The most interesting person you've ever met.

Her name was Draya. I first met her when I was on the bus going to school. She asked me if she could sit next to me. I said yes, of course. I was rather the School Jerk, so I was happy for anyone that wasn't a bully to sit there. I didn't notice the cat ears and claws until it was time to get off.
I don't know how many people meet their imaginary friend at the age of fourteen. And she was so real.
Draya, I miss you. You were my only friend. Come back. I'm sorry.
The day I lost her was the day my mother died.
I'd known that she was dying. But nothing had prepared me for the reality of her not being around any more. The phone call came at ten o'clock in the morning. My father answered, and when I heard him crying I ran downstairs. One look at his face and I knew what had happened. Draya lay a hand on my shoulder as he walked over and hugged me.
“I'm sorry.” She whispered into my ear as I stared numbly at my father's chest. He said I didn't have to go to school. I shook my head. I would go, because if I stayed at home I would have to think about her, and I couldn't bear that.
On the bus Draya didn't speak, just lay her arm on my shoulders and purred. It wasn't like her, usually she couldn't stop talking, and part of me wished she would start one of her pointless conversations with a question like: “Which would you prefer: To be eaten alive by ants, or be burnt alive as a witch?”
But I was also glad for her silence.
Perhaps I should take the time to describe Draya properly.
She was a little shorter than me, which meant she was fairly tall. She had long black hair, that ran wild and free of the torment of any brushes, combs, or shampoo. Her skin was dark, almost chocolatey in colour. She always wore the same frayed denim skirt and a matching vest , over a black T-shirt depicting a snow-leopard. She had pure white claws that she kept razor sharp with a nail file. Black cat ears would twitch back and forth as she listened to everything going on around her. Her eyes were yellow, with slits for pupils during the day, becoming orbs in darkness.
Her favourite sort of music was heavy rock, which was strange, because I hated it. Can imaginary friends have different likes and dislikes to their imaginer?
She was a wild girl. And the most interesting person I'd ever met.
I know, I know, I 'm talking about her as if she was real. But she was. At least, she was to me.
While we were at school I was teased for talking to myself when I was speaking to her. It was Brian Harrison of course. He's always trying to make me look stupid and uncool, and invariably succeeds. I won't go into the details, but I ended up with a blood lip and a black eye because of the encounter. My emotion levels had already obviously been running high, but now I was furious as well as miserable.
And I got mad at Draya.
She asked me if I was okay, and I blew up.
“Of course I'm not OK!” I hissed at her, quietly so that no-one would hear. “I've just been beaten up because of you, and you're not even real!”
I knew I shouldn't have said it as soon as the words came out of my mouth. She gave me a hurt look, and then just... Disappeared.
Draya, I'm so sorry. Come back. I'm all alone now.
Draya, I'm so lonely. I miss you.
I lay down my pen, and feel a single tear trickle down my cheek. I lost my Mother, and now I've lost her. I look at my watch. 12 am. It's time for bed.
As I crawl into bed and turn off my light, I suddenly sit upright. There is a noise at my bedroom door. And it sounds like cat claws, scratching to come in.