Fragmented

Down hill

        A book slammed on Noah's desk he awoke nearly jumping out of his seat the wrinkled, bald teacher starred at him with wise, grey eyes a cold but stern look. "Keep sleeping in class and we will have to call home do I make myself clear?" Noah nodded he hated Mr. Canterbury's class he was never much of an English buff. He looked around the sun beaming through the windows giving a somber feel to Noah's chest. He couldn't wait to get home and snap pictures for his photography portfolio photography was his only friend.                                                                       .                                                                           .        Luckily enough this was his last class of the day and then it was time to go home. He sat clutching his bag which contained his camera for the last five minutes. As soon as the bell rang he walked eagerly out the door as soon as he exited the building he made his way to the forest across the street. His uncle owned the property as a means for hunting 'the crazy old bastard thinks there are human like animals in our town' he chuckled pulling his camera out and dusting the lense off. He made his way into the dense forest the leaves shading everything around him.                                                                    .                                                                         .      Noah suddenly recalled something from his childhood his uncle gripping his shoulders "you see them too?!" His uncle screamed "please uncle Rob don't hurt Aldi!" *Aldi?* Noah thought to himself he knew who Aldi was but couldn't remember their face Aldi was what his parents called an imaginary friend. Noah regained consciousness and without realizing had walked to the spot he would always sit and talk to Aldi it was a rotted tree stump and a area free from branches that let the warm sunlight seep through.  Noah took a photo of the stunning sight but couldn't help feeling lost and because he was uncomfortable he decided to head home. He shrugged it off as his uncle watching him again he never liked him all that much but just pretended to so he could explore the land. He eventually reached his house just around the block he loved it there he could see the Pittsburgh skyline from his bedroom as a kid this would help him sleep seeing the cities array of lights.                                                               .                                                                         .      He looked through the photos on his computer and found something odd on the tree branch photo. In the trees a line of blue fur with orange stripes was shown. He scrambled looking for the source of it but it was clouded in leaves. *Could this be Aldi?* he thought to himself tears welling in his eyes *I just left him all alone* he thought to himself wiping his tears he got up from his computer desk and ran down stairs. He slid on his shoes and ran back to his uncles property nearly tripping. He searched the area by the tree stump looking for any sign of Aldi he screamed his name but no response. After an hour he gave up his search he walked home questioning his sanity.                    .                                          .                                                                           .His parents were home by time he made it home his father was a balding man with a look of coldness on his face. His mother was a little younger than his father with pale skin, blue eyes and radiant red hair. "Honey, you alright? you look sad" his mother asked. "No mom" he stated "I thought I saw an old friend but I was wrong" Noah walked tiredly up the stairs he decided to skip dinner that night. He fell asleep to the sounds of his father screaming at the tv down stairs it was college football night.  He woke up to an odd figure standing at the end of his bed nervous he shined his phone on the creature. A human sized raccoon perhaps taller than him with the same fur pattern he had seen earlier that night and orange goggles with a matching scarf. With a surprised look upon his face he said "A-Aldi?" The creature slowly nodded.