An Unsettling Home

Because I'd forgotten the doll, I almost had to retrace the route I'd taken while carrying all the things we'd bought at the market, but

after persuading her to let us buy the doll later, I didn't have to go to the trouble of turning back.

"I'm sorry we couldn't buy the doll today, Jua."

"It's okay! I want to hurry home and eat the hamburger steak Mommy makes!"

Normally, she wouldn't have listened to me and would have gone straight back to buy the doll, but she backed down at the mere mention that I was hungry.

I wasn't actually hungry, but I persuaded her and headed home in case I could use the excuse again later.

And the biggest reason was….

'The doll shop had been closed for a long time already.'

Dust was piled up in every corner of the shop, and its doors stayed shut even during the busiest time of day.

Cobwebs had spread throughout the completely neglected place, and antique dolls had already decayed and faded...