Chocolate milk

Clara Twinkleson

My name is Clara. Clara Twinkleson.

I am a 7 year old girl with cotton candy hair and rainbow eyes. I wear on my head a pink tiara, and on my feet glass slippers. Usually I'm dressed in a sparkly blue gown, but sometimes, the gown is yellow. 

I have a best friend. She's the bestest person in the whole entire world, and her name is Daisy. Daisy and I spend every day together, running around, playing pretend, and dressing up. She is all I've ever known, and I'm known only by her.

Of course, her parents don't see me, nor do they care. They say I'm an imaginary friend, that I'm a part of every little girl's childhood. 

I beg to differ. As long as I'm real in Daisy's eyes, I might as well be as real as any other human. Who cares if I'm invisible to the rest of the world? I only need my best friend to talk to and play with. 

"Daisy, Daisy!" I appear on the little girl's bed, jumping up and down. "Lets play with Barbies!" 

Daisy, who was bent over on the floor, drawing a pretty flower, chirps up. "Great idea! I was just thinking that," she runs to her doll house, and I follow. "You always show up at the right time, Clara!"

And there we sit, her being Barbie, and me being Ken. We're finally going to make Barbie and Ken kiss, like her mommy and daddy, when they love each other. Barbie's going to dress up in her favourite pink dress, and Ken is going to wear his blue suit. It will be perfect!

Daisy struggles to put the dress on her doll, and plops down on the ground, frowning. 

"What's the matter?" I sit down next to her, immediately knowing something's wrong. 

"It's just," she mutters. "I'm starting first grade next week, and my mom thinks that I shouldn't bring you with me."

"But why?" I whine. "I'm starting first grade too! I wanna go with you!"

"Exactly what I said to her!" She stands. "She says I should be talking to real kids and making real friends. I don't get it, just because they don't see you, doesn't mean you're not real!"

"Here's an idea," I whisper. "You can sneak me in school, your parents won't notice anyways." 

Her eyes light up, but before she can say anything, her door bursts open. I hide. 

"Daisy bear, lunch is ready," Her mommy grins. "I made your favourite... Mac and cheese!"

"Yay! I love you mommy." And she leaves.

***

I guess I must've fallen asleep. The next thing I know, I am lying in Daisy's bed. The clock next to her bed reads 21:21. I don't know what that means, I just know that the stars are out, so it must be nighttime.

"Hey Clara," she whispers, her bright blue eyes shining in he dark. "I can't sleep."

"If you could, I wouldn't be here, would I?" I giggle.

"You're always there when I need you," she takes my hand. "Will you keep doing that?"

"Only if you'll do the same for me."

"Of course, I promise."

"Promise."

And with that, I once again fade away.