Before she knew it, she was in a bedroom. Four walls painted blue with firetruck stickers placed at random. On one wall was a small bed with a small body laying under the covers. Brown hair laid like a mess on top of his head. His face was peaceful, innocent. She read about the bond that a Friend and their child could make, an unbreakable bond. She also read that there is an instant feeling of the need to protect their child when they first lay eyes on them. She was feeling that right about now.

She took a step towards him and brushed the loose strands out of his face. He did not move an inch. She made the note that he was a heavy sleeper, that or he was completely exhausted from the day.

She scanned the rest of the room. Next to the door was an outlet with a night light firetruck plugged in. On the wall across the bed, there was a window with blue curtains. On the wall right to the bed was a dresser filled with his clothes and next to that was a bucket full of his toys. She could see a firetruck laying on top. In one corner there was a blue painted rocking chair. On the middle of the tan carpet floor was a rug of a fire hydrant. She sat down on the rocking chair.

Text Victor.

Just landed on Mars. Leon has a thing for firetrucks, it seems like. I had an awkward morning with my brother. I think we had a moment, but I definitely have a bruise on my wrist. I wish I could tell you in person what happened. I miss you already.

Delete 'I miss you already'.

Send.

She heard footsteps walking down the hallway. Two patterns, so that must mean two people. One sounded steady. The other was softer and was offbeat, as if there was a slight limp.

Cecilia stood from the chair and readied herself in her fighting stance just in case, even though she was sure there was no threat.

Soon enough, the door opened. It was an older woman and a younger man. The older woman must have been in her seventies, closer to late than early. She was in a lilac colored night gown with her white hair braided to her shoulders. She was wearing glasses. The man that accompanied her was wearing a navy uniform with a crest on his left peck. His hair was the same color as Leon's but was cut short. He looked to be in his late twenties. The man and the woman both had light blue eyes.

"I told you he was okay," the woman said.

"I'm sorry, Mother, I was just worried since he was sick earlier and all," the man said. He touched his own temples, "it felt like my shift was never going to end."

"The life of a firefighter is taxing," she said.

"I know, you and Father had said that plenty of times when I was in the Academy," he said.

"Obviously not enough," the woman said with a slight smile. She nudged the man with her elbow, "go get some rest."

So that was why Leon was obsessed with firetrucks, his father was a firefighter.

Cecilia looked at the clock on the night stand next to the bed, it was five in the morning. The alarm clock was red with a Dalmatian dog standing on top of it.

The man nodded his head and gave a tired smile to his mother, "you're right." He reached for the door knob and closed the door slowly.

Cecilia sat back down. She leaned her head back at saw a blue fan. This room had more character and color than the entire Imaginary World, it felt like.

In her vision she saw Victor's name.

From Victor

What do you mean 'a moment' and why is your wrist bruised? I wish we could talk in person, too. I miss you lots. I am supposed to get my assignment later on today. I do not like waiting. Maybe if I was as smart as you we could have been in the same location. Btw, did I mention that I miss you?

She smiled as she read this.

Reply to Victor.

To keep it simple, John was upset that I beat him, so he grabbed my wrist really hard. But, for some reason, this made me sad to see him so upset. So I tried cheering him up...in a way...he then thanked me and said 'good luck'. It was all rather odd. I miss you, too. And, you are smart. Just in your own unique way. I need to get back to work. I will message you later. Let me know how it goes later today.

Send.

She stood back up and walked over to the bed. What she was about to do was a trick that all Friends are taught. She was going to enter his dream realm. It was nothing fancy and it could be achieved with just a little bit of magic. It was easier to slip inside their mind when the child was asleep because they are unaware of their surroundings and the walls that are usually guarding them, are down.

Meeting your child in the dream state was recommended so they would not be frightened upon meeting.

She knelled in front of his bed and pressed her forehead against his. Instantly, she was sitting inside a wooden boat and the little boy was holding a fishing rod.

He did not take his attention away from the calm surface of the blue lake.

"Hello?" Cecilia wondered why it was really relaxed in his dream. She read that they were full of action and adventure. Not fishing.

When hearing her voice, the boy flinched and dropped his rod into the water.

"Aw man," he sighed. He then looked at her, "who are you?"

"My name is Cecilia Purple. I am your Imaginary Friend," she said.

He nodded to this, "ah...okay. I am Leon Boston. My friend said she had an Imaginary Friend. I was wondering when I was going to get one. You missed it, by the way."

"Missed what?" she asked.

"Can I call you CeCe?" he suddenly asked.

Before she could respond he started talking again, "you missed the fun part, CeCe. There was a whale who lived in this lake that was trying to eat me but we're friends now. Hi, Whale!" Leon turned around and started waving frantically at a whale who was building a sand castle on the sand. The whale picked up his fin and started waving back.

"What the..." Cecilia trailed off.

"Now I'm just fishing," the rod appeard back in his hand, "but if I catch something I have to put it back in the water. That's what Daddy always says."

"That is a good rule," Cecilia said.

"Why don't you fish with me!" Leon smiled.

A fishing rod suddenly appeared in her hands.

She smiled back, "good idea."

Time did not exist in the dream realm and before she knew it, she heard footsteps. She left his mind and returned to her body just in time to see the grandmother opening the door.

"Wake up, beautiful boy. Time to eat breakfast before you go to school," the grandmother said in a singing voice.

Leon groaned and turned over in his sheets.

"Now, now, you can't be late," she continued using a soothing voice.

Leon turned back over, facing his grandmother, and sighed, "okay. If you say so."

He then made eye contact with Cecilia and gasped, "you are real."

"Of course I'm real," the grandmother laughed, "now get changed and meet me in the kitchen for eggs and bacon." She turned around and closed the door after her.

"Wow! This is amazing! You're real, Cece!" he jumped out of bed and hugged her around the waist, "so cool!"

Cecilia laughed and hugged him back, "I told you I was."

Leon then pulled away and grabbed her hand. He guided her to his closet.

"Help me find an outfit to wear today?" he asked.

"I'm not very good at fashion..." she trailed off.

"Pleaseeeeee," he looked up at her with his big, colorful eyes, "pretty please with a cherry on top?"

"You don't play fair," she smiled, "oh, alright."

She opened the dresser and pulled out a random pair of blue shorts. She showed it to him. He took it from her hands.

"I need a shirt," he said.

"Oh right," she opened another drawer. She saw nicely folded clothes. She pulled out a white shirt with a firetruck in the middle with a Dalmatian sitting to the side of the fire truck.

"Is this alright?" she asked him.

"Yes!" he grabbed the shirt from her.

"And I need socks," he said.

"How much clothes do you need, little boy," she joked.

She opened another drawer that had his underwear and socks. She grabbed a pair of white socks and tossed it to him.

"Thank you!" he turned and ran out the room.

She walked over to his bed and started smoothing out the covers. She tucked in the comforter at the sides.

Leon walked back in the room fully changed.

"You made my bed?" he asked.

"Was I not supposed to?" she said.

"It's not that, I just haven't made it. Ever," he said.

"We'll fix that. I think making your bed is a good start of the day," Cecilia said.

"I'll make it first thing tomorrow! Let's go eat breakfast!" He grabbed her hand, again, and pulled her out of the bedroom. He hurried down the hall with her in tow.

The kitchen was clean with white and black marble counters and black cabinets. The tile on the floor was white. There was an island with four bar stools. The grandmother was near the stove, making scrambled eggs. The bacon was already done and placed on a plate.

"What kind of eggs do you eat?" Leon asked her.

"You know what kinds of eggs I like," the grandmother said.

"Not you, Nana. I'm asking Cece," Leon said.

Nana stopped scrambling the eggs on the pan and looked up.

"Who is Cece?" she asked with a smile.

"She said she was my Imaginary Friend," Leon said.

This was an important step, when the guardian finds out that their child has an Imaginary Friend. Some are completely fine with it, others are hesitant.

"What color is Cece?" Nana asked.

"She is purple," Leon said.

"Ah, okay. Mine was red. His name was John Red," she said as she continued cooking the eggs. She then chuckled, "he was so serious at first but he softened up by the end. He was mean looking and I cried when I first saw him."

"That's my father's name," Cecilia whispered. She could not believe it. The probability of this happening was slim to none. She was sure she was talking about her father. The description alone was enough proof. It was also not common for a child to remember their Imaginary Friend.

"Cece just said that John is her father," Leon said.

"Then I am well assured that she will take care of you as John protected me very well," She put the eggs on a plate and placed it in front of Leon.

"What about Cece?" he asked.

"Imaginary Friends eat imaginary food," she said, "that was what Johnny always told me."

"Is that true?" Leon whispered.

"Yes," Cecilia whispered back, "now eat."

He shoveled the scrambled eggs quickly into his mouth.

"Leon," Cecilia laughed, "calm down."

He looked at her with a full mouth and swallowed, "why?"

"Manners. That's why," she said.

He said, "fine."

He slowed down his eating and straightened his posture.

Nana started washing the dishes, "your father is asleep in his room, Leon, but I am sure he would appreciate a kiss on the cheek before you go on the bus."

Leon had finished his eggs and stood up, "thank you for breakfast, Nana."

He grabbed Cecilia by the hand and guided her down the hallway and to a door. He opened it and walked in. The father was asleep under the covers. Everyone looked innocent when they slept. Cecilia was amazed by how handsome the man looked when he was not tired and stressed like the first time she saw him. Leon stood on his tippy toes and planted a soft kiss on his father's cheek.

The man stirred awake and when he made eye contact with his son, he smiled.

"How are you feeling, my tough little boy," he asked.

"Much better, Papa," Leon smiled. Leon then looked up at Cecilia, "Papa, this is Cece. She is my Imaginary Friend."

The father looked in the direction that Leon was looking and even know she knew he could not see her, it really felt as if he was.

"His grandmother can go on and on about her Imaginary Friend but I can not seem to remember mine. Yellow seems to come to mind, however. It is nice to meet you Cece, please keep my boy safe," he said.

"I will do my best," she said.

"She said she will," Leon said.

"Leon the bus!" Nana shouted from the kitchen.

"Go before you miss the bus," the father said.

"Okay! Love you!" Leon grabbed Cecilia's hand and started to run towards the door. She heard the father say his own "I love you" as they ran out the room.