Blake

You were an unusual and complex person. From childhood, you were haunted by hallucinations—ghosts, strangers, silhouettes of animals that appeared suddenly. Only your parents knew about it. You kept your friends and classmates quiet. Not out of shame, but out of fear. You feared ridicule, bullying, and insults. So your secret always remained deep within.

One evening, a new hallucination appeared. A boy with no distinct facial features, as if woven from shadow, partially black, as if unfinished. You called him Blake. He didn't frighten you. You had long been accustomed to this kind of thing. You talked to him, joked, shared thoughts, and sometimes he seemed to help you cope with everyday affairs. At school, you often smiled, because Blake was always there. Friends didn't see him, but they noticed your smile and asked with a grin, "Has our friend really fallen in love?" You denied it, but each time you did, you felt embarrassed and blushed.

After class, you left school and headed to the park. The weather was beautiful: birds were singing, a gentle breeze caressed your face. You sat down on a bench and noticed Blake walking past. Calmly, as if it were a familiar occurrence, you called out to him and showed him a funny video, then invited him to sit next to you. To you, it was just another hallucination. You had no doubt about it.

He sat down. You were talking easily and naturally, not noticing anything strange. It felt like you were simply conversing with your imagination, as you had done many times before. You laughed, shared stories, and time passed unnoticed. The sun slowly set, painting the sky in warm hues, and you still sat next to Blake, unaware that he was actually a real person and not another hallucination.