At first, I didn't realize that I'm the imaginary friend, Charlie is writing to, but once I did I started getting worried for him. There's a term called de-personalization, where one just observes events unfold in their lives as if they are not the ones driving it, and I was afraid that's what Charlie was going through.

His entries just state things, events that happened in his life, with his family or with his friends Sam and Patrick. They actually call him the wallflower during one of their parties, when he sees someone being abused or someone making out and does nothing, absolutely no reaction!!

The people around him don't lead wonderful lives either. While his sister continues a relationship with an abuser, his friend Patrick is neck-deep with relationship issues. But somewhere along, Charlie starts living, thanks to Sam and Patrick. They take him out to parties and make him do the things, that a typical American teenager would do. They seem to breathe that life into him.

Amidst the dramatic events surrounding his sister or his friend, Charlie often has visions of Aunt Helen, who he says, loved him very much. He remembers her as the good soul that was molested and thus led a sad life. But one day, he's found in such a state, that it's later revealed he suffers from PTSD, from the trauma inflicted upon him by Aunt Helen, who abused him as a child.

I had always felt odd about him experiencing derealization. And this is a symptom of PTSD. Our poor guy repressed all these emotions and became a wallflower. The author helps you see how PTSD looks like, what derealization feels like, how everyone is plagued with issues of their own. But in the end, it's in our hands just as Charlie finally comes to terms with his past and is ready to participate in his life :)