My backpack carries all the essentials: my iPad, pencils, a folder and a small yellow plushie.

Though he is a bit dirty with fur slightly stained with tears, he means the world to me.

I attended a birthday party at Pinstack freshman year. Rather than joining my friends at rock climbing or laser tag, I stuck close to a claw machine, fixated on winning the yellow lemonade drink plushie so close to my grasp. 

Push left. No, not that much. A little bit further… perfect. 

I locked in the position on what was probably my 10th try and held my breath as the claw dropped. When it rose, it carried the stuffed not-animal. I held it in pure admiration. With this instant love, I took my catch to school.

As I showed the plushie to friends, I thought of possible names. What word captures the essence of such an adorable object? I got the perfect suggestion: Cthulhu, named after author H.P. Lovecraft’s omnipotent monster. I envisioned my cute little stuffed animal as such an evil force and could not resist the grin appearing – it was the perfect moniker.

I struggled to keep Cthulhu at home, his permanent home becoming my backpack. Whenever I received a poor grade or was alone in class, I could pull out Cthulhu and bring a smile. He was my little dose of medicine in hard times.

But, his healing powers soon began to work their magic on others.

Through high school, I noticed my friends increasingly stressed and lacking energy. I wanted to help them, but could never find the right words.

In these times, I would hand my friends Cthulhu. Their eyes would light up with a smile. For a moment, they put their worries away and found peace in the form of a small lemonade plushie. To this day, if I want to check on my friends, I need not say more than “You need Cthulhu?”

Cthulhu is a constant in my life. Through rainy days and changing times, I know my small friend will be there to make me smile once again.

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