Truth About My Friend

Ethan was nine years old, a quiet boy who often kept to himself. He lived in a small town surrounded by dense woods that seemed endless to his young eyes. His parents, loving but busy, worried about his loneliness. That’s why they were relieved when he came home one day talking about his new best friend, Ben. “Ben’s really cool,” Ethan said at dinner, his face lighting up. “He likes climbing trees, exploring, and he doesn’t mind that I don’t talk a lot.” Ethan’s parents exchanged a glance. It wasn’t like their son to bond with someone so quickly. “Where does Ben live?” his mom asked. “In the woods,” Ethan replied nonchalantly. “He says it’s quieter there.” Ben became Ethan’s constant companion. They played together every day after school, building forts in the woods and skipping stones in the creek. Ethan’s parents rarely saw Ben, though. Whenever they asked to meet him, Ethan would shrug and say, “He doesn’t like grown-ups.” One evening, Ethan came home covered in mud and leaves. His mom scolded him gently, but he brushed her off. “Ben dared me to climb the big oak tree by the old well,” he said, grinning. “I made it to the top!” His mom froze. “The well? Ethan, you know you’re not supposed to go near that. It’s dangerous!” Ethan frowned. “It’s fine. Ben said it’s not that deep.” “Ethan, there’s no one named Ben who lives nearby,” his dad said firmly. “You shouldn’t be playing in the woods with imaginary friends.” Ethan’s face darkened. “Ben’s not imaginary! He’s real. He’s my best friend!” The next day, Ethan was quieter than usual. At dinner, he pushed his food around his plate. When his mom asked what was wrong, he mumbled, “Ben’s mad at me. He said I shouldn’t tell you about him.” The room grew tense. “Honey,” his mom said softly, “if there’s something you need to tell us, you can.” Ethan shook his head and went to bed without another word. Over the following weeks, Ethan’s behavior grew more erratic. He started waking up in the middle of the night, whispering to someone in the dark. His parents heard him giggling in his room, even when no one was there. One night, they found him sitting in the living room, staring at the door. “Ben’s outside,” he whispered, his eyes wide. “He wants me to come play.” “There’s no one outside, Ethan,” his dad said firmly, but Ethan wouldn’t budge. “Ben doesn’t like it when you say that.” The turning point came when Ethan disappeared. His parents woke up to find his bed empty and the front door ajar. They called the police, and search parties scoured the woods. Hours later, they found Ethan sitting by the old well, staring into the darkness below. When his dad approached him, Ethan said, “Ben told me he lives down there. He wants me to come with him.” His dad grabbed him, pulling him away from the well, but Ethan screamed and fought. “You don’t understand! Ben needs me! He’s lonely!” The well haunted Ethan’s parents, so much so that they contacted the town historian to learn more about it. What they uncovered was chilling. Years ago, a boy named Ben Peterson had fallen into the well while playing in the woods. He was only nine years old. His body was never recovered. Ethan’s parents, horrified, confronted him with the truth. “Ethan, Ben isn’t real. He died a long time ago.” Ethan looked at them, tears streaming down his face. “He’s not dead. He’s my friend. I see him every day!” They decided to move, thinking distance would break Ben’s hold on their son. But Ethan became inconsolable, screaming for his best friend. Then, one night, he simply stopped crying. “It’s okay,” he said calmly. “Ben says I’ll see him soon.” A month later, Ethan’s parents woke to find his room empty again. This time, they found no trace of him, not even near the well. Days turned into weeks, and the police found no leads. The only clue was Ethan’s journal, left on his desk.

5,884觀看

204喜歡

在 YouTube 上檢視