The Imaginary Friend
You know how kids, talk about their imaginary friends? And how it’s innocent and kinda cute?
Well…it’s less cute when you’re a psychiatrist, and your patient is an old woman constantly talking to someone who isn’t there. She calls him Charlie.
Simple enough really, nothing that unusual about an elderly woman diagnosed with dementia, coming up with a friend to talk to. It happens a lot. But, what’s frightens me, is the way she describes him…
Charlie, doesn’t have much of a face, just plain white skin, much like a doll, you know the one’s artists use?
Apparently the only time Charlie has other features, is when he becomes angry with her, then two big black eyes appear on his face, a sadistic ear to ear grin. Jagged, sharp daggers as teeth. She describes his body type as tall, with a hunched over back, he’s thin, with long bony fingers. He doesn’t really talk. He just gets into her head apparently, he makes her think things and do things. Apparently, she doesn’t really like him..but she doesn’t want to tell him to go away. She’s scared.
So today…I’m prescribing her something that will make it stop. Because just hearing about Charlie makes my skin crawl. I can’t imagine how she must feel.
When I handed her the medication, she looked worried. “Um..is this to get rid of Charlie..?” She asked. I looked at her, confused. There was no possible way she could’ve know that. I wouldn’t have told her. I’d have been to scared she wouldn’t take them. I cleared my throat.
“Just something to clear your mind.”
She looked at me, and her face turned violent. “You’re lying. Charlie said!” She got up walking close to me. I called for help, and two men came in and held her down. I authorized them to make her take her medicine, I had to make sure she was rid of Charlie.
The next morning I was at my house, finally I got a day off. I sat down and turned on TV. It was the news.
They were talking about the hospital that I work at, a woman there had committed suicide. She hung herself with bed sheets, her suicide note read:
“Don’t try to get rid of me… -Charlie”
I began to feel very ill..
-A