1 The guy who came to my house

It's raining outside today. The sky is really cloudy. I am sitting in my room, in front of my laptop, trying to write a new novel. But why is it so hard to think about it? I really don't know how I should start it. My publishers are pushing me. No, I have to think carefully about what I'll write. My last novel was a success! I can't write my new one carelessly.

Suddenly ...someone's knocking at the door! Who can be at this hour? The person is really restless-knocking the door repeatedly and hardly.

- I'm coming. Wait for a second. ( i spoke loudly so he can wait for some time)

I rushed to the door and opened it. I am really surprised! A guy is standing in front of my door. He is drenched in rain and also he is looking so angry. The whole situation is really awkward. Because the weirdest thing is that I don't know this guy!

- Why did you do this to me? (Without any introduction he asked me a stupid question angrily )

-Me? (surprised)

-Yeah, you. How could you do this? We spent a lot of time together. I was on your side in every situation whether it was good or bad. how could you even forget me? ( He shouted)

- But I don't even know you. Who are you and how dare you shouting at me like this? If u behave with me in this way I'm gonna call the police. ( Instantly I was closing the door but he pushed the door and kept it open.)

-You don't know me? I am your imaginary guy!

- Imaginary guy.....!( I was unable to understand what he was trying to say. )

-I am Daniel .. idiot. Your only best friend. How can you forget about me, huh?

Daniel? What!!!! Is it him? But how is it even possible? He isn't real. He was just an imagination.

-Let me in.

- Do you think I am an idiot to let you in? You are a fraud!

-I am not fraud, Evie!

His voice just sounded like my Daniel. Is he telling the truth? He called me Evie just the way Daniel Used to. But it is impossible for him to be here physically. Am I imagining things again? My hand reached to his face to touch him. Oh my! I can feel him. Its definitely not an illusion, He is standing there! I should be surprised and terrified, but unknowingly I am feeling happy. Maybe because...I don't know!

[After some time, we are in the drawing-room of my house ]

We are sitting in front of each other. I am looking at him. He does really look like Daniel. But how can this even be possible? It was just my childish imagination. My mom and dad used to be busy in those days because of their business matters. My elder brother was busy with his own life. My handler was really strict. So I could not express my feelings or talk freely with anyone. As I was strictly forbidden to talk with anyone, I didn't have any friends either . so I made a friend by myself in my thoughts.

His name was Daniel. I made him as I wanted him to be. Friendly, a person who knows me better than anyone else, who could read my mind and my best friend. Whenever I was sad I used to talk with him ( Actually I used to imagine that we were talking with each other . He told me what I wanted him to say . Because it was all my imagination.). He was so nice. Then I started to talk with him every moment I could. People started to think that I was crazy. Even my mom and dad took me to a great psychiatric. I was always in observation. But I never stopped talking with Daniel. It was so relaxing that he had become my addiction. But like others, I also grew older and started to think like them. I started to think that Daniel was just my childish imagination, that's all. Nothing else. I forgot him by the flow of time and stopped giving importance to that silly matter. But I never thought someone might give importance.

-Are you going to look at me the whole day? Don't you believe me still now or I've to give proofs?

-No, I was thinking, are you really here or am I imagining you? I am confused. That's why I have called some of my friends to confirm if you are real or not.

- What? Why? Look, I know its been many years since you forgot me but that doesn't mean you have to confirm this matter through others. Some things are beyond reality. They will make fun of you like past days.

- How do you know that everyone used to mock me?

- Because I am your bestie, you told me so. Remember?

Yeah, I remember. I told Daniel that he was my bestie. Nobody can take his place. He was irreplaceable in my life. But I was the one who removed his existence from my life.

- But still... I need to confirm this. There are many fraudsters in this world. I don't wanna take any risk. ( strictly)

(looking at me ) Your wish. Do as you want . (suddenly made a weird face) Will you please step aside a bit?

- What... What happened? ( surprised)

I stepped aside. Oh no! He is looking at the poster of my bookshelf! My favorite pop star, Rowan's poster. I bought it at the music store near my house. I pasted the poster at the side of my bookshelf so I could watch at him every moment. ( Because I feel that seeing him once in a day makes my day better. Maybe I didn't see him today. That's why all kind of weird things are happening to me )

-Who is this guy? I don't remember him. Is he the one for whom you forgot me? Huh?

- Ummm... that's none of your business. Don't poke your nose in my personal matters, understand?

- You...

Someone is knocking the door again. Maybe they are here! I need to open the door.

-Evelyn, are you home? We are here, open up the door.

- Yeah coming.

I opened the door. Jane, Melissa, and Aven are standing in front of the door, with foods. Foods? But why? They are smiling and looking excited. What's so exciting in here?

- Why have you brought food?

Melissa- I thought you are hungry, that's why you called us here to have lunch together.

Jane - And you don't invite anyone to your house either. It's our first time also. So we thought, we can spend some time with you.

- Oh ... thanks, guys. Come in, I need to tell you something. In fact, you have to stay for a long time, I think. So we need these... foods also. You all have to solve a matter. Help me out.

- Sure (together in an exciting way).

Jane, Melissa, and Aven came in and they are really surprised seeing a guy in my house. As if they have seen a ghost or something. So they can see him? Now I am having doubts. If he is my imaginary friend Daniel, how can they see him? Because it's only me who can see him. Is he telling the truth? Or he is here for something else?

-You can see him?

Aven- Oh boy, clean and clear.

[ I looked at the guy who is claiming himself, Daniel . ]

- Can you explain this?

- What?

- If you are Daniel then how can they see you? Cause it was only me who could see Daniel. Explain this.

Aven- Well he is a living person. Everyone can see him.

Jane And Melissa- Yeah Aven is right. What are you talking about, Eve?

- No guys, It's something else. Something that is not real. Let me explain to you.

Then I told them everything about Daniel and me, about my childhood, my imaginations, then how I forgot him and how the person re-entered suddenly today. They are astonished by hearing everything. (At least that's their reactions .. I think)

Aven-So you are telling he is a fraud? Just because we can see him?

- Of course. It makes completely no sense if he is Daniel how can you guys see him?

- Because I've come from the imaginary world. I ran from there. Cause they were gonna erase me.

Jane - Erase you? What do you mean by that?

- After Evie forgot me It was no use of keeping me in the world of imagination. It's a world that is run by the imagination power of humans. They use the power as fuel to run the world and we are the media of the fuel. Because of the imaginations, people can think anything and their imaginations are the ones who help them, encourage them to think more differently. Advanced imaginations give extra power. Just as Evie. I am the best creation of all time. Can you guess how many years she used to be my friend? How many years did she imagine me?

Melissa- How many years?

- 16 Years. ( I replied )

- So you do really remember. ( He told me)

-Yeah, I do.

Jane - If whatever you are saying is true, then why they tried to erase you?

- I was of no use because she had forgotten me. I tried to talk with her several times but I could not connect with her mind. Then I realized why I could not do that. But even after that, I was given some time to wait, thinking that she might need me someday. I always hoped for her to remember me. But she broke my hope, my faith, my belief everything that I had in her. So I had to run away from the world with the help of my friends so that I could come here.

Jane - Then how did you find her?

- I can find her from anywhere when I am in her world. That's how I used to find her when she needed me. But at that time, I was in my world. It was just her mind which could run me however she wanted me to. So only she could see me. Because I am nothing but her imagination. But now I am here on my own. That's why everyone can see me.

Aven- Hmm... its a very complicated issue, But it's clear that he's not a fraud. Did you ever mention about Daniel to others, Eve?

-No. ( feeling like a culprit now. I've wronged him. How could I do this? What would have happened if he was erased?)

-What would have happened if they had erased you? ( curious)

-"What would have happened ?" Well, nothing would have happened to you. You would have been living your life just like you are doing now. And me? Well, I would have been ...killed, you can say that.

Jane-What? Killed?

- Yeah killed. In our world, Erasing means killing the imaginations.

Jane - That's so sad! Thank God, you ran away from there. (Jane is the softest person of heart in my friend circle. I think she is really feeling sad for him thinking him as an almost dead person)

Everyone is silent. It's really an awkward situation. Someone, please speak something. I can't look at him anymore. Oh.. this eternal silence!

- I'm really hungry. I'm seeing these foods on the table for a long time. Nobody's gonna eat ? Cause I haven't eaten for two days. If someone, please...

-You didn't get anything to eat for two days???

-No.

- Wait a minute, I'm getting the foods ready for you. Just wait for a little.

I rushed to my kitchen with the foods that my friends brought for lunch. I need to cook them a little bit. He didn't have food for two days? And he didn't even say a word still now? I don't know why this is happening, I'm getting worried about him. It's like I'm gonna cry now. All of this happened to him because of me. I'm the reason! I can't stand the guilt. I'm feeling really heavy inside my heart. Maybe that's because I always tried to be guilt-free all throughout my life. Maybe I like to be perfect, no complaints, no faults, only perfection. Maybe that's why I'm feeling really guilty now.

Melissa is helping me. She served the food to all. But I'm still standing in the kitchen. No, I can't face him. I'm ..." No, Evelyn, you have to be strong now. If you are in a mess now, then fix everything! Fix everything just you have been doing it since your childhood. Don't forget you created Daniel to remove your loneliness. If you can solve that problem by yourself then you can also solve this. Have faith in yourself. Don't become weak in guiltiness."( I said to myself). I looked up and then turned back. I went to my room and sat down. Everyone is watching me. I had a look at the first and then turned to Daniel. He is also waiting to hear what I'm going to say.

- Daniel .....I'm.... ( suddenly I stopped . Why have I stopped? Oh God !). I'm sorry for whatever happened to you because of me. I truly am. I want to make it up for my faults. I would like to know if there's anything I can do for you.

Daniel is still looking at me. Suddenly he started to laugh. Did I say something funny?

- Are you kidding me? Did you think I'm here for something? I'm here to stay. I'm not going anywhere.

- Stay??? (I and my friends together asked him)

- Yeah, I'm staying.

-Where are you gonna stay?

- With you, where else?

Is he joking? He is here to meet me, that's alright. But, stay here with me? I can't approve of this. I am living alone on my own since my high school life. I even denied my cousin once when she wanted to stay with me. How can I even permit him? It's impossible!! No, no, never. He can't stay here.

- You can't stay here.

-Hmmm? Did you say something?

- I said you can't stay here. My landlady is really strict! She won't allow any boy in this apartment. So, you can't stay here. You have to stay somewhere else.

- Well ...she will never know if you don't tell her.

Jane - Yeah, that's true.

I looked at Jane with rageous eyes and told her to keep her mouth shut. ( i actually used my eyes to tell her that. I hope she understood)

-What... what if you get out of my apartment to chill out and unfortunately you bump with my angry landlady, what will you do then?

- Well..then I will not get out of here. Are there any excuses left for you still now?

- Aaaaa...

Jane, Aven, and Melissa are looking at me for answers too. I think I don't have any choice. I have lost it again! Why is it happening to me, God? I just want a peaceful life. Ohh...

- Alright ...you can stay. But in one condition.

- What is it?

- You will sleep on the couch. I will sleep in my bed. And also remember, you can't get out of my apartment anytime you want.

- Okay.

Aven- So the matter is solved then (huff!)

That's how my first day with Daniel passed away. Most troubling day ever in my life. But I wrote everything in my personal diary to relax my mood. ( i write my daily happenings in my diary. Cause diary is my treasure. I can write anything I want. It won't complain or give any opinion . Especially it is really helpful to vent owns anger without hesitation)