She had been so happy with all her friends, despite the fact that none of them were real.
She had been told by everyone that they don’t actually exist. The doctor, the man her parents insisted she visit every week, just didn’t realise how important they were. One by one he had been making them go away. She missed them all terribly. He would sit her down and tell her to make herself comfortable; that was the nice part. He let her have a little sleep. The problem was, every time she visited him she would come away realising that one of her friends was no longer there. Naturally, she discussed what was happening to her at length with those that were left.
He smiled at her now, across his big desk. “Well then, how are you doing young lady?”
“I miss my friends,” she said, with a sad face.
He nodded. “Yes, no doubt you do, but we’ve talked about how they aren’t real and how you will be much better off without them.”
She pouted. “I know, you keep telling me that. My mummy and daddy do too. But my friends were good company. I love talking to them, but you have been making them go away! I only have one friend left.”
He smiled at her again. “It is for the best you know. Besides, I’m you friend now, aren’t I?”
The girl played with her fingers for a moment, then said, “Can I tell you something.”
His eyebrows went up. “Of course. Of course you can.”
“It‘s a secret.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
She stood and put a finger to her lips as she approached. She made the move so stealthily that he hardly noticed the knife.
“Thank goodness I still have one friend,” she said, and giggled.