Still doll

“Don’t touch it, you could break it” the old man gazing through the top of his reading glasses reprimanded a younger man who looked at the object with mesmerised eyes, his hand was trying to reach to the beautiful porcelain doll in display. 

A man who was used to buying and owning everything he has ever wanted. Of a capricious nature, this man oozed confidence and was a proud carrier of a demanding presence. 

Her eyes glimmered and her head tilted from side to side slowly, studying the man standing in front of her, who seemed to give her the right amount of attention.

“Is this one of the vessels up for the auction?” he asked with the desire to own it.

“Yes, but one does not just purchase this piece. See, it has history and it is a cursed vessel. If you have not been chosen by this doll to be touched or owned, the spirit within the vessel will make sure you regret if you harm it. It is a huge responsibility to own this doll.”

His fascination was stronger than the first warning…

Men love challenges

And the doll liked the way he looked at her.

She had never seen someone so tough and eager to own her.

“What must I do for it to choose me?” he said with determination clinging to his tone. 

“Just a my humble advice…This spirit is very fussy. Some have tried, they bring her presents and offerings. Others say the right words to her and beg for a chance. But the spirit has not chosen anyone. It is also quite active when it finds a home, this vessel was passed through many before getting here. It’s unpredictable, you will experience her energy in your home.” said the museum owner, informed and wise about his private collection.

But this did not scare the stubborn man.

He wanted her, he wanted to look at that doll every day, not miss any details about it. Even if it meant attempting to trick his way through it.

Every day, without fault, he would turn up to admire her and sweet talk his way to the spirit’s soul. He knew exactly what to do, he spent time with the spirit and made her feel special. 

As the doll opened up, she began unraveling the young man. He told her stories about battles and wounds, she began to admire the strength and grow fond of him. He liked her because she was a breath of fresh air, different from what he had experienced. 

Despite the not easily impressed posture the spirit always had, she was delicate and soft spoken. She was like 3 tablespoons of sugar in your bitter black coffee, caramel sauce and honey dripping on top of a stack of bland pancakes and rays of golden hour sunlight peaking through your dark room.

Her hair was adorned by lilac bows contrasting her glossy doe eyes.

 “You’re a sweet girl” He said. 

“I’m not always this sweet” She spoke in his head.

The spirit had finally attached itself to him, he had been chosen to own her.

“By policy and according to the contract, this object still belongs to my collection for the next six months, once this time has gone passed it is all yours. If I believe this vessel and spirit are not being treated with the care they should, I’m in my legal right to take it away from you and give you a full refund. As well as if the spirit and its new owner no longer have the bond they have created” The museum owner said as he wrapped the vessel carefully for it to get safely to its new home.

So the final sale was made...

In no time, he was displaying her at his home. He opened the crystal box to touch her, spoke to her and took a look at her every minute. He made the spirit within the doll feel adored.

“I’ve only ever let the owners who I believe care for me deeply touch me” she whispered in a warning tone.

“I’m aware, I can do that for you. You are going to be part of my life and I will make sure you never feel lonely.” He said, making once again promises that he knew she wanted to hear to let herself go.

That every minute turned into every hour…

Every hour turned into a couple of hours…

And every couple of hours turned into half a day…

And then half a day…

Turned into inconsistency

Neglecting

No care

The spirit was aware

“Did I do something wrong? Am I a burden? Do you not want me at your home anymore?” The spirit confronted the man as he paced his way around the room.

“No way, you could never be a burden” he spoke. But his actions spoke much louder than those words.

Some days he would look at her and touch her, but it was almost as if those were the only interactions the doll had with him. Others he would simply ignore her and left her inside the pitch black room, barely lit up by the light inside her crystal box. 

She grew angry and resentful, but she did not know how to express anger without tears. In front of him she became watered down and demure. 

The spirit within the doll began disarranging the portraits of the house and made plates fall off their shelves. In most occasions, she moved things out of place and hid them from him when he needed them the most to silently enjoy his frustration from afar. 

This is just merely a fraction of what you have made me feel lately.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to take care of a spirit, it wasn’t in my plans. I saw you suddenly and wanted to have you. I want to keep you, look at you and touch you but you have to understand I can’t give you the attention you require” he let her know.

And the doll’s first cracks made a sound so loud it echoed through the entire room. She looked in disbelief…

He had waited until she spotted the signs to come clean, after all…This spirit was older and wiser, she had a clever mind. If she had been any less than this…

He would’ve probably gotten away with it and kept her until she broke and the only vessel able to hold her spirit was the crystal box.

Why did I trust the wrong person again? 

“Then I don’t want to be here, take me back to the museum. If you ever want to visit me, you can see me there. You cannot have me and neglect me. You were warned about this, now you shall suffer my rage.” The spirit said decided. She was sharp

“I cannot give you what you want” Raising his voice.

I cannot give you what you want

I cannot…

I cannot trust anyone anymore…

He cannot…

Haven’t I heard this before?

“And I don’t have to take in nobody’s insincerity and indecision. I am not at fault for your past choices. I can’t give you that either” Said the doll.

The doll was returned to the museum owner soon after the conversation had taken place, he complained about the small cracks made to the doll he had taken care of so long and made sure the man paid the price for the damage. 

She waited for him to show up and show he once cared about her, but days went by and as she waited…Her vessel could no longer hold her spirit. She slowly fell apart and took her final choice…

To escape so he could never find her again.

He visited her for the first time in a while…

But the museum owner did not want to lose the precious belonging of his collection in such a disheartening way.

“Don’t come near her, you can no longer see her or talk to her, you are a danger to this spirit. Leave or security will remove you” the older man yelled at him.

“Get out.” The voice doll spewed bitterness in her voice, echoing in the entire room as if it was haunted by her spirit alone.

She deeply resented his insincere intentions.

As she saw her vessel falling apart…

I hate him for letting him do this to me, but I couldn’t stop being kind to him.

That last night her spirit left the vessel forever, her keeper mourned the loss of her.

The one who attempted to own her…

Did he even have a heart?

Did he even mourn her loss?

She doubted it.

She only asked for more than the bare minimum and human decency treatment if someone wants closeness with her.

But would be her revenge?

She would make sure she haunted him every day, she was gone but a reminder of what could’ve been and was lost remained. 

I don’t know who is the villain and victim in this tale, if anything…

The most naive one was him.

What I do know is that…

I’m glad she was never part of his permanent collection…

Didn’t I tell you?

He sees things and takes them, his house was full of them. Except these did not possess the pride her spirit had.

The story says that he passed away after months of sleep deprivation, the spirit of the doll sat by his bedside every night, clawed his legs until they bled and sang an eerie melody that said “Am I still sweet? Do you still find me beautiful?” repeatedly.

It is now said you can hear her humming the melody near the oceans, if you encounter her you will see nightingales roaming around and hear porcelain cracking as you get closer to her spirit.

If you’re a woman, with luck you will be blessed. 

If you’re a man, she will drown you to death.