Diane!

Diane is Definitely real..

Tuesday finally came. I have to admit that i had been waiting eagerly for this day. I was curious to know what Jean had to report. I waited it to be 9:00 am.. I sat patiently in my office sipping a cup of coffee and reading a book. I had waited quite long when i realized it was past 9:00 it was 9:45. It was a little unusual because Jean had never been late. I decided to wait till 10:00 to see if they would turn up. 

But it past ten and no one arrived. I then decided to call Jean to find out if everything was okay and that if they planned to come at all.. The phone rang through.. No one picked up.. there was no answer..

Stacy!!! Did Jean leave any message that they would be late or that they weren't coming today? Cause its awfully late. They were to be here at 9:00

"No Doctor, there was no such message from her. Do you want me to call and find out? 

No i've already tried calling, but there was no answer... Anyway let it go.. 

  Just then In walked Jean and Avril..

"Im really sorry Doctor.. I know we are awfully late. Its just that Mark was supposed to be home today but his flight was  by delayed by three hours and hence the delay."

Oh! Well that's quite okay. Come sit down now. Well hello Avril. How are you this morning? 

I looked at Avril waiting for a reply but she looked away. She had been crying. Again. I wondered why but asked no more.

Stacy!!! 

Yes Doctor! said Stacy as she peeped her head into my office. 

I think Avril here needs to wash her face, needs to be taken to the playground and treated to an ice cream! What do you say Avril? 

At this Avril's eyes lit up and she nodded and smiled. Stacy left my office with Avril. I watched as they left and then turned to Jean. 

"I know what you're thinking doctor. But Doctor I did not find any thing supernatural about Avril's behaviour. I went through all her stuff and belongings but found nothing unusual. "

Oh! Um okay!

"Well I brought her drawings,.. and they were really disturbing.. "

Really? What kind of drawings were they? 

"Well I brought them along for you to see" Jean reached into her purse and pulled put a lot of loose sheets. She handed them to me so i could see.

They were pretty much the same as the one Stacy had shown me. They all showed a little girl and this really ugly black figure. The only thing that changed in the drawings were the scenery.  There was one of them in the playground. One of them sitting in a tree. One of them standing side by side  hand in hand.  Pretty much the same.. Many similarities.. 

I handed the drawings back to Jean. 

Actually i also found this Poem Doctor among her belongings."She handed me a crumpled piece of paper. I took and read what it said -

  Life took a turn
And left me standing there
Where no light came through
Making me more aware

I found a deep puddle of sorrow
A heart full of fears
A mind full of stress
And eyes full of tears

But then i came across her
An angel only heaven would send
She comforted me and calmed me down
and then became my friend

She made me realise
That i should back down, never
So what if people didn't understand me
I cant live with it forever

Yes she said it would hurt
She said it would burn
But if i stepped carefully now
The feeling would never have to return

She made me see
Why some things poked like a splinter
You came like light to my dreams
And A GLOW IN THE WINTER........

I was taken aback. This poem was quite brilliantly written for a 11 year old girl. I wondered who it was written for. Who could Avril be referring to? Who were the 'people' she was talking about in the poem? 

I need to Talk to Avril alone. I rang Stacy and told her to bring Avril into my office immediately. 

Stacy came in a few minute with Avril behind her. Ice cream in her hand and all. 

Jean i need you to wait outside in the waiting room while i have a word with Avril . That okay with you? 

Jean nodded.. Glanced nervously glanced at Avril and left the room with Stacy. I summoned Avril to sit. She did so, willingly. She looked decidedly  better.

So Avril i'm going to be asking you some questions and i need you to be totally comfortable and answer them. Can you do that?

"I-I-I think i can. What do you wanna ask?"

About your life. Tell me about your life Avril... What all happens at home , with your brother and your sister. You dont have to be afraid of anything here ... Do you trust me?

"Um.. i guess i do" 

Then tell me Avril is there something worrying you? Is the atmosphere at home normal? And why were you crying in the morning?

"Home!"whispered Avril.. And to my surprise her eyes welled up with tears.. I panicked at her sudden outburst. I wrapped my arms around her and consoled her , but prodded her to answer me. 

"No everything at home is not normal. I hate it there. Nobody understands me there , and even worse , nobody cares. Its like i dont exist for them. My Mom hates me. And i don't know why.

I was horrified at this speech!

Your mom doesn't hate you Avril.. Why would you say such things? 

"No, She does. All she cares about is Mark. Her world revolves around him. He's the only thing that keeps her love from me. I never talk to him. I hate him as much as i hate her. Diane is the only one who understands me. "

Oh! um.. okay we'll figure out your relationship with your family. Im sure there has been some misunderstanding on both the sides. Now about this Diane, Avril.. Who is she? How long have you known her? 

"Diane? Well its been quite some time now. I started talking to Diane when my mom started behaving like this. I had to keep talking to someone to keep me from stress... "

Wait does this mean that Diane isnt real? You just believed her to be real?

"Um..Im not sure exactly how to answer that.. Well Diane is Definitely Real and im absolutely sure about that.. But.."

But WHAT?

"But she ceases to exist!"