Imaginary Friend
My fingers wrap around the handle of my teacup. It's perfectly curved porcelain cools my skin and fills me with excitement. I carefully lift the cup to my lips and take a sip of the tea. I smile.
"Did you like it?" Hadley asks from across the table.
"Yes! This tea is wonderful! How did you make it?" I inquire joyfully.
Hadley begins her tale of how she slayed a dragon and rescued a charming prince and he's the one who gave her the tea. This leads to her talking for hours about her many conquests in the kingdom of Fantasy.
I laugh as she cracks a joke. Hadley has always been one for making people laugh. I guess it helps her to know she's making someone smile.
A knock is heard at Hadley's bedroom door, and it opens to reveal her mother.
"Hadley, it's time for dinner," she says with a smile that stretches from ear to ear.
"Aw! Momma, can I finish my tea party with Sasha first? Please?" Hadley drones out "please" as if it will help convince her mother to let her stay.
Her mother laughs at Hadley's childish attitude, a sadness overcoming her eyes, but agrees for ten more minutes.
Hadley continues in her extravagant stories and I tune out after a couple of minutes. I realize that one day, she'll wake up and not see me. She'll wonder why the tea table was set for two and why she suddenly had no one to talk to. I'd become an afterthought, a myth, a dream.
"Hadley! Ten minutes is up!" Mom calls from downstairs.
"I'd better go. Are you coming?" Hadley asks as she heads for the door.
My heart jumps at the thought of sitting down in my spot at the table. "No. You go on ahead. I'll be here when you get back."
Hadley shrugs. "Your loss."
We both giggle before she exits the room.
I'm so glad Hadley not only sees me but also makes an effort to spend time with me. Still, this can't keep up forever. One day, I won't be there. She won't mean to forget me, I know. But I can't stay here forever; I might as well get her ready for the days when I'm not here to be her alarm clock or to help her choose a cute outfit or to stand up for her when bullies come her way. She'll make real friends and meet real people.
She needs to be ready, so I must go.
