Andrew was startled by a loud thud on the door.
“Who could it be?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” replied Rick. “Don’t open it, they will send you to boarding school again!”
Andrew was terrified. There was a storm outside that night and one inside as well.
“I’m glad you’re with me, Rick.”
Andrew had befriended Rick in the couple of years he spent at boarding school. Andrew hadn’t been able to adapt to life there and had to be sent back.
 

The banging on the door continued, “Andrew, open up!”
“They’re here to get you,” yelled Rick. “Run!”
The boys ran to the first-floor bedroom of the bungalow.
For some time the only sound heard was that of rain and thunder. Suddenly, they heard a crashing sound.
“They’ve broken through,” warned Rick.
“Andrew, where are you?” a woman called.
“Mom!” exclaimed Andrew.
“Wait,” said Rick. “Don’t you remember, she was the one who sent you away earlier! She shouldn’t even be here!”

Andrew’s mind raced back to the time his parents got divorced.
“You’re right, she shouldn’t be here.”
“Come with me,” said Rick. “To the second floor.”
As they ran up, they heard footsteps in the house and Andrew heard his dad’s voice. “I want him found, immediately!”
Andrew was terrified, as soon they were found by a uniformed man.
“He’s here, on the second floor,” the man yelled.
Andrew and Rick made a dash for the balcony nearby.

They climbed up on the railing and threatened to jump if the man came closer. Soon, Andrew’s mom came to the balcony.
“Won’t you come to mom, Andrew?”
Andrew looked at Rick who shook his head sideways.
“No, mom, go away!” yelled Andrew.
“It’ll all be ok, just step down and we can talk.”
“No,” said Andrew. “You didn’t listen when I didn’t want to go, you didn’t listen when you left, dad and his wife never listen. No one ever listens!”

As his mom came closer, Rick whispered, “I think we should jump.”
Andrew looked him in the eyes and extended his arm, “Take my hand, Rick. I can’t do this alone!”
“Who are you talking to, Andrew?”
“What!? Can’t you see Rick?”
“There’s no one there, Andrew. We searched your school records, there never was a student named Rick!”
“They’re lying!” yelled Rick. “Another trick to steal your only friend!”
“He’s your hallucination, that’s why you must go to the hospital,” said his mom.

Andrew’s eyes welled up. “Rick is the only one who has ever stood by me. Real or not, he is my friend. You can’t separate us; I’d rather die than be away from him!”
He took a deep breath and jumped off.
“Andrew!” yelled his mom and ran towards the railing. She looked down expecting the worst.
The others, though, had anticipated this and were waiting with a bed sheet. They caught him and saved his life. Andrew was quickly restrained and handed over to the hospital staff by his dad and stepmother.