This story has been revised. Look for the Author Note at the end of the next Chapter.
Journal Entry of Patient #1308 Roxas Sugara:
Ever since I was little I had an imaginary friend. Only he didn't seem to be your 'normal' imaginary friend. While I was awake he'd show up, kinda ghost like. I was the only one who could see and hear him. He'd tell me stories about his life and his family. He had his own sense of humor, style, and opinions. He had his own name, too. It wasn't something i gave him. Axel.
But the really weird thing was that, when I slept, I dreamed I was at his house. I was like a ghost there. He could talk and interact with people, but the only one who knew I was there was Axel. And when he came to me, he always said that he was sleeping too.
As I got older, So did he. Around the age of ten kids started teasing me for still having an imaginary friend. That was when he first offered to leave. When we were really upset with each other, we could sleep without seeing the other. Apparently Axel believed he could do it permanently. At the time I couldn't imagine my life without him; he was my best friend. I begged him to stay and he happily agreed.
When I was twelve Axel convinced me to try this 'really cool experiment' with fire. He swore it was safe because he had done the same thing himself. It went wrong. Really wrong. I burned over half of my house down and nearly killed myself. I still remember Axel's face that night. His green eyes wide with fear for me yet sparkling with a strange look of awe as he watched the flames devour everything. I heard him whisper "That wasn't supposed to happen. . ."
When pressed, I admitted that Axel had convinced me to do it. My parents flipped out. I had stopped telling them about my imaginary friend when I had started being teased for it. When they found out I still saw him they became convinced I was insane and arranged for me to be sent to a shrink right away.
Axel didn't show up for another two weeks. By then I was spending a trial period in a juvenile crazy bin. I was so pissed off at him I started screaming and throwing things at him. I told him he had ruined my life and I never wanted to see him again.
Looking as if I had ripped out his heart and stomped on it, he whispered "I'm sorry Rox. I never meant for any of this to happen. Don't worry about me, I won't bother you again." Doctors came rushing in to restrain me as he faded away. I was screaming my hate for him long after he'd disappeared from my sight.
I never saw him again. I still feel kinda bad. Even if he wasn't real, he had been my best friend as far back as I could remember and that was the good-bye I gave him. My shrink says it's pointless to feel remorse for someone who never really existed. I've made such a recovery that I should just let it go and continue to get on with my life. But, you know, I never really hated him. I wonder if he knew that?
Roxas Sugara
