Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane as Daniel watched his sister’s daughter, Maya, meticulously coloring a drawing. He’d seen the image before: a scrawny figure with enormous, mismatched ears, always positioned beside Maya in every piece. It was the friend, "Whisper," the one who lived in the garden. Daniel understood the secret language of childhood, the ease of imagining.

He remembered the weight of his own invisible companion, a stoic knight named Sir Reginald, who had battled monsters beneath his bed. He watched Maya, her brow furrowed in concentration, and the memory of loneliness faded. It was replaced by a sharp ache of understanding, a sudden urge to protect her.

He walked over to Maya. “He’s a very good listener, isn’t he?” Daniel asked, softly. Maya nodded, her cheeks flushed. "The best." He crouched beside her, the smell of crayons and wet paper filling the air, and found himself smiling.