REPLACED

It was a beautiful day with the sun gleaming outside the window. As Sasha woke up from her sleep, she hugged me tight and kissed my cheek with delight. She said it was a holiday for her and would dedicate her whole day to me. I was instantly excited. Off late, things had not been great with her. She wouldn't spend much time with me, saying she was busy with her work. But I understood. As long as she loved me, it didn't matter.
As she got out of the room, someone called out to her. She went acknowledging that person and didn't turn up for a very long time. I kept waiting.
When she came back, she seemed apologetic. I forgave her. She said it was important and was related to her work. But she wouldn't tell me what work it was. I kept silent. I wasn't the kind to get mad at her and create a ruckus. I always endured the pain with dignity.

When she finally sat on the bed talking to me, I felt great. She told me about her friends, her parents, her share of happiness and troubles. In between her words, she began to break down emotionally. She cried as she hugged me tightly, her tears rolling down my back. I was there for her. I smiled at her, made her believe that everything would be all right. And magically, it was. She stopped crying and told me she felt better. She thanked me for always being there. I started to believe that I was over thinking about her strange behaviour. I felt happy that she was here again, with me.
But within moments, she got caught up with her work again and left me rotting alone.

I was hurt, crying inside my head. All I needed was her attention and love, but she took all of mine and never gave it back. She was using me in her desperate times and left me when she felt better. I didn't feel alive anymore. I felt helpless and hopeless. I wanted to run away, but I couldn't.

I began to deteriorate. My body got worn off, I was hurt physically. As my condition worsened, Sasha drew away from me further. She made herself a new friend, who evidently replaced me. I just sat there, watching them do all the things we had done during the good old days.
Until one fine day, Sasha's mother came in and pulled me away. She said I wasn't needed anymore. I was broken into pieces as my little fur came off, my eyes were pulled apart and her mother threw this useless little soft toy into the garbage bin.

My selfless love wasn't needed more, apparently. But I still loved her, unconditionally.
Goodbye Sasha!

                      ---THE END---

As a kid, I loved soft toys (Why, I love them even now). Before I grew up, I used to treat my soft toys as living things-my friends or my siblings. I'd play with them like they're alive. I was very much attached to each one of them. Giving them away or throwing them used to hurt me. I used to wonder, what if these soft toys have feelings like I do? What if me leaving them alone depressed them?
These thoughts of childhood served as an inspiration to write this story.

Soft toys and dolls were my imaginary friends. Do share your thoughts on your attachment with soft toys as a kid!