The Doll

Author: Alaina Hammond


Alaina Hammond is a poet, playwright, fiction writer, and visual artist. Her poems, short stories, paintings, drawings and photographs have been published both online and in print. Publications include Nomad’s Choir Poetry Journal, The Word’s Faire, Littoral Magazine, Spinozablue, Third Wednesday Magazine, [Alternate Route], Paddler Press, Verse-Virtual, Macrame Literary Journal, Route 7 Review, Sublunary Review, Quail Bell Magazine, Assignment Literary Magazine, Superpresent, Jelly Squid, redrosethorns, Flash Frog, Clockwise Cat, Ranger Magazine, and Troublemaker Firestarter.

Eight of Jordy’s friends were cheering for him, when he asked me to our senior prom. My brother was among them.
The friends took turns hugging me in the air. I remember the feeling of them passing me around.
I don’t remember saying yes, but the video shows that I did.

That video—of his request, and my response, and the response to the response— went viral. Thousands of likes in a matter of days.
Two weeks later, there were “genuine journalists” waiting for us. To document as Jordy put the corsage on my wrist
I felt the light of multiple camera phones as we danced in the center of the gym.
I’ve seen the news footage of him placing the prom queen tiara upon my brow.
I haven’t heard from him in two years. My brother tells me he’s happy at Princeton.
For a moment, I was his Down Syndrome Doll. His trophy, who proved to the world that he was a good boy.
And I wish that his fingers against my dress would have at least been a little less sweaty.