Gemotions

The porcelain doll, her childhood companion, sat on the shelf, its painted eyes staring blankly ahead. Her stepmother, a woman of ruthless ambition, had made the pronouncement. "It's time, Alice. We're downsizing."

Alice felt the color drain from her face. She felt a sharp, sudden pain in her chest, as if something had snapped. She stared at the doll, a flood of memories washing over her.

She felt a strange disconnect, like she was witnessing her own life from afar. The elegant lines of the living room, once a source of comfort, now seemed like a prison. She could barely manage to breath.