[ WP ] You have had an imaginary friend . One day you find that your friend is no longer invisible to everyone , but you are .

Clyde had been my friend for a long time. 
 
 When I was a kid, everything seemed normal; to me and to everyone else. But as I got older, people began to worry about me. `` There's no such thing as imaginary friends!'' my mother would tell me. But I was sure he was real. 
 
 In my teens they ran various psychological tests on me, mostly testing for schizophrenia. I passed all of them easily; I was and am sure that there was nothing wrong with me. 
 
 After a certain point, I gave up trying to explain to others about Clyde. He would look so disappointed when I'd lie to people about him or take credit for his ideas. But he was invisible and unable to affect the real world in any way, what was I supposed to do? 
 
 Clyde really was my friend. I guess he did n't have much choice in the matter, being that I was the only one who could see him. It was an arranged marriage of sorts, but I honestly do believe that we were meant for each other. Whenever I had a long vacation, I'd usually take it out into the mountains where I could be alone with Clyde without having to worry people looking at me funny. I'd bring books and turn the pages so he could read them. Those were the best times. 
 
 Life for us became a bit more difficult after I got married. I had to spend a lot of time on the job, and then when I got home, the wife and kid would always be around, so I could n't talk to Clyde much anymore. Sometimes I'd have to pretend that he did n't exist for days on end. 
 
 We talked about this before I got married. We both knew what marriage would mean for our relationship, but he knew that I loved this girl. He even helped me find the right things to say to her when we first started dating. Clyde was always willing to help me, even if it was n't in his best interest. 
 
 It'd been a rough year. Finally I got a week off from work; I managed to convince the family that I needed some alone time in the mountains. 
 
 To make up for ignoring Clyde so much lately, I decided to go all out. I rented out a nice cabin, gathered up all the books and movies that he wanted to check out, and got some nice champagne. Well, the champagne was for me, haha. 
 
 For six days we were closer than ever. Clyde would n't stop talking; we had so much to discuss. Even though he'd always been around, this was the first time we'd really spoken deeply in more than a year. We reminisced about all the years we'd grown up together. He told me that he truly loved me as a friend, and would n't have picked anyone else to be stuck with. 
 
 Then on the seventh day, as I was packing things up, Clyde said to me, 
 
 `` Dave?'' 
 
 `` Yeah, pal?'' I replied. 
 
 `` Dave... I think you're going to hate me for what I'm about to do.'' 
 
 I looked at him, puzzled. `` I'll never hate you, Clyde.'' I said. 
 
 `` I'm... just so lonely, Dave. I've always wanted to be the one to help you be the best you can be, but I just ca n't do it anymore. It's my fault, really. All of this is my fault. I should have done it sooner. I should n't have given you all this just to take it away.'' 
 
 `` What are you saying? I do n't understand.'' 
 
 `` I tried to be strong. I tried to do the right thing. And I did! For a long time!'' 
 
 Clyde started to cry. 
 
 `` I love you, Dave! Please, just try to find it in your heart to forgive me.'' 
 
 With those words, he reached out to me and touched my chest. I felt my body go cold and numb. I tried to speak, but my voice was empty. 
 
 Clyde walked to the front door, and for the first time in our lives, opened it, and slammed it behind him. I ran after him; my hand passed right through the doorknob. Then the rest of me passed through the door. 
 
 I watched as Clyde started the car and began to drive off. I tried to chase after him, but to no avail.
