Return

A week passed by, but Ethel never came back. No matter how much I prayed, she never came back. Occasionally, I would hear her running around the house, or asking if I needed any help. I would turn around to see the empty, lifeless house, which was once filled with laugher and joy.

The week was tough. I had to deal with the fact that she ran away. I held hope, though. I held hope that she might come back. I wanted to take the week off, but Ethel wouldn’t want me to miss school. I packed my things and stood on the front door. “Ethel! I’m leaving fo- Oh, right.” I headed out, locking the front door behind me.

“Yo, Aiden! What’s up? You seem gloomy, not that you’re ever not gloomy, but you look more... gloomy? I don’t know. What’s wrong?” Eren asked. Didn’t he say he wasn’t gonna talk to me at school? Change of heart, I guess. “I’m fine,” I muttered. He won’t understand my reason. I doubt he remembers Ethel. “You wanna go eat out today?” I nodded. We headed to class. I saw an extra desk next to mine. “New student?” I asked him. “Nah, more like returning student. She’s absent today. You met her before, right? Ethel?”

“Ethel?! Wait, you remember her?! How?! She was invisible to you! That’s you stopped talking to me too, you said I was crazy!” All eyes shifted to me. I made quite the commotion. I started to turn red. I grabbed Eren’s hand and dragged him outside.

“When did Ethel ‘return’? Does everyone know about her? Do you know where she lives?” I threw all my questions out. He looked puzzled.

“Are you feeling okay? Did you hit your head? Ethel? The new student? She came back about a week ago. She lives with you. She took the last month off. You kept pretending that she didn't leave. How do you not remember that?" At that point, I began to think I was going insane. It was overwhelming. They can see her, but I can't? No, it has to be a lie!

I ran back home. As soon as I entered, I yelled out for Ethel. I heard the usual footsteps, but they slowly faded away. Tears filled my eyes as the realization hit me. Ethel was now invisible only to me. I rushed to my room and locked the door. My face flooded with tears. I can't see her anymore. That was the only thing going through my head.

After a good cry, I went to prepare food. I set out food for both of us. Even if I can't see her, I know she's here. I placed her food and called out to her. I didn't hear any footsteps this time. I sat down. "So, Ethel, how are you? been- been a while since we spoke, huh?" I said through tears. "Please, forgive me. I'm sorry for not treating you properly." I didn't touch my food. I couldn't. Not without her.

"Aiden?" A voice called out. I frantically looked for the source. Ethel was there. She came back. I found her. I rushed to hug her. "It's okay now. It's okay. Calm down. I'm back now. I'm back. I won't leave you ever again, I promise!"