I smile at him as I can feel the tears falling down my cheeks.

"Hey, come on, don't cry," he says, laughing a little. He holds my shoulder with one hand and wipes away my tears with the other.

In that moment, everything just seems perfect. Ryan's here with me - real as he ever has been. The voices aren't coming back anytime soon. I relax into him and hold him tighter. But, of course, it never lasts.

"Brendon?" a panicked voice calls, "Are you there?"

I look desperately at Ryan but he just looks sad and upset, as though I've betrayed him.

"I'm sorry, Ry. I didn't want them to come looking for me. I just want to be alone, with you," I whisper, giving him an apologetic look.

"Don't give me that crap, Brendon. I know that you just want to get rid of me, like everyone else! I though I could trust you, but I guess I was wrong. You led them here so they would get rid of me!"

"I didn't, I swear! Ry, please. You have to believe me!" I cry.

"Then prove it," he says sternly, before leaning against the tree that I was at the top of, not too long ago.

I turn myself around to see my mother standing there, with a pained expression. As soon as she sees me, however, it turns into a look of relief and happiness. "Brendon! I can't believe I finally found you! I was so worried!" she smiles, walking over to me.

As soon as she does, I step further and further away from her. "No. I don't want to stay with you anymore. I want to be with Ryan," I say, slightly annoyed. As soon as I say this, I see Ryan standing behind my mother, giving me a thumbs up.

I take a deep breath and carry on, "He's been my best friend for over two years and he's been there for me when nobody else was. Everyone has tried to tell me he isn't real and they've tried to take him away but I don't care. He's real to me and that's what matters."

"Brendon, it's not healthy to have an imaginary friend at this age," she sighs.

"No! What don't you understand?" I shout, "I'm not going to go back to that house, where you'll feed me medication and force me to go to the therapist! I just can't deal with it anymore, leave Ry and me alone."

"Come on, Brendon. We'll run you a hot bath, get you some nice soup and this will all be over," she smiles.

"No."

"Right then, that's it! I'm sick of your little games, Brendon!" she shouts, running forward and grasping my hand, tight, "We're going home."

"No! I can't leave Ryan out here, on his own."

"Ryan doesn't exist, Brendon, what don't you get? He's imaginary! He's in your head!"

"Don't lie to me!" I cry, tears springing to my eyes, almost immediately.

Suddenly, it all happens so fast. My mother's grabbing my arm, she's pulling me away and I'm screaming out for Ryan.

We're back home and I'm already starting to fall asleep. I assume my mum injected some kind of drug in my arm. She's stuffing my medication into my mouth and before I know it; darkness.