Absent Writer Doll

A doll that stumbles into its witch's arms.

There are dark circles under its reddened eyes.

It's been crying again.

Its witch goes to ask what she can do for it -

But its breathing is already deep and slow.

Poor thing must have been struggling all day.

She picks it up and carries it with her, making sure its head is tucked snugly against her chest.

It's told her before that it likes the sound of her heartbeat.

A little silly, a little sweet.

Perfectly her doll.

a doll being hugged by its friends.

and it can't help but begin to cry.

and it tries to push them away, that it won't bother them with its tears.

but they don't let go.

they refuse to let go.

and it can't stop itself from crying harder and harder.

it stumbles between gratitude for being so wonderful to it, and apologizing for ruining their clothes -

and it struggles and writhes and cries.

but they don't let go.

not until its tears have stained all of their clothes.

not until it can hardly form a word for how hard it's crying.

not until it's a sniffling mess.

the doll is worth it.

the doll is worth all of it.

A doll staring down a plate of food.

It's not hungry. But it needs to eat.

Not to mention that its witch made this meal especially for it. Its witch's meals have always been the best food it's ever eaten.

She sits with it now, even.

Waiting.

Watching.

Eventually, the doll manages a bite.

Its witch smiles helplessly as it struggles to choke it down.

The first bit of food it's had in days.

A doll with no light left in its eyes.

It stumbles through its sentences, through apologies.

Its witch insists that it's done nothing wrong.

Insists that it's loved.

It tries a smile, an acknowledgement, that it believes in her -

But it can't muster one.

But its witch hugs it for its effort.

And its crying into her dress.

It doesn't know how long it can keep going.

It's trying so hard.

But it feels worse and worse every day - and it doesn't know why.

And it can't stop apologizing.

It's so tired.

But at least its witch is here with it.

At least it's not alone.