Baby Doll

Here I thought I would share a story that I wrote for the New York Times 100-word story competition.

“Baby Doll”

He clutched the baby doll in his hands, his rough calloused fingers running through the baby’s hair, the limp sagged arms guarding over the baby’s body as if it were his own. My grandad murmured a soft song, lips coming together and then apart, making out an old folklore tune. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 5 years ago, but despite losing the ability to remember, grandad hadn’t lost the ability to love. He sat under the light, patiently waiting for dinner, while he kept on rocking the baby in his arms, humming the soft tune to a plastic doll.