Book One: Chapter 42

On the ride up, she held the doll gently, inspecting its face. The dark eyes looked sad, as if it somehow knew it had been given away. She wondered what little child had purchased the doll, once upon a time, and if it had been loved.

She also wondered if it was wearing underwear. Tilting the doll over, she lifted the skirt to reveal a carefully knit pair of white panties under the dress. Feeling weird for even thinking such a thing, she tucked it under her arm when the door opened, walking down the long hallway to her apartment. It was small, but it was hers. Only six hundred square feet, it had a small kitchen which turned into her bedroom. She never bothered having company over-there were plenty of more interesting places to meet friends in town. She set the doll on the counter next to her files and walked into the bathroom.

Finishing her business, she came back out to see that the doll was facing toward the bathroom. Had she set it down that way? Shivering, she walked