Episode 5: The gathering.

Anne stood at the stove, stirring a pot of Nigerian jollof rice, the rich aroma of tomatoes, peppers, and spices filling the apartment. It was a recipe Nina had taught her years ago, a dish that always brought warmth and laughter to their gatherings. Tonight, though, her hands trembled slightly as she worked. It wasn't the cooking that unnerved her—it was the thought of introducing Deon to her friends.She'd invited Nina, Matt, and Jacks over for dinner, a casual get-together to catch up after weeks of her absence. They'd been worried, texting and calling during her bout with insomnia, and she owed them an explanation—or at least a reassurance that she was okay. But now, with Deon inexplicably part of her life, she wasn't sure how to explain him. How did you introduce someone who was once imaginary?Deon sat at the desk in the living room, scribbling in his notebook, his brow furrowed in concentration. He'd been writing nonstop, churning out articles and stories with a fervor that both impressed and unsettled her. His presence had become a strange comfort, but tonight, it felt like a wildcard.A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. She wiped her hands on a towel and hurried to answer it.Nina burst in, her laughter bright and infectious. "Girl, it's been too long!" she exclaimed, pulling Anne into a tight hug. Her braids were adorned with colorful beads that clinked softly as she moved.Matt and Jacks followed, carrying bottles of wine and a board game tucked under Matt's arm. "We come bearing gifts," Matt said with a grin, his glasses slightly askew.Anne smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Thanks for coming, guys. I've got someone I want you to meet."She led them into the living room, where Deon was now standing, looking slightly apprehensive."Everyone, this is Deon," Anne said, gesturing towards him.Deon offered a hesitant smile. "Hi, nice to meet you all."Nina's eyes widened. "Deon? As in, the Deon from your childhood stories?"Anne's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected Nina to remember that detail from their late-night confessions years ago."Uh, yeah," Anne stammered. "It's a long story."Matt and Jacks exchanged glances, clearly intrigued."Well, we're all ears," Jacks said, settling onto the couch with a curious smile.Anne took a deep breath. "Let's sit down for dinner first. I'll explain everything."They gathered around the small dining table, the jollof rice steaming in the center, flanked by grilled chicken and plantains. As they served themselves, the conversation flowed easily at first. Nina shared stories from her recent trip to Lagos, describing the bustling markets and vibrant nightlife. Matt and Jacks talked about their latest home renovation project—a disastrous attempt at installing a new sink that ended with a flooded kitchen and a lot of laughter.But inevitably, the focus turned to Deon."So, Deon," Nina said, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eye, "how did you and Anne meet?"Deon glanced at Anne, who gave him a small nod."Well," he began, "it's kind of a unique story. Anne and I knew each other when we were kids. I was her imaginary friend."There was a moment of stunned silence."Wait, what?" Matt said, his fork pausing mid-air.Jacks chuckled. "That's a new one."Nina looked at Anne, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "Anne, is this some kind of joke?"Anne shook her head. "No, it's true. Deon was my imaginary friend when I was a child. And now, somehow, he's here."Deon's smile was tentative. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's real. I'm real."The room was quiet for a moment, then Jacks spoke up. "Well, that's certainly the most interesting introduction I've ever heard."Matt nodded. "Yeah, beats my 'we met at a coffee shop' story."Nina still looked skeptical. "But how is that possible? Imaginary friends don't just become real people."Deon shrugged. "I don't fully understand it myself. But here I am."Anne interjected, "It's complicated, but Deon has been a great help to me lately. He's even started writing, and his articles are amazing."That seemed to pique everyone's interest."Really?" Matt said. "What do you write about?"Deon relaxed a bit. "Oh, various things. Lately, I've been exploring themes of identity and belonging."Jacks smiled. "Sounds deep. Maybe you can share some of your work with us sometime."Deon nodded eagerly. "I'd love to."As the conversation shifted to safer topics, Anne felt a sense of relief. Maybe this wouldn't be as disastrous as she feared.After dinner, they moved to the living room for dessert—Nina's homemade coconut cake—and a game of Scrabble. Deon proved to be surprisingly adept, forming words like "quixotic" and "ephemeral" that earned appreciative nods from the group."Looks like you've got a wordsmith on your hands, Anne," Matt remarked, adjusting his glasses.Deon grinned. "I've had a lot of time to think about words."Nina, still observing Deon closely, asked, "So, Deon, do you remember everything from when you were… imaginary?"Deon paused, considering. "Most of it, yeah. The adventures Anne and I had, the stories she told me. It's all there, like memories from a dream that suddenly became real."Jacks leaned in, fascinated. "That's incredible. So, you have a whole history with Anne that only the two of you share."Deon nodded. "Exactly. It's like we have this secret world that's now overlapping with reality."Anne watched the exchange, feeling a warmth spread through her. Seeing Deon interact with her friends, being accepted—or at least tolerated—made his presence feel more tangible, more legitimate.But as the game continued, she noticed Deon growing quieter, his brow furrowing slightly. When he excused himself to step onto the balcony, she followed, concerned."Hey," she said softly, joining him by the railing.Deon looked out at the city lights, his hands gripping the metal. "Hey.""You okay?" Anne asked.He sighed. "Yeah, just… it's a lot, you know? Meeting your friends, trying to explain myself."Anne nodded. "I know. They're a bit much sometimes, but they mean well."Deon turned to her. "Do you think they believe me? About who I am?"Anne hesitated. "Honestly, I'm not sure. But they like you, I can tell."He smiled faintly. "That's something, I guess."Anne placed a hand on his arm. "You're doing great, Deon. I'm proud of you."He looked at her, his eyes searching. "Really?""Really," she said, squeezing his arm gently.For a moment, they stood there in comfortable silence, the night air cool around them.Then Deon spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "Anne, I… I'm glad I'm here. With you."Anne felt her heart skip a beat. "Me too," she replied, surprised by how much she meant it.Back inside, the group had switched to a game of charades, with Matt acting out a hilarious impression of a flamingo that had everyone in stitches. Deon joined in, his earlier tension easing as he laughed along with the others.As the evening wound down, Nina pulled Anne aside while the others were gathering their things."He's charming, but be careful, okay?" Nina whispered, her eyes serious. "There's something… different about him."Anne nodded. "I know. But he's important to me."Nina smiled, though worry lingered in her gaze. "Just looking out for you, girl."Meanwhile, Matt and Jacks were shaking Deon's hand."Great to meet you, Deon," Matt said. "We should do this again sometime."Jacks added, "And bring some of your writing next time. I'd love to read it."Deon grinned. "Will do."After they left, Anne closed the door and leaned against it, exhaling deeply.Deon came up beside her. "That went better than I expected."Anne laughed. "Yeah, me too."They shared a look, a mix of relief and something more—something that was growing between them, fragile yet undeniable.As Anne tidied up the living room, she found herself humming a tune from her childhood, a song she used to sing with Deon in their make-believe adventures. When she glanced at him, he was watching her with a soft smile, as if he recognized the melody.In that moment, Anne realized that Deon wasn't just a relic of her past—he was becoming part of her present, and perhaps her future.But even as she felt a burgeoning hope, Nina's words echoed in her mind: Be careful. There was still so much she didn't understand about Deon, about how he came to be, and what it might cost her.Yet, for now, she allowed herself to bask in the warmth of the evening, the laughter of friends, and the quiet comfort of Deon's presence.