Gemotions

He noticed it the moment he walked into his sister's house: the vibrant, unsettling drawings scattered across the refrigerator. Among the dinosaurs and rainbows, a recurring figure stood out: a shadowy silhouette with elongated fingers and a skull-like face. His childhood imaginary friend.

His palms began to sweat. He excused himself and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. The reflection in the mirror seemed to shift, distort, the edges of his own features blurring into something he couldn't quite name. He knew that face, or, rather, he remembered feeling its presence.

That night, he left the television on all night, the bright screen a small comfort against the encroaching darkness. Every little noise made him jump. The feeling of being watched intensified, a heavy weight pressing down on his chest.