Pina Cool Ada
New member
The Doll
Once upon a time, there was an enchanted castle. It spread a mile in every direction, with high walls and few gates. No one entered and no one left. In the center of the castle, amidst the abandoned streets, there was a tower. In the top of the tower, there was a room. In the room, there was a child sized desk with a child sized chair. A window looked out over the castle, looking towards the eastern horizon. In the center of the room was a bed with pink satin curtains. The curtains hung low, brushing the floor. When the wind blew through the open window, a glimpse of the bed could be seen. The bed was made perfectly, not a wrinkle or a crease. The comforter was pink, matching the curtains. Two matching pillows sat at the head of the bed. On them, a tiny porcelain doll sat, staring out the window. Never blinking, never stirring, always waiting. She had straight blond hair that brushed the pillows, green eyes that seemed too big, and red lips, slightly parted, revealing perfect white teeth. Her hands rested in her lap, folded. Her legs were covered by her pink satin dress with white lace trim. Little pink shoes over lace socks rested on the pillows. Her head was turned slightly, so when the wind blew the curtains aside, she could catch a glimpse of the window. The doll sat, waiting for someone, something, to take her from this lonely place. For years she waited, heedless of the passing time in the timeless castle. Though the years passed, her hair stayed blond, her eyes bright, her teeth perfect. Her dress did not fade, nor her socks tatter. She stayed perfect, perfectly waiting. Then the waiting ended. From the tower could be seen a single horseman riding to the castle, riding to the doll’s rescue. No face could be seen beneath the black hood, only white hands holding the reins of a gray mount could be seen. The horseman entered the castle by the eastern gate and dismounted, staring at the castle. The eyes of the horseman found the tower, and the hood of the cloak was pulled back by the white hands. Straight blond hair tumbled to her waist , framing a white face with large green eyes and red lips. The beautiful girl slowly wandered the castle, until she reached the tower. A door swung open, revealing a winding staircase. She hesitated, then mounted the spiraling steps. Finally she reached the top, still moving as if in a dream. She walked to the desk and ran her hands over it. She pulled out the chair and sat down, but only for a second. She stood up quickly and moved the chair to the same place it had been for all the years. She made her way to the window, staring out, just as she had done years ago, when that room had been hers. The wind stirred, moving the bed curtains, drawing the girl’s attention. She walked to the bed and drew aside the curtains. At the sight of the porcelain doll, she sighed and sat down on the bed, wrinkling its perfection. She picked up the little doll, cradled it in her arms. A single tear traveled down her face, by her smiling lips, and fell on the doll’s face, so she too was crying. The girl stood up and walked to the door, carrying the doll in her arms. Just before she went down the first step, she turned. She walked back to the window, and shut it, then drew its pink curtains. She stared at it for a second, then looked at the little doll in her arms. She smiled, then went out the door and down the thousand steps. The girl carried the doll away, away from the lonely room. She made her way through the deserted streets, moving quickly now, though not in a rush. She reached her waiting horse and swung herself onto him, holding the reins in one arm and the doll in the other. Without looking around, she rode out with her doll. As she rode away, the castle faded from the sight of man. If the girl had turned back to see her past home, she would have seen the horizon, where the sun was setting.
The End
