“Imaginary Friend” by Stephen Chbosky (post 4): Kate, Christopher’s mother, normally hears a voice, but now hears a voice that is creepy

“Give him the pill, Kate [she hears the voice say].

“Christopher’s mother held her little boy as he convulsed with sobbing. Shaking from sleep deprivation. A lifetime of motherhood flooded through her. Every pillow turned to the cool side. Every grilled cheese sandwich made just the way he liked them.

“Give him the pill Kate! Or you’re a terrible mother!

“And that’s when she realized that it wasn’t her voice. It sounded like her. It was almost perfect. The tone was right. She could be negative to herself. She had an internal monologue that had said some ruthless things over the years.

“But Kate Reese was not a terrible mother. She was great. Being Christopher’s mother was the only thing Kate Reese was ever great at. And some bitch was doing a perfect imitation of her voice to convince her otherwise. Something wanted Christopher to take those pills. Something wanted her son to sleep. Something wanted her son.

“ ‘Who is that?’ Christopher’s mother said out loud. ‘Who’s there?’

“The room was quiet. But she could feel something creeping.

“ ‘Mom, do you believe me now?’ Christopher whispered” (1, pp. 365-366).

1. Stephen Chbosky. Imaginary Friend. New York, Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group, 2019.