Doll Baby

The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the room amplifying his and his wife’s discordancy. They had been through this time and again after losing their daughter and this was it for him.

He sought solace. Nothing more.

“Where is she?” she demanded following him into the living room after having heard the noise upon his departure. “What was that noise? It sounded like glass…”

Dave traveled the distance to the window through which he had thrown the “baby.” Their baby. No, hers. He wanted nothing to do with it. Only she and the psyche had other ideas.

He looked down at the doll. It was disgusting! INSANE! That is what it was at this point. They have been going on like this for months.

“SHE?” he said holding the raggedy thing toward the light. Exhausted beyond measure, he went around and collapsed onto the sofa. “I am tired after a hard day. I would like some peace and quiet.”

He threw the doll onto the seat next to him.

“Give it to me,” she said going toward him.

“No.”

He grabbed it up and took to his feet. “THIS IS A DOLL! IT IS NOT REAL, NELL!”

“It is a part of the PROCESS!” she protested.

“WE WILL HAVE OTHER CHILDREN IF YOU STOP THIS AND NOT RUN ME AWAY!”

“Is that where we are?” She hung her head. “This is it for us?”

He walked forward and took her in his arms. “You are really scaring me with this,” he said. “I love you but need to be firmly in reality to do this with you. Let me be here with you. Let’s do this together.”