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Rania Maria Dan, 12 years old, is participating in the 6th International Literary Creation Competition, from Bucharest, Romania. She is guided by Prof. Roxana Romaniuc. We are grateful for the participation and wish her success.

     The girl whom nobody saw

      Lola was a normal kid from Italy. Her parents played with her every day. Lola’s life was fantastic. By the time she was three, her mom gave birth to her little sister named Sydney. From the moment she was born, Sydney used her baby blue eyes to cast a spell on their parents. She turned them into her minions. They would do everything she wanted, when she wanted. Sydney started walking at nine months old, at two she could write her own name and at three years old she could write the alphabet without making any mistakes. When Syd was seven, she won her first national Spelling Bee and won a huge cash prize. A reporter came to take her interview for a magazine cover. Lola’s parents kept talking about Sydney for hours as Lola sat in the corner. When the reporter finally said it was time for photos, Lola joined in but Syd insisted that she stayed out of it. The parents tried reasoning with her, but she wasn’t taking it. Their mom gave Lola ice-cream money and kicked her out of the room.
   	A couple of months later Lola came home from school and found Syd in her room, all her stuff gone. She switched the rooms without asking her. Lola was super angry. Syd said that she needed more space for her trophies and that Lola didn’t win anything. Lola was furious. She called out her parents out of frustration, but they took Sydney’s side. Lola swore that she would never come back. She ran with tears in her eyes and hid in her tree house. Her stomach started grumbling. She was hungry. Lola started looking for a treat in her pockets and found a candy bar. As she proceeded to eat it, a girl, same age as her, came from nowhere and fetched it from her hands.
      “Hey, that’s mine!” said Lola angrily. “Wait, who even are you? This is my tree house.”
       “I’m Madison! Nice to meet you, uhh…”
       “Lola.”
       “Nice to meet you, Lola!”
        Lola and Madison spent hours talking and laughing. They were listening to each other’s stories and problems. Minutes, then hours went by and Lola’s parents didn’t even bother looking for her. She was sad but she didn’t let that stop her from getting a new friend, maybe her first one.
 	“Sooo, Madison, what’s your favourite colour?”
  	“Uhhhh… I like baby blue, you?”
         That’s when Lola thought about her sister, Sydney. She had completely forgotten for a second, because she was feeling well, but now she remembered. Her parents weren’t even looking for her. How sad….
         Then a thick voice appeared from nowhere.
 	“Lola, come! Diner’s getting cold.”
         It was her dad. Turns out, he knew where she was.
         “Coming,” said Lola annoyed. “Bye Madison! See you tomorrow?”
   	“Sure! Same place, same hour?”
   	“Yep! Byeee.”
          After that day, Lola and Madison became best friends. They would spend a lot of time together.
          One day Lola and her family went to Chicago. It was amazing. Lots of nice things to visit. They bought lots of souvenirs.
           When they came back to Italy, Madison was gone.
          “Madison! Madison where are you…?” shouted Lola that evening.
            Madison left without a trace. Lola was disappointed and sad. She didn’t have anyone to talk to and express her feelings. She had felt loved for the first time in a long time, but now, even that was gone. 
           School wasn’t great after Madison left. Lola would spend most of her time alone, but she discovered her passion for art.
           “Mom, dad, I think I found my passion. I love art. I can express my emotions by swinging the brush on the canvas. Can you guys, please, give me money to buy new materials?”
          “Sure, sweetheart. Here you go! You finally found something that you like. Ok, we’re off to another of your sister’s Spelling Bee. Buy whatever you need. See you in a bit!”
          Then they left. Lola wasn’t very happy but neither sad. She went to the mall and bought everything she needed. Then, on her way home she saw something, or - should I say? - somebody.
        “Madison, what are you doing here?”
        She didn’t get a response. Madison disappeared. Lola saw Sydney.
        “Hey, Lola! Look, I won another prize!”
         Lola rolled her eyes.
        “Pff… I’m not surprised.”
        “Why are you upset, Lola?”
        “It’s just that Madison disappeared.”
       “Who’s Madison?” asked Syd surprised.
       “Are you joking? She was my best friend. Didn’t you see us every day together?”
      “Umm… no? You were playing alone.”
       And that’s when Lola realized. Madison had been only in her imagination; she was her invisible friend. She felt so bad.
     “Ok, anyways… bye now!” said Lola, her cheeks turning pinkish.
     “Wait!”
      “Ugh, what do you want Sydney? You were always the golden child. Our parents’ favourite. Leave me alone. You always get what you want.”
      “I didn’t know you feel this way… I’m sorry. I can help you make friends, you know. We are sisters.”
       Lola didn’t know what to say. 
       From that day on, they started spending more time together. Syd was popular and helped Lola make friends. Lola made it to an art college and made a lot of new, good friends. Her life was perfect. She had everything she had ever dreamed of. Lola had never felt happier.
       They lived joyfully from that day on. Lola and Sydney were both their parent’s favourites.