The Night of the Gift

He is Always Watching

Still I sat there frozen, my mouth feeling as dry as a desert.

"Who are you?" I croaked out, my voice shaking.

The figure walked to my side of the bed.

"I am your friend" it said unphased "Don't be scared" It reached over to the lamp on my nightstand and flicked it on. I jumped a little once the light illuminated my room and it was standing there. He was like a regular human except he was dressed in a old 20's era suit with an embroidered symbol on the chest. As I looked to his face it was painted to look somewhat like a skull, his eyes different colours. One white and one blue. He wore white gloves and reminded me of a member of a clergy for some reason.

"Who are you" I said louder this time.

"My name is Emeritus but you can just call me Papa" the man looked down to me and I furrowed my brows.

"And why are you in my room?" I said in a confused tone

"It's still your birthday,no?" The man asked, an accent present.

"Y-yes? How did you-"

"Happy Birthday Arieon" He bowed a little and gave a small smile.

"Tha- wait how do you know my name? I am so confused, wait...I am dreaming. That's it" I nervously laughed.

"You, confused yes. Dreaming ...No" Papa shook his head and sat on the side of the bed.

"But this has to be a dream or a prank. Yeah, you are just someone pranking me on my birthday. Good one, funny" I shot him some finger guns

"Prank? Oh no, I don't think pranks are very professional. Some are eh ..but for the most part neh" He shrugged

"Then you tell me...What is going on already!"

Just then there was a knock at my door and I froze looking to Papa then got up, my dad's voice coming from the other side "Hey you awake?"

Papa ran to my closet and closed the curtain, I shook my head "Whoever you are, my dad will definitely find you in my closet" I huffed before opening the door

"Are you talking to yourself?" My dad asked as he entered my room looking around

"No there is a guy in my closet, good prank dad.."

My dad went over and opened my closet looking in "Where is he?"

I walked over and looked in and around "He was..."

"Oh, is this a reverse prank..or were you just trying to cover up that you were talking to yourself... Hey I'm not one to judge"

I kept silent still looking in my closet. My dad rested a wrapped present on my bed.

"Happy Birthday kiddo, Have a goodnight" my dad kissed my head before walking out closing my door. My jaw was still wide open as I shut my curtain and walked back to my bed and climbed in looking at the present.

"I like the wrapping" Papa's voice came from the foot of the bed again, making me jump.

"Oh my god, you're still here.." I put my hand over my heart "How did you, you were" I was pointing at him then the closet.

Papa softly laughed "It's hard to explain. You can see me, yes? But other people cannot unless I want them to. The same for you. You may not have seen me before but I have always been here"