Warning: Ending may trigger some people proceed with caution.

Rebecca sits in a hospital chair watching her childhood friend. Waiting for that sad moment where she takes her final breaths. Wondering to herself, How did we get to this?

It was one late summer morning when she met her. The sun was bright, yet it was cool outside thanks to the gentle breeze carrying the smells and sounds of nature. Rebecca was gently swinging on the delicately decorated swing waiting for something interesting to happen. For she didn't quite know why she came to this garden, but not much minding anyway. A little distance away she saw a girl, who looked about her age, crying. Maybe she's lost or lonely? Rebecca thought to herself. She hopped off the swing and walked over to the girl.

"Are you ok," Rebecca asked

The mystery girl stopped crying for a moment and looked up. She had bright green eyes, short orange pigtails, and the most freckles Rebecca had ever seen. The girl never answered, only sniffling a bit while looking up at Rebecca. Rebecca held her hand out and introduced herself.

"My name is Rebecca. What's yours."

The crying girl responded quietly,

"Charlotte."

"Thats cool, wanna be friends Charlotte,"

Rebecca didn't know quite where the sudden need to befriend the freckled girl came from, but decided that it didn't matter. This girl was alone and sad. She clearly needed a friend. Charlotte looked up at Rebecca in surprise. Rebecca figured that she didn't have many friends.

"O-Okay," Charlotte finally answered, smiling.

Rebecca smiled.

"That settles it then. From now on we are friends. You don't have to be sad ever again," Rebecca said smiling confidently. She was determined to keep that promise.

And is where their friendship began.

Over the years Rebecca and Charlotte became the best of friends. They played all kinds of games together, had sleepovers, even stole sweets from the pantry. Rebecca also learned that Charlotte's parents were busy people and never had time for her. They also had not allowed her to make many friends. Rebecca decided that she would be the best friend ever to charlotte. The two were inseparable.

And then summer was over. It was time to go to school again
As the two rode on the bus together Rebecca tried to calm Charlotte's nerves.

"It will be alright," She said

"This is an opportunity to make some new friends," Rebecca said smiling

Charlotte looked down at the floor of the bus.

"But what if they dont like me," She asked her friend sadly.

"Rebecca looked at her friend sincerely and said, "Who wouldn't like you."

Charlotte looked up at her friend smiling a little.

"Plus if anyone doesn't like you I'll beat them up," Rebecca said jokingly waving her fists around.

Charlotte burst out laughing. Rebecca joined in soon after, and the two laughed the whole rest of the ride to school.

Rebecca was right. Charlotte did end up making new friends and introduced them to her. They joined in on their games and sleepovers. As they got older, Charlotte became more outgoing. Joining things like sports and clubs. Even became president of the student council when they reached high school and made lots of new friends as years went by.

But as the years went by their friendship soon faded.

Charlotte seemed to forget all about Rebecca. As if she never existed. But Rebecca couldnt complain. As long as Charlotte was happy she was happy. Even if it hurt. Even if it made her sad.

Charlotte was all that mattered.

It was during college years when it all came crashing down. When
Rebecca realized her friend wasn't happy at all as she found her friend on the floor surrounded by pills. When her friend came in screaming in terror upon seeing the scene and calling 911. When the doctors decided she wouldn't make it. When the doctors broke the news to her family and told them to say their last words. As her family broke down in tears.

Rebecca stood next to the hospital bed as her friend took her final breaths. As the heart monitor flatlined Rebecca leaned over and kissed her friend's cold cheek and said,

"Im sorry,"

Rebecca slowly faded to nothing.

It was her job as an imaginary friend to keep her happy.

She failed.