"THE DEAD TOYS''
Time was going great or at least, that's what I thought.
Ethan and I had been doing really well, and his family invited me over for dinner. I wore an off-shoulder white dress with pale pink flowers printed across it, along with the pearl set Mary gifted me on my birthday. Ethan came to pick me up, and we drove straight to their property. It was beautiful ,quiet and elegant.
His mother, Natalie, is incredibly kind. She's breathtaking, real and polite,the kind of woman people naturally admire. His father, on the other hand, seemed distant, but I didn't mind. I'm used to that… considering my own.
Dinner was lovely. Every dish was prepared perfectly. Anny and Eugene were there too, and we had a good conversation, though I could sense some tension between them. I didn't ask Ethan about it,we were having such a nice time, and the thought slipped away.
Later, we made out in his car then he dropped me home.
I was happy,truly happy.
Until Mary saw me.
She started asking questions,what happened, why my lipstick was smudged. Normally, I would've told her everything in detail, but something about her expression felt… off.
And don't think for a second this is because of a guy. Maymay has always been like this.
She's weird. Really weird.
While other kids played with toys, she made her own,from dead things. Things she killed.
Like our rabbit, Snow.
Even now, I can't forget what she did. She killed it, emptied its insides, and stuffed it with cotton just to keep it in her room. It smelled awful. Rotting and sweet at the same time.
And it wasn't just Snow. There were roaches, moths, bunnies… and cats.
God, the cats.
We had this black kitten with yellow eyes. Moody, distant,never liked Mary. So Mary killed it. I don't even know how, but I found it sealed in a plastic bag on her bed.
It must have struggled.
She did it for fun.
I told Father once. He didn't react. He was too busy with his clients.
Sometimes I still see her,talking to herself, practicing lines in the mirror, on the lawn, in the bathroom. She wants to be an actress. Something that will never happen… but I can't bring myself to tell her that.
She's changed a lot. But lately, I've been seeing that side of her again.
She talks to my porcelain dolls,the ones Grandma gifted me every year. The same doll, every birthday.
I have a whole collection now.
I love them.
I heard Mary screaming at Father today.
She was talking about leaving. About starting a new life. He told her no,said she wouldn't survive out there, that she knows nothing about the real world.
Later, I heard her coming upstairs, so I pretended to be on the phone with Ethan.
She walked in, looked at me… and gave me the strangest glare.Then she left.I want to help her. I really do.But I don't know how she'll react.
The next few pages are blank.
Until November.
Two months later.
Why didn't she write…?
Mary left.
She actually left.She was so determined to become an actress that she just… went.Her room is still the same. The stuffed animals, the preserved creatures,everything untouched. She only took her clothes… and one thing.
Her necklace.
The same one Mother used to wear.
A soft fabric necklace with a central eye-shaped pendant, detailed with fine stitching and a small dangling bead. It's delicate, almost haunting.
It's beautiful.
I hope she's okay. I call her every day,she never answers. Her phone is still on, though. Sometimes she posts pictures. She looks fine.
I just hope things work out for her.
As for me… Ethan and I are still doing great.
He's the one. I know it.
We went to brunch yesterday at Saint Étoile. It was amazing. He said he has something planned for me, but he won't tell me what.
I'm excited.
December.
He proposed.
I still can't believe it.
We were at his house again,his mother had invited me for dinner. Everyone was hiding smiles, and I knew something was happening… but this?
I am so fucking happy.
I'm engaged.
Everything feels perfect. Like life can't possibly get better than this.
Father was happy too when we got home.I just wish Mary were here.
God, please keep her safe.
January.
Anny and I went shopping today. It was such a nice day,we bought a few dresses, and I got this white handbag while she picked a blue one. Both were beautiful.
We even talked about going on a double date sometime.
Anny is such a safe space. And she has such a beautiful soul.I'm so glad she's my friend.
Maymay came home tonight.
I almost didn't recognize her.
She's thinner now. Pale. Her hair is cut short, and she's wearing black eyeliner. She looked broken.
And she was crying.
I didn't think.I just pulled her into a hug.
And then I felt it.
Her stomach.
Mary is pregnant.
I helped her shower and put her to bed. She's sleeping now.I don't know what happened to her.
I'll ask her tomorrow.