I have gotten so used to the smell, I don't even notice it anymore.

  It's the smell of old books, old people and old junk.

  I've sat here, day in, day out. Never able to do anything. I can't move or speak. I can't even blink.

  My head has always been fixed in one position and that is forward.

  I am like many in this old thrift store, an old, dusty object.

  I am a doll.

  I know I am, I've seen myself in a mirror before, that's when they brought me here and it is my very first memory.

  It honestly is very strange, I am an inanimate object with thoughts and feelings, yet I can't do anything or let anyone know.

  I was quite upset and shocked when I found out. Scared, but unable to show the emotion. Wanting to scream but unable to tell anyone. Unable to move, but wanting someone to comfort me.

  That was the worst part of my being.

  I just woke up, learning that my life held no meaning and I would never be able to do anything or be loved by anyone.

  I hated it.

  I hated my existence.

  I hated whomever put me here.

  I hated my creator, yet there is nothing I can ever do about it.

  So I just sat here. Always in the same place, always dressed the same, always looking the same. Always with a little extra layer of dust covering me. Always praying. Always hoping for a change.

  I've seen the sun come up and go under for a long time now, from a tiny window in the back of the store. Each time it came, it took a little bit of color from the objects in its way. Until they turned gray and were thrown out.

  I was lucky, the sun never shone on me, it couldn't. So the light just lurked ever so slightly under my feet. Like a hungry predator, waiting for its prey to run. But I of course would never move, so it just left every time it had to go again.

  At some point, I got jealous of the sunlight, it was able to shine. It was able to move. It was always there for the people and animals and I could or would never be able to.

  Such a stupid thing to be jealous of.

  I was even more jealous of the tiny birds by the window, as short as their lives might be, they were my only source of entertainment.

  The birds sang to one another and could fly, they could travel. Oh how much I wished that I would have been born a bird and not an inanimate doll.

  I've seen people come and go, I've seen them get older and then eventually one day they just stopped coming and new people took their place.

  Take me home, take me home...

  I silently wished.

  But who would listen to the pleading of a voiceless doll, an object without a soul.

  Something that can't do anything or even think.

  Well of course they are wrong at that last part. I am very lucid after all.

  Unfortunately...

  Then one day, The happiest day of my inanimate life, a little girl and her mother came to visit the store.

  The girl saw me.

  As soon as she did, her eyes started sparkling. I've never seen anyone's eyes do that before. Especially when they saw me.

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  The girl almost seemed to fly towards me, that's how quick she was.

  She was the very first person that would speak to me.

  "Hello Dolly, what's your name? Do you wanna be friends?" Her little arms stretched out to me in a hug.

  I've never had a hug before, it is so warm. I wanted to cry, but of course I couldn't.

  I wanted to tell her to please take me away from here, oh please.

  Of course I wanted to be her friend, I've always wished for one and she would be my first.

  It was like she could read my mind.

  She begged her mother to get me for her.

  Her mother wasn't too sold on the idea at first and called me 'that creepy old thing', but her daughter didn't care.

  She wanted me and started to throw a fit, then the shopkeeper said that they could have me for free.

  What a nice guy.

  Now the mother couldn't refuse anymore and she gave in.

  "Fine, but keep that thing away from me." She told the little girl, while looking at me like I was a dirty old sock.

  Well I forgive her, I was too happy anyway. I had been here for god-knows-how-long and even the spiders didn't like me.

  And so, I left the old thrift store and started anew with a new family and a best friend.

  Molly (the little girl) and I did a lot of things together, she would dress me up at least 17 times a day. With clothes her grandmother had made for me. She told us that she once had a doll like me, that also looked very similar. She was also able to repair and clean me a bit and after that I had become a lot prettier.

  After all that, even Molly's mother didn't even feel that bothered by me anymore.

  We had tons of tea parties and Molly had of course given me a full tour of the house and introduced me to all the other dolls and stuffed animals.

  I knew all their names by heart. I wonder if any of them were like me, but there wouldn't be any way of knowing.

  I might not be able to do or say anything, but I really did have the time of my life there.

  I have a home.

  We would eat breakfast together, we would go on walks together. We would talk about anything, well more like I would listen, but I really don't mind.

  Unlike other kids, Molly is a very gentle soul and always takes very good care of me. She has never even dropped me, not even by accident.

  One day school had started for her again, we met during the summer holiday after all.

  I felt sad to let her go, she wasn't allowed to take her with me.

  Every time she came home, she looked a bit upset. She seemed to try to hide.

  One day she asked me: "Dolly, can I ask you something?"

  I could see tears welling up in her reddish eyes. "Dolly, do you hate me too?"

  This broke my heart.

  Of course I didn't hate her.

  I would never.

  She was my dearest friend.

  My personal hero.

  I felt awful, I couldn't do anything. I hadn't felt like this in a while, it was like I was back in that awful dark place. Where I would never be able to do anything.

  I want her to be happy.

  She doesn't deserve whatever she's dealing with right now.

  Not with how kind and gentle she is.

  And yet, I just can't do anything...

  I wanted to talk to her, I wanted to support her or at least to be supported. Her mother is quite busy and didn't always seem to notice.

  I wish I could let her know, even if it is only her.

  But I am just an inanimate object, incapable of speech.

  Tonight something awful happened...

  Someone broke in.

  It was unplanned, he didn't seem to know the layout of the house.

  The bugler was probably looking for valuables.

  Only Molly and her mother were at home that night.

  Both asleep.

  The man accidently entered the wrong room.

  Molly and my room.

  Molly is a very light sleeper and woke up by the gently creaking door.

  She noticed the bugler and started to scream.

  So he hit her, he didn't want any witnesses.

  He was desperate.

  He would even kill to get his prize.

  He hit her again with his bat.

  And again.

  I could do nothing but watch this horrible scene in front of me.

  I wanted to scream.

  I wanted to save Molly.

  He hit her again and she stopped crying, bleeding heavily.

  Something snapped in me.

  My emotions, but also my shackles which had kept me stuck for so many years.

  I was going to kill him.

  This man... had to go.

  I don't know how, but I got out.

  Out of my cell, which was my body.

  Out of my dusty prison.

  I shattered the room's window and with the glass shards, I pinned the man against the ceiling.

  Anger.

  Anger was the only feeling.

  Anger and rage. Then maybe, also hate.

  He screamed.

  He cried.

  It made me feel something... like joy.

  Blood dripped down like a slow waterfall, creating a pool on the wooden floor.

  Blood stained the carpet.

  Bleed more...

  BLEED MORE!!!

  I think I killed him.

  Did I go too far?

  He stopped crying.

  He stopped screaming.

  Molly's mother runs into the room to save her.

  I quickly return to my body, she probably hasn't seen me.

  She screamed when she noticed the man on the ceiling.

  She got her daughter out of that room as soon as possible, leaving me behind.

  Leaving me behind in the mess I made.

  I can see blue and red flashing lights outside.

  The cops have arrived.

  The paramedics as well.

  Molly seemed to have had a slight concussion, lucky girl.

  I'm so glad, it didn't get any worse.

  Molly doesn't really know what happened though, probably just her child mind keeping her protected.

  It has been a week and Molly is ready to return to school again.

  And I guess I'm lucky too, it is take-your-toy-to-school day.

  Molly has promised to take me.

  I'm glad.

  Now I can find out who made her upset like before.

  And now I can do something about it.

  With my new power, I will surely be able to make her happy again.