Maestro

Your mother got a large, human sized doll/mannequin from an antique store and everyone was talking about what a unique find it was, in such great as it was. They remarked that that doll’s skin was so realistic, except for how perfectly soft and smooth it was, you’d think it human. You stared at the doll for days, transfixed and feeling a strange pull. One night, as you made your tea, you could swear you heard the doll disapprovingly ask if you “really need that much honey?” But you just laughed and sat down across from the doll, whispering, “I promise I won’t stay up all night. Eventually, at night, you started to press soft kisses goodnight to the doll’s lips, every night. You’d run your fingers through his hair, kiss his forehead, hug him and whispered, quietly, “I love you” sometimes and his skin felt as if it got warm under your touch.