by basil! » Fri Sep 25, 2020 1:22 pm
"come here, doll!"
i turned around, redirecting my attention from the two people i had been chatting to, the same pleasant smile on my face. My gaze landed on her, brown hair short and unruly, freckles thrown across her face.
"Hello, Lia," I said politely. "It is a very nice day today, no?"
"Oh yes, the weather is so nice. It is very warm today," she answered, then looked at me. "It is time to go."
She said a word to the kids I had been talking to, then took my hand in hers. My hand must have been cold, but she didn't complain.
It made me happy, her kindness. I gripped her hand tighter, hoping she wouldn't let go.
We walked past the streets I had seen thousands of times before, the battered store signs waving in the wind and people trudging in and out of half-open doors. The floor below me was grey and dirty, with bottles and cigarette butts and plastic bags strewn around. I kicked a coca cola bottle out from under my feet. It would have been nice to pick them up, but Lia would be angry. We had to hurry home!
I savored the fresh air in my lungs, the breeze against my skin, the sun on my face. I looked at the people around me, some in pairs and others alone, some happy and some sad. It made my chest warm to see so many people talking to each other, having a place to go and somewhere to be. I would like to have many friends too, I thought. Maybe if I could have a life like them...
But, Lia is all I need! I reminded myself. She gave me food and water and a place to live and money and a job. I shouldn't let my mind wander like that! I wasn't allowed to.
We turned down a street and walked into a dark alleyway. The dank air filled my lungs as Lia took a big key with several keychains attached to it and opened a dingy black door. She pushed it in roughly, and it banged against the wall. I flinched from the noise.
Lia stared at me disapprovingly. I opened my mouth to apologize quickly, but she stepped forward and I shrunk away before i got the chance.
"What did I say? Act professional. Act happy," she hissed. "I've told you so many times, over and over, and what do you do? What do you do, huh?"
She leaned in and I could smell the perfume of her suit. My heart beat wildly in my chest; I was terrified, so scared.
But she smelled nice. The grey of her eyes was so pretty and her skin was smooth and the way she looked at me with so much hatred hurt but she was so beautiful.
"What are you staring at?" she asked forcefully. "Answer my damn question."
"I disrespect you," I muttered quietly, my eyes sliding to the floor. I could no longer stand to look at her standing this close to me.
"Exactly," she said, straightening herself up. "I do so much for you and you don't even follow my simple rules. Don't show emotions like that. You don't have emotions. You're not even a person. You're a doll, a discardable object. Don't get so cocky."
"Sorry, Lia," I muttered, my head bent. Guilt clawed at me and I gripped the folds of my dress tightly.
"It's okay," she said, surprising me. She placed a warm hand on my head and gently ruffled my hair. Slowly, Lia smiled. "You know I just want the best for you."
My heart swelled in my chest and my cheeks grew warm, even though I could not physically blush. I felt like I was about to burst; joy swelled in my chest and I broke out in a wide grin, before realizing what I had done and snapping back to my slightly vacant expression. Still, my head buzzed as we walked into the house, and I had the urge to hug Lia.
I didn't understand why she changed her behavior so much. It was really scary sometimes. But it was okay, because she loved me and she did so much for me. I was eternally grateful for her.