I was twelve the last time I saw Mr. Optim and Sphinx.

It was on a day when my mother and my brother Greg were fighting for the third morning in a row. To avoid this, I went outside where the cheerfully fluffy clouds distracted me from the storm inside my home.

I sat on a swing that my mother had tied to our large oak tree in the backyard and thought about my imaginary friends. As I was thinking about them, a bright light emanated from the trunk of the tree, producing an outline of a door. The tree groaned loudly as the door dislodged itself and swung from bark hinges. From the bright opening, Mr. Optim stepped out, looking dusty. A smaller door next to Mr. Optim’s opened as well, and Sphinx appeared, covered in more dust than Mr. Optim.

Their very presence used to make me feel better, but not today.

I sighed sadly.

I knew what I had to tell them and I didn’t want to do it.

I had decided to close the entrance between Gladtopia and our world. Mom and Greg fighting everyday along with the constant night terrors of the Scary man had become too much for me. I knew if I cut off Mr. Optim’s and Sphinx’s entrance it would stop the Scary man, but that meant I would never see my friends again.

“I know you enjoy the fresh air,” Mr. Optim said, shaking the dust from his dark green velvet jacket and bright blue pants, “But I don’t so much enjoy coming through the tree door.” Mr. Optim took his lovely, straw, boater hat off his head and swept the dust away with a brush he conjured from thin air.

Sphinx shook himself like a sideways tornado. The dust that covered him from head to tail turned into a dense cloud. I heard Sphinx sneeze spectacularly before tumbling out and rolling onto the grass.

I smiled despite my gloomy mood.

A loud shout came from inside the house, and all three of us turned to look. I flinched when I heard a crash that sounded like a plate smashing. Within seconds, my older brother, Greg, kicked open the back door, looking red-faced and murderous.

“I don’t need this from you, woman!” he shouted inside, “I’m a thirty year old man, and I don’t have to take any of your crap!”

He slammed the door so hard it rattled in it’s frame.

“And I’m not paying for that cup,” he added loudly.

Greg was eighteen years older than me, which meant I didn’t see much of him growing up. He had studied philosophy in college against my mother’s wishes, and since he couldn’t hold down a job, we were stuck with him.

Greg stormed away from the house. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't see me.

But when were things ever that easy with Greg?

Greg stopped in his tracks and gave me a double take.

“What?” he demanded.

I shook my head and looked down at my shoes.

“Nothing,” I whispered. “I’m just …”

Greg got close enough to loom over me. “I'm just-- I'm just--” he said in a mocking voice before his lips curled into a snarl. “Why don’t you make yourself useful, then,” Greg thundered, “Instead of sitting around looking like a dumbass.”

Sphinx glared at Greg, curling his tail around my leg with a low growl.

I’m sure if he could, Sphinx would sink his teeth into Greg.

“Not a very polite fellow is he?” Mr. Optim asked with a raised eyebrow, “Best to remain silent in these situations, Mia dear. Company like that are not worth your precious energy.”

"You're a little good-for-nothing you know that?” Greg said to me and when I didn’t say anything back, he spat on the ground and stalked off.

Sphinx snarled and ran towards Greg with teeth bared. He swiped hard with his right paw, but it passed right through Greg's leg like a phantom.

I watched Greg walk all the way to the driveway, my eyes burning with tears. When I was confident he was gone, I hopped off my swing and beelined for the door in the tree. Sphinx gave a sharp, Meow! in alarm, but Mr. Optim merely looked curious.

I grabbed the knot on the tree and pulled the door open with a loud Creeeeaak. It was heavier than I thought, and the bright light blinded me as I ran headlong into the opening.

I crashed into an invisible barrier and landed flat on my back with an, “Ooof.”

Sphinx and Mr. Optim rushed to my side.

“Are you alright, ducky?” Mr. Optim asked, worried, “That was quite a collision.”

“Why won’t it work?” I cried, kicking the barrier fruitlessly, “Why can’t I just go through your doors?”

Mr. Optim and Sphinx shared a glance.

“Well, you know why Mia." Mr. Optim helped me to my feet with steady hands. “The doors only work when the person who wants to enter through another dimension draws them.” He nodded to the door as it closed by itself. "I drew this one and Sphinx drew his door.”

"I know," I pulled my hands away from his and hung my head. “I thought maybe if I wanted it to work hard enough, it would work this time.”

I shuffled over to the stairs by the back door and slumped down onto them.

“What’s wrong turtledove?” Mr. Optim sat beside me. “You seem different today.”

I fought back tears with a shaky breath. Now that this moment was here, I could feel my courage failing me, and that made me want to cry all the more.

“I don’t want to live here anymore." I crossed my arms and leaned on the stairs picket, away from Mr. Optim. “I want to live in Gladtopia with you.”

Sphinx jumped onto my lap and pawed at my arms, snuggling his head under my chin. I obliged and held him close, so that when I pet his soft fur, I could feel him purr happily.

“I know, Mia dear." Optim bowed his head, the brim of his boater hat casting a shadow over his eyes so I couldn’t see their color. “But right now Gladtopia isn’t as safe as it once was. You’re safer here for the moment."

"'Safer here?'" I scoffed and stopped petting Sphinx. "How am I safer here? I have a homicidal, alcoholic brother who could go off at any moment. The Scary Man harrasses me every night now. And somehow, he’s found more and more ways to keep you from me! So no, Optim. I am not safer here."

A silence fell and Mr. Optim took off his hat. I saw his wide eyes change to blue before he turned them away to look out at our backyard.

After a while, he said softly, “I’m sorry ducky. My powers are greatly weakened in your world and it’s something I’ve had to come to terms with.” He tried to smile. “Why, if I was in Gladtopia, there’d be nothing stopping me from keeping you safe. No man, woman, or creature could hurt you.” His shoulders slumped. “I wish I could make it all go away.”

I stared at Optim’s forlorn face and it made me feel even worse about my decision.

“It’s okay Mr. Optim,” I whispered. “You and Sphinx have done nothing but protect me. I’m very grateful for the both of you, and I love you very much.”

Optim looked back at me and his eyes changed to purple.

“Mia!” my mother called from inside. “You’re Aunt is here to pick you up.”

I glanced at the door and then back at Optim.

No no no! I thought desperately. I need more time!

"Well." Optim put on his hat and stood up. “I suppose we’ll just have to continue this little talk later.”

“Right,” I tried to say, but no sound came out.

Instead, I stood up quickly with trembling legs, causing Sphinx to go flying.

Optim hugged me tightly and Sphinx forgave me by rubbing himself against my legs.

I knew Sphinx could feel me shaking, and my fear was confirmed when he looked up at me in suspicion.

"Keep your chin up, turtledove,” Mr. Optim said cheerfully, “And remember, the blue sky doesn’t disappear simply because there are clouds covering it.”

I nodded and tried to smile but failed miserably.

We made our way to the doors and I watched my only friends in the world open them. As Optim began to walk through I shouted, “Mr. Optim wait!”

He paused mid stride and I ran to him, hugging him tightly.

“I just wanted another hug,” I said.

“Don’t worry, ducky,” he replied, hugging me back, “We’ll see you soon.”

I released him reluctantly, then squatted down to hug Sphinx just as tightly.

“Yeah,” I said desperately trying not to cry. I could tell Sphinx knew something wasn’t right and for a moment I thought he was going to try to tell Mr. Optim.

But as Mr. Optim began to walk through his door, Sphinx seemed to abandon the idea.

The blinding light made a silhouette of Optim and he gave me one last wave as he closed his door behind him.

As Spinx opened his small door, he looked back at me with knowing eyes. By now my tears flowed freely. I could have sworn Sphinx nodded once in understanding and with a swish of his tail and a loud Creeeeak, he was gone.

I covered my eyes and gave a sob.

“I don’t want to do this,” I cried.

But I knew that I had no choice.

I took my hands away from my eyes and stared at the tree, frozen in place.

Finally ready, I closed my eyes and thought with all my might, I close the entrance.

I didn’t know if it would work immediately so I repeated it.

I close the entrance.

My hands curled tightly into fists.

I close the entrance.

I opened my eyes.

“I close the entrance!” I shouted at the tree.

Somewhere deep in my brain, it felt as if a curtain had been cut down and replaced with a wall.

It had worked.

The finality of what I had done hit me all at once and I fell to my knees sobbing.