meal.

"Simon is being mean to Philip."

"You don't have to defend me Sky." I try and comfort Skylar.

"Both of you cut it out, time to eat." Dad took his seat and picked up his cutlery, as did everyone else at the table. Apart from me. Steam wafted off the carefully prepared pork, vegetables and baked potatoes however despite the how tender the meat was and how crisp the potatoes were Sky had a look of dissatisfaction. Her eyebrows arched and arms crossed.

"Why doesn't Philip get to eat?" Dad gave Simon a nervous expression and he turned to me bitting his lip, or maybe just the space I was in. For a brief moment it felt as though he and I had exchanged looks for what seemed to be the first time.

"Well you see, Philip is special."

"What do you mean he's special?

"He's your..." Dad seemed to be at a loss of words and could complete the sentence.

"He's your secret friend!" Simon interrupted the sentence which Dad couldn't complete and continued to eat his meal.

"My secret friend." Skylar tried to piece together the word, "What does that mean?"

Dad took a sigh of relief and sat back in his chair while I too tried to piece together the meaning of the word, "It means he's meant to stay with you and keep you company until you make more friends. He's someone only you can really see and that's why we have trouble talking to him sometimes and that's what makes him so secret!"

"Oh..." Sky and I sat in a moment of hush while the other two decided to continue their meal.

I soon snapped out of the daze and tapped Sky on the shoulder, "You should eat. Your food will go cold if you don't."

"Alright!" Skylar exclaimed as she began to eat her meal. I placed my elbow on the wood of the table and rested my head in my hand as the family ate. My thoughts started to drift and my eyelids felt heavy and my vision when to black.