17/11/2025
Writing prompt given to my Stephanie Shady, Author
Soma Julius Your childhood imaginary friend shows up as an adult
I dipped my hand in my purse, searching for my phone. The silence had become suspicious, too heavy, too loud. When I finally pulled the phone out , I peered into the screen, my eyes darting like it was looking for a lost treasure.
No notification.
Strange.
They should have messaged me by now. I had gone all out preparing for this hangout. My income wasn't stable, but I bought what I needed. They had complained about my outfits,how outdated, how out of style I always look.
But tonight when I stood before my mirror, I couldn't hold back the little gasp that escaped my mouth. The off shoulder body con mini dress I bought especially for this outing…It was worth every kobo I spent.
nothing had ever looked this good on me. maybe because I hardly get anything good for myself. it was always work, survival and scraping through.
I dialed Linda's number, It didn't go through.
“What could be the problem?” I asked myself.
I dozed off on my couch after hours of waiting for their call or text.
Hours passed. I waited and waited. Eventually I dozed off on the couch. when I woke up it was 3:00 am. A single notification blinked on my screen. I sat up too fast, dizziness washing over me, when my eyes cleared, i tapped the screen, and felt my entire chest collapse.
It was a video.
Linda.
Carmen.
Zuri.
Dancing in a nightclub. Laughing. Screaming. Enjoying the night we had planned together.
My first time ever agreeing to club. My first attempt at doing something reckless. Something young. something fun just so I could feel belonged.
Suddenly It all made sense, the muffled laughters I forced myself joined. The whispers. The side talks I pretended not to notice, the side talks. I had been a fool, chasing friendship where there was only mockery.
I slipped off my heels and went straight to my room. Each step heavier than the last. I didn't understand why it hurt so much. Maybe it's because I turned blind eyes to the warning signs.
In my bed I let memories wash over me. All my life I sought validation like oxygen.
at that moment it became clear to me that I'm my best friend.
Nobody has your back but you. That's what I came to realize.
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, I tried to swallow them, to force strength into my voice, but the weakness spilled through anyway.
As a child, I was never truly lonely. I had my imaginary friend.
Greg.
He was my anchor. My comfort. My whisper of sanity when my foster parents punished me for smallest mistakes. He was the one who talked me through nights when hunger clawed my belly.
“Oh Greg ! I really wish you're here…I need you !“ I never knew words could carry weight. Could summon ghosts from memory.
“ You know,” a familiar voice answered, gentle yet warm. “your tears are too precious to be wasted on mere hypocrites.”
My heart stopped.
That voice.
I blinked rapidly. Wiping tears with the back of my palm. And there he stood.
Greg.
Soft smile. Calm presence. That strange serenity he always carried, like he existed outside chaos.
“Greg?” My voice cracked. “Is that really you?”
He walked toward me and sat gently on the bed. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out something small, something that made my breath hitch.
The beaded necklace I made for him when I was little.
Tears spilled again as he took my hand and placed it softly on my palm.
Then came the words, words that dissolved every ache I carried, words I hadn’t heard in years:
“I’m here now, Gracie. I’m here for you.”
He wrapped me in a warm embrace, and everything inside me melted.
All the fear.
The hurt.
The loneliness.
No words were needed. He saw through me, through the cracks, through the chaos, through everything.
And he understood.
