The Doll by the Bed: The Beginning
of a Nightmare
My sister’s cancer diagnosis was a goddamn
tragedy, but Mom and Dad? They didn’t shed
a single tear when she finally kicked the
bucket.
Instead, they jetted off to Europe with my
golden–boy brother for some “much–needed”
vacation. They came back all smiles and
handed me this porcelain doll with a sickly
sweet smile.
Mom cooed, “Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest
thing for being so grateful.”
“Isn’t she just the cutest doll, honey? Keep
her with you, and she’ll be just like having
sister around, okay?”
く
I swallowed the lump in my throat and
mumbled, “Okay.”
But things started to go sideways fast. I was
always tired, barely conscious.
Then one day, I woke up trapped inside that
damn doll.
And my dead sister? She was back and strutting around in my skin, as if it were a
goddamn game.
She grinned like a maniac, cutting off my hair, and snipping off my limbs like she was
trimming a
hedge.
And then, she tossed my broken, doll–sized
body into a roaring fireplace.
く
As the flames ate me alive, I saw them. Mom,
Dad, and golden–boy, all grinning like they’d
just won the freaking lottery.
Then, BAM! I’m back. Back to the day they
gave me that goddamn doll.
1
The stale air in my room was a goddamn
icebox. The curtains had been drawn for
weeks. I bolted up in bed and ran to the
bathroom, gasping for air.
I stared at my reflection, all in one piece, and
the sobs just ripped out of me.
I was given a second chance.
A car pulled up in the driveway, and my
stomach churned. I peeked through the
curtains. The smiling faces down below filled
me with ice–cold rage.
The door opened, and Mom and Dad walked
in, their faces all sad and pathetic. Complete
opposite of the joy I saw when I peeked
through the curtains a few minutes ago.
My stepmom wrapped her arm around me
way too tight. “Darling, are you still sad?”
“I know losing Lily hit you hard, but life has to
move forward, sweetheart.”
She points to the framed family portrait.
“You’re such a sweet girl.”
My stepbrother, Chad, held out a big,
beautifully wrapped gift. “Cheer up, Sis. Mom
and Dad got you a present.”
My voice was a croak when I said, “Thank
you.”
Inside the box was a porcelain doll. Its curly
hair was held back with two sapphire
barrettes. The face was unnaturally pretty,
and it had an entire wardrobe of clothes and
accessories.
But its shiny, glassy eyes felt wrong. Like they
were staring into my soul.
Mom stroked the doll’s hair and plastered on
a loving expression.
“Isn’t she just the cutest doll, honey? You can
keep her with you, and she’ll be just like
having Lily around, okay?”
“Let’s call her…Honey,” she said, as she
handed me the doll.
My blood ran cold. My hands got clammy as I
flinched back.
Mom and Dad’s faces fell. “Are you mad at us
for leaving you behind?”
“Lily wanted you to stay home and write
those prayers for her after she died. We
didn’t want to break your heart.”
I shook my head and said, “No, I’m not mad.
Mom, I…”
It was the first gift they’d ever given me.
<
Chad frowned. “Then what is it? Don’t you
like her? Mom and Dad got it custom made in
Europe. They thought it would make you
happy, after Lily said girls loved these things.”
I wiped my eyes, forcing a smile at them. “No,
I love it! She’s as pretty as Lily. She just
reminds me of her.”
As I took the doll, those dark eyes locked on
mine. It was like it was watching me.
2
