Gemotions

The drawings were accumulating on the fridge, each one a fresh assault on Sarah's equilibrium. They portrayed a creature with mismatched eyes and patchwork skin. She’d always called him Patch. Now, her niece, Olivia, had her own version of the unsettling friend.

Sarah stood, staring at the artwork. She didn't know how this was possible. She felt a profound disconnect, as if the world was playing a cruel joke on her. She felt like she was trapped in some bizarre hallucination. She walked to the fridge again, examining them, and then turned to face Olivia.

"Olivia, who is the creature in your drawings?" she asked, her voice tight. Olivia looked up from her coloring book. "That’s Stitch! He’s my best friend."

Sarah's breath hitched. She walked away, needing air. The drawings seemed to follow her, their unsettling gaze fixed on her.