My Beautiful Mind

The​ ​clock​ ​says​ ​it​’​s​ ​midnight,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​devil​ ​unbolts​ ​the​ ​door​ ​by​ ​magic.​ ​Slowly,​ ​he​ ​advances,​ ​closer​ ​and​ ​closer,​ ​from​ ​the​ ​darkest​ ​corner​ ​of​ ​my​ ​bedroom.​ ​His​ ​blue​ ​eyes​ ​are​ ​flaring​ ​and​ ​glaring​ ​like​ ​the​ ​burning​ ​sun.​ ​Green​ ​light​ ​from​ ​my​ ​digital​ ​clock​ ​exhibits​ ​his​ ​growing​ ​horns​ ​and​ ​dark​ ​walrus​ ​ivory.​ ​I​ ​hide​ ​myself​ ​under​ ​my​ ​blanket,​ ​but​ ​his​ ​powerful​ ​steps​ ​hammering​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​soft​ ​carpet​ ​still​ ​echo​ ​like​ ​a​ ​beating​ ​drum.​ ​He​ ​stops​ ​at​ ​my​ ​bed,​ ​wrenches​ ​my​ ​shelter​ ​away,​ ​and​ ​gives​ ​me​ ​a​ ​malicious​ ​stare.​ ​“​There​ ​you​ ​are,​”​ ​he​ ​says​ ​with​ ​a​ ​voice​ ​as​ ​abysmally​ ​deep​ ​as​ ​the​ ​fear​ ​inside​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​“​Help​!​”​ ​I​ ​shout.​ ​He​ ​puts​ ​his​ ​massive​ ​claws​ ​on​ ​my​ ​sweaty​ ​leg,​ ​and​ ​starts​ ​pulling.​ ​Suddenly,​ ​Teddy​ ​leaps​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​closet​ ​to​ ​the​ ​devil​'​s​ ​back​ ​and​ ​stabs​ ​a​ ​silver​ ​sword​ ​through​ ​his​ ​head.​ ​He​ ​screams​ ​in​ ​pain,​ ​sprints​ ​out​ ​of​ ​my​ ​room,​ ​and​ ​disappears​ ​in​ ​darkness.​ ​Leaving​ ​me​ ​to​ ​my​ ​mother,​ ​who​’​s​ ​now​ ​standing​ ​at​ ​the​ ​door,​ ​glaring​ ​at​ ​me​ ​just​ ​like​ ​the​ ​devil​ ​was.

“​You​ ​have​ ​class​ ​tomorrow,​ ​Billy,​”​ ​she​ ​says,​ ​“​It​’​s​ ​time​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​bed.​”

“​The​ ​devil​ ​visited​ ​me​ ​again,​ ​mom,​”​ ​I​ ​explain.

“​Oh,​ ​Billy,​ ​enough​ ​of​ ​this​ ​story,​ ​or​ ​we​’​ll​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​doctor​ ​again.​”

“​No,​ ​mom​!​ ​Ok,​ ​I​’​m​ ​going​ ​to​ ​sleep​ ​now,​”​ ​I​ ​say​ ​while​ ​walking​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​my​ ​blanket.

I​ ​hate​ ​the​ ​school.​ ​No​ ​one​ ​understands​ ​me,​ ​or​ ​sees​ ​things​ ​the​ ​same​ ​way​ ​I​ ​see.​ ​My​ ​mom​ ​always​ ​says​ ​that​ ​I​’​m​ ​special,​ ​but​ ​others​ ​just​ ​call​ ​me​ ​weird​ ​or​ ​crazy.​ ​They​ ​do​ ​not​ ​agree​ ​that​ ​ghosts​ ​exist​ ​and​ ​love​ ​making​ ​fun​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​no​ ​friends​ ​at​ ​school,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​still​ ​have​ ​Teddy.​ ​He​’​s​ ​a​ ​ghost,​ ​yes,​ ​but​ ​we​’​re​ ​best​ ​friends​ ​for​ ​life.​ ​He​ ​talks​ ​with​ ​me,​ ​protects​ ​me​ ​from​ ​the​ ​devil,​ ​and​ ​helps​ ​me​ ​learn​ ​things​ ​in​ ​school,​ ​especially​ ​in​ ​this​ ​class,​ ​the​ ​only​ ​class​ ​I​ ​love.​ ​“​What​ ​are​ ​you​ ​sketching?​”​ ​Teddy​ ​asks.

“​You​ ​see​ ​the​ ​purple​ ​lady​ ​over​ ​there?​”​ ​I​ ​say,​ ​“​with​ ​that​ ​red​ ​beret.​”

“​Ahh,​ ​she​’​s​ ​got​ ​a​ ​style,​ ​doesn​’​t​ ​she,​”​ ​he​ ​replies.

“​What​ ​colors​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​I​ ​should​ ​put​ ​in?​”​ ​I​ ​question.

“​Just​ ​the​ ​same​ ​colors​ ​as​ ​her,​ ​purple​ ​skin,​ ​blue​ ​jacket,​ ​and​ ​yellow​ ​high​ ​heels.​ ​She​’​s​ ​already​ ​perfect,​”​ ​he​ ​answers.

“​How​ ​is​ ​your​ ​work,​ ​Billy?​”​ ​my​ ​teacher​ ​appears​ ​at​ ​my​ ​back.

I​ ​show​ ​him​ ​my​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​he​ ​responds​ ​with​ ​a​ ​smile.

“​Where​ ​did​ ​you​ ​get​ ​this​ ​idea​ ​from?​”​ ​the​ ​teacher​ ​asks.

“​She​’​s​ ​over​ ​there,​ ​sitting​ ​over​ ​your​ ​bookshelf,​”​ ​I​ ​reply.

Now,​ ​my​ ​teacher​’​s​ ​smile​ ​turns​ ​into​ ​amazement.​ ​He​ ​glances​ ​at​ ​his​ ​own​ ​bookshelf,​ ​and​ ​then​ ​looks​ ​at​ ​me.

“​You​ ​have​ ​a​ ​vivid​ ​imagination,​ ​Billy,​”​ ​he​ ​sums​ ​up,​ ​“​Keep​ ​practicing​ ​every​ ​day,​ ​and​ ​you​’​ll​ ​be​ ​a​ ​great​ ​artist.​”