Just My Imagination
By Sabeline Malenfant
Go away.
I don't want to play today.
No, not Monopoly,
Not clue.
Not dolls,
Not house.
I'll tell you again, just this once
I'm tired, I don't want to go outside.
…
You won't go away.
You never go away.
You sleep in my room and you share my food
You lurk in the shadows
You loom over my homework
Mother doesn't care
"Don't be silly, dear."
Father doesn't hear
"I've got work to do."
It's not fair
I won't talk to you
I won't even acknowledge your presence
Nobody else does
…
Stop it, Fred, not today.
I don't know how to make you leave
Nobody does
Medication
Therapy
You're always there
Lurking, looming, hovering, simpering, pleading
…After all, how do you get an imaginary friend to leave?