Imaginary Friends [DISCONTINUED]

part 1- not real

Even at four years old, Heather was alone.

She sat in her room and played with her dolls, with no one else in sight.

"I wish I had a friend," she whispered.

"Hello?" a voice squeaked from the closet.

Fear gripped her tiny little heart. Was there a monster in her closet, like in the movies? Would he eat her? Despite her fear, Heather stood and walked towards the closet. She opened it to see a little red haired boy, sitting cross legged on the floor.

"Hi!" he said, smiling brightly. "I'm Phil. How did I get here?"

Heather was still in a state of shock. A random boy was sitting in her closet, asking her how he got there.

"Uh, I don't know."

Phil shrugged. "I kind of like it here. What's your name?"

"Heather," she answered.

"Nice to meet you." He stuck out his hand for her to shake. She put hers up as well, but her hand just passed through his.

Heather shrieked and jumped back. "Are you a ghost?!"

Phil looked shaken. "I don't think so." He gasped. "Maybe I've just died. Maybe I am a ghost!"

"Heather?" her mother called from down the hall.

Heather made a shooing motion towards Phil. "Closet, now. Shhh!"

He nodded and ran into the closet as her mom entered the room.

"Why did you scream?" she asked.

"I was playing a game," Heather lied. "It was only pretend."

Her mother eyed her up and down. "Okay, but next time, only scream if you're hurt, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed.

She left and Heather ran to the closet. "Phil? Are you still there?"

He let out a giggle. "Yeah."

Heather climbed in the closet and sat down beside Phil. "How do we know if you're a ghost or not?"

"Am I glowing?" Phil asked.

She looked him over. "No."

"I can't pass through walls, I checked. So, I guess I'm not a ghost. Maybe I'm an alien." He made what they assumed were alien noises and raised his arms to chaise the girl.

Heather squealed in delight and jumped up. They played tag for the rest of the day.

<>•<>•<>•<>

Six years later, Heather turned ten. Phil showed up everyday, and they talked now more than they played. The two discovered Phil could appear anywhere Heathrr was, in spirit like form. But no matter how hard they tried, Heather couldn't appear where Phil was.

They sat on a creek bank near her friend's house.

"Phil," she said, kicking the water.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"My parents are taking me to a therapist. They think I'm too old for an 'imaginary friend.'" Heather made quotation marks with her fingers.

"But I'm not imaginary!" Phil insisted.

"That's what I said! They didn't believe me, though. We're going on Thursday. His name is Dr. Palmer."

Phil remained silent. Since he was eleven, a whole year older, they both believed he knew much more about the world.

"He might hurt you," Phil said. He looked at Heather, and stared at her with his big blue eyes. "You have to tell me if he touches you at all, okay?"

"Jeez, Phil. You're not the boss of me."

Thursday, Heather went into her room and locked the door. She slid down against the door and called Phil. As soon as he appeared, she broke down crying. "It wasn't okay. Phil, he hurt me."

He stayed with Heather all night.

<>•<>•<>•<>

Skx more years, and Heather was eighteen. They hadn't talked as much as they used to. Heather decided maybe Phil was imaginary, and it was time to let him go.

She sat in the woods outside her childhood home and called Phil for the last time. He appeared on the log beside her.

"Hey, Heather." He had black hair now. But his eyes were still the same.

"Hey, Phil."

They sat in silence. Finally, Heather broke it.

"I'm eighteen now, Phil. I think it's time I grew up."

Phil looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Everyone else gave up their imaginary friends years ago. I think it's time I let you go."

"I'm not imaginary!" Phil said.

"Maybe you are," Heather sighed.

Phil stood, an angry look in his eyes. It was only the second time she'd seen him this angry, and it was the first time it had been directed at her. "Heather, I have been your best friend for over twelve years. I am a real person, and you can't just throw me away like an old stuffed toy because you think you're too old for it!"

Heather hung her head. "Yes, Phil, I can. Please, don't let my last memory of you be of your anger."

His expression softened. "I've been terrified of this since you first started therapy. I thought about what I would say, and how I would handle it, but now that it's here, I just feel an overwhelming wave of sadness. Heather, I love you. You taught me things and helped me grow into a better person, even if you don't think I'm a person at all. It really hurts, what you just said, but I'll let it go so there can be peace between us, in case you truly never do call me again."

Tears were rolling down Heather's face. She felt so much pain, and wondered if she could bear to go on.

She had to.

"Thank you for being there when no one else would be. I'm sorry I've made this decision, but I really think I have to move on with my life. You made my childhood the best ever, and I am eternally grateful for that as well. Think well of me, for the rest of your days, and I will do the same."

Phil blew a kiss at her, something he had decided to do once he realized they truly could never touch. Heather caught it, and blew him one back. He caught the kiss in his hand before walking away through the woods. He didn't look back. Once he was gone, Heather fell to her knees and cried onto the log.

Her only friend was never coming back.