She had sawn on the piece of cloth a pair of dried-up sliced lemons. She meant them to look like eyes, but the size took over the space for the rest. The mouth could have been a braid of string. But she laid the doll on the bed and looked out the window. She was not interested in finishing the rest, instead she was exhausted over the mediocrity of it all.
The glass had blurred out over the droplets of rain. The fog retained the moonlight and took over the dark. The room was beginning to cool down, the cold filtered through the cracks and the piled-up logs. She walked out wearing only socks on her feet.
I thought of making a fire. The wood outside could be wet, but the one inside could be enough for a night. I thought of it again, but I was exhausted. Instead, I could wait. I grabbed blankets from the bed and carried my body under the kitchen table.
I was sure she would notice me as soon as she opened the door. I was sure I could notice her shadow covering the light under the door. I could hold my body tightly and shut my eyes as if waiting for a monster to pull my feet from under the bed. She would lift me to her eye level and place me somewhere warm. Illuminate the room as she usually did and this time maybe join a pair of fresh eyes.
She did not walk in again. The rain seemed to fall down with much more force. I felt the cold slither around my extremities piercing the surface of my fingers and immersing inside of me. Slowly reaching the deeper parts of me. She had been gone for a long time. Enough to have me reach a state of fear for a near end.
The door creaked as it opened completely revealing the contrast of light and dark with the silhouette of a boy. He was holding an axe on his left arm; his right arm was still on the door handle. I lifted my face startled. He rushed towards me and covered my shoulders with the blanket under the table. He seemed in a rush.
He held on to my hand and pulled me up. I was worried my legs could not hold my weight after all they were not fully sawn to my pelvis. But he seemed to be in too much of a hurry to notice how much I was lacking. He didn't notice that I had no hair, or a mouth. He kneeled and pulled both my arms around his neck. His feet slipped through the mud, but he remained steady. I wished my arms would remain attached. I would prefer if I didn't fall on the mud since Benecia rarely washed me. I was worried only a little, instead I was pleasantly resting on his back. Snuggling and rubbing my face on his neck, he was even warmer than Benecia.
The sun was beginning to peek beyond the hills. He was having trouble breathing. He placed me near a tree as he cached his breath. He seemed more relaxed. He seemed hardly taller than me, if I could properly stand next to him. His boots were covered in mud and the rest of his body properly drenched. He turned to me for the first time. I was embarrassed. Would he consider me damaged goods, or a waste.
He threw his body at me and held me tightly. "You'll be safe from now on." He said while his cheek touched mine. I leaned my head on his for a bit more of him and his warmth. He remained still as if he was allowing me to get high on him.
Benecia had not noticed him, if she had, he would be dead. If she finds him, he's dead. If she notices that I'm gone, he's dead. But it should be fine because she could understand I am not to blame for this kidnapping. Instead, I can rest on his chest for warmth until she finds me and places me over her kitchen table until she finds herself in the mood to finish me properly. But what if she'd rather start from scratch. Then she would forget about me, and I would stay with this boy, he'd keep me safe from whatever he considers a threat to me. It could be the mud under my clothes; the wetness is being absorbed by the piece of cloth that surrounds my soul.
"Do you know where your home is?" The boy asked only out of courtesy, he would guess I wouldn't know.
I lifted my arm and pointed at the direction of the cabin he had just kidnapped me from. He gave me a look of concern and pity.