"Hide away, in your closet where it's safe."
I listened to the voice of my best friend as I raced to my closet, dodging the weaponry objects being thrown by my infernal parents and hid in my fortress. It was my only escape at the time from the shrieks and crashes I heard from outside the door.
I picked up one of the many discarded crayons from the messy corner of the closet and said, "Should I draw your faces," as three spirit-like children appeared before me and materialized as they sat, "Nao? Yasuo? Kiyomi?"
"Sure," said the girl, Kiyomi, "I'll help you."
She lifted my hand that was armed with the red crayon and began to create small, increasing streaks of color on the uneven plaster coating.
"I don't see the point of this," said Yasuo, brash as always, "I mean, you can already see us and stuff, right?"
I replied, "In case you ever die, or leave me.."
Kiyomi stopped her strokes and dropped her hand.
I continued as if not to notice, "Just in case, I have something to remember you by."
Nao's eyes softened but then all four of us shuttered as we heard the thunk of another broken door.
Now Kiyomi spoke, ever so softly as she caressed my right cheek, her touch so warm, "We would never leave you, Roko. And we can't die, not as long as you carry the thought of us inside your heart."
I stopped drawing and for a moment held a seemingly blank stare at the wall turned canvas. Then I turned to Kiyomi, hesitating but then with full force clung to her almost maternal-like, even though she's only as old as I am. I spoke, trying to choke back the tears but failing as they streamed down my face.
"It's just...sometimes I just feel so alone...and..and scared.."
"Oh Roko..!" Kiyomi said as she hugged me tight. Just to have her being so close to mine, her gentle breaths and silky satin hair in my clutch..pure ecstasy.
I could feel Nao pet my head and hair and with a never-failing reassuring voice said, "Don't worry, Roko, as long as you have us, you won't need anyone else in the world, right Yasuo?"
I looked over to him and saw Yasuo smirk and simply put, "At least death can't affect you this way." Then the entire house went silent as the now exhausted combatants gave it a rest. I smiled, and just before drifting into my slumber I heard the voice of beautiful Kiyomi,
"Good night, Roko." and she as well as Nao and Yasuo disappeared, the image of them smiling upon me as I slept surrounded by my closest companions in the Hell we call reality. ~/~