The room was lit by nothing but the white fairy lights around the pine tree. At the top of it was a small, elegant angel, with her hands out as if to embrace you. The joyous light, however, barely touched the tip of the corner cabinet. Within it were the soulless bodies of previous holiday dolls.

This new one was a pink-haired, big, bright-eyed beauty with a simple white dress. She’d hadn’t come with many accessories, but the child’s mother could only afford the basic package. The child didn’t mind, though. She was just happy that it was Christmas and didn’t have to track along in the foot of snow outside for school.

But she had forgotten a most important thing: she hadn’t given the doll a name.

It was normal wasn’t it to name a doll when you received it? You would understand that this doll would be your new friend. One that would be there when you were lonely and cried your heart out. And one whose loyalty would never waver.

As the doll opened her eyes and examined her surroundings, she had realized it was quite dark. Much unlike the sunlight she’d awakened to earlier. At least I have the tree lights, she thought.

Her gaze shifted to the wood beneath her and the dust that collected around her clean dress and outstretched legs. Before she knew it, she had leaned forward to reach out and brush the dust away. She paused, shocked. She had moved! How was that possible?

She tried to lift one of her legs, but she only managed to raise it two centimeters before it dropped like lead. She supposed she would have trouble doing simple things such as walking, given she’d been in the box for so long.

Next, she attempted smaller gestures with her arms and bent them slowly at the joint. It was slow, but she managed to do it after several minutes. Well, if she couldn’t move her legs, she could at least wave to others.

“Don’t get any funny ideas,” a high-pitched female voice said.

Startled, the doll whipped her head to the side, following the voice. She winced when she did so as the joint wasn’t used to moving.

The doll that had spoken earlier had dark hair, honey-colored eyes, a bright blue dress with white trim and little white shoes that matched. Her face was smiling, but the doll couldn’t help but feel there was a glare itching to be revealed under her face.

“Who are you?” asked the doll.

She scoffed. “I’m—“ she paused suddenly, closing her eyes. “Bella? Bellina? Something of the sort.”

“Do you not… remember your name?” Surely one wouldn’t forget that, the doll thought.

The unsure-of-her-name doll fell silence for a long moment. “It’s because Marie has almost forgotten it.”

“Marie? You mean the sweet little girl I had met earlier?” The doll couldn’t help the eagerness in her voice. She had been quite taken by her and her lovely smile.

“Yes, the same one. Call me Bella for now, No Name.”

No Name? Of course, she had a name! It was… She couldn’t think of it. Marie had given her a name. It was just slipping her mind right now.

Bella noticed her frustration. “Ah, as I thought. She didn’t give you name,” she mocked. “Typical.”

“What do you know of it anyway?” the doll snapped. “I just got here. Marie probably just needs some time to think of the perfect one. Naming your new friend is very important.”

“I know because I was once that very friend you speak of, No Name. I was her present last year.” Bella’s voice softened. “She and I played for hours and hours. The day would be over practically by the time it started. Then one day, we didn’t play. Then a few more days passed by. It went on until her mother put me in here with the other rejects.”

The doll tried to imagine Marie doing such a thing. At first, she had planned to argue with Bella about such accusations, but her words failed her when she saw two other dolls near Bella. They didn’t speak, didn’t move, and showed no signs of life. Dust and stains covered their once pretty dresses. Their hair was in tangles and their braids uneven and matted.

She lowered her head in shame. Bella might have been mean, but she was telling the truth. Marie had a history of abandoning her friends. “Is there nothing I can do?”

Bella’s gaze remained forward. “I don’t believe so. You may last a full year, but the moment she gets another or grows bored with you, you will stay in this cabinet, collect dust like the rest of us and eventually lose your will to remain.”

“What do you mean ‘lose your will to remain?’”

A small crack filled the silence between them, as if something had struck Bella. “It means… you will no longer have a soul, No Name. You will… go somewhere—far away from this place and never return.”

The doll felt her own joints go stiff. She didn’t know if she had a heart, but it broke at the Bella’s words. Where do the souls of the forgotten dolls go once they leave their bodies? Perhaps they were sent to a dark void to wander forever alone and heartbroken, or they vanish as if they never existed.

What could she do? If Marie decided they were no longer friends, she would be doomed to such a fate.

“It’s what the humans call ‘death,’ if you wanted to know,” said Bella. “And no, I don’t know where we go, so don’t bother asking.”

The doll felt her anger rise. “You could stand to be a little kinder to others, you know. Such rudeness shouldn’t become you.”

“To quote your own words: ‘what do you know?’” Bella hissed. “I’ve been around here longer than you have. I’ve got a at least a year on your few days.”

“A… few days?” the doll asked, stunned. Had it been that long since that morning? Why hadn’t she awakened until now? Where was Marie? Goodness, was she all right?

Bella looked at her mockingly. “You didn’t know that either? It’s been three days since you came in here.”

“Where is Marie? She wouldn’t have forgotten me!” the doll’s voice raised.

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“How should I know, No Name?”

Bella was getting out of line. And the doll had her fill of it. “Stop calling me that! I have a name—or at least I will have one! You are the one who doesn’t even know her given name. Who is really the ‘No Name’ here? Perhaps it would be best if we just stopped talking at once!”

The doll’s shouts echoed through the cabinet; loud enough to cause her ears to ring. After a moment, silence fell once again. This time, Bella hadn’t argued.

~*~

Many hours passed as the doll watched as the dark night sky turned to day. While she was still writhing with anger from what Bella had said to her, observing the sunrise had been a welcoming sight. She couldn’t get over how the entire world ignited and glowed in the sun’s presence. It was enough to bring tears to one’s eye, if the doll had such a thing, of course.

It wasn’t long before the thundering sound of footsteps came down the steps. The doll prayed it was Marie, but it was her mother. There were dark circles around her eyes, her blond hair was frizzy and unbrushed. She seemed frantic in her steps, like something was terribly wrong.

The doll stilled, unsure of why she could not move, but she could still listen as Marie’s mother picked up a strange device and spoke into it.

“I need the medicine today… Yes, I know it’s the holidays…. No, it can’t wait until tomorrow.” Marie’s mother sighed, pinching her nose. “All right. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Marie’s mother put down the device and came straight to the cabinet, opened the door, and looked around for a moment before her gaze landed on the doll herself. The doll watched as Marie’s mother grabbed her torso and took her out of the cabinet.

Everything happened in a blur as Marie’s mother took her up the stairs and into a cracked doorway. Then, the doll saw a lump in a bundle of blankets with a pattern of a princess wearing a pink dress and a beautiful tiara made of silver.

“Marie? Honey? I have to go out for a little bit, but I brought you your new friend to keep you company,” her mother said softly, pulling back the blankets to expose Marie’s redden face and wet nose.

Goodness, was she sick?

The doll had her answer when she was brought forth to Marie. A small smile crossed her face when she grabbed a hold of her. Poor thing. She really is sick, the doll thought as Marie cuddled her and pulled the blankets overtop of them.

Marie’s mother kissed her daughter on the head. “I’ll be back. You stay in bed with… What did you name her?”

“I haven’t yet. I don’t know what to call her,” Marie murmured.

“Oh,” her mother said. “Well, why don’t you think of one while I’m gone? Everyone needs a name, don’t you think?”

Marie shrugged, not responding. Bella’s words suddenly came back in the doll’s mind as she watched Marie’s mother leave the room.

Shifting her body more times than the doll could count, Marie finally sat up and stared at her for a long time. Her face was scrunched as their gazes met. “What about… Libby? I knew someone named that once, before Mama made us move far away. No, I should give you something better. What about Lu Lu? You kinda look like a Lu Lu.”

This was it. She was being given a name!

The doll contemplated the name ‘Lu Lu” and decided that she liked it very much. It had a nice ring to it. She couldn’t wait to tell Bella about this. No more “No Name” for her.

~*~

Lu Lu was barely with Marie before her mother had returned and taken her away so that Marie could eat some soup. Although she hated the thought of leaving her sick friend behind, she knew it was for the best, so that Marie could get better.

Lu Lu. Lu Lu. She kept repeating her name in her mind. She wanted Marie to say her name aloud again. It was like a song that she’d never tire of. Lu Lu. Lu Lu.

“What are you so happy about?” said Bella, breaking her out of her happy trance.

“Marie gave me a name!” she cried happily. “And you thought I wouldn’t get one.”

Bella rolled her eyes. “Good for you.”

“She is very ill, though, but her mother got her some medicine. I’m sure she will get better soon and then we can play all day long.” Lu Lu started imagining what they would do together. Maybe Marie would take her outside and they could play in the snow. She’d never been in it herself, but it was so pretty that it must be wonderful to be in.

“Marie… is sick?” Bella’s voice was small. Hurt.

Lu Lu turned to face Bella. “Well, yes, but like I said, her mother gave her some medicine. She’ll get better soon.”

Bella was quiet for several minutes. She only broke the silence when laughter from the kitchen echoed into the living room, followed by a violent cough from what Lu Lu assumed was Marie.

“You don’t understand how lucky you are,” said Bella. “I haven’t been with Marie in a long time, but I remember all our tea parties and naps. The way she would smile every time she woke up in the morning and immediately took ahold of me and I traveled with her through all her adventures. It’s broken a part of me I can’t name. I can feel myself slipping further away from her with each day.”

For the first time since they met, Lu Lu felt pity for Bella. She hadn’t quite realized just how much in pain the poor old doll was in. Lu Lu knew that if she was in Bella’s position, she would be just as heartbroken.

Her journey with Marie was just beginning. Bella’s journey was ending.

Was there no way to save Bella from the void? Death, was what humans called it? Was it possible to prevent such finality?

An idea sparked in Lu Lu’s mind, and she summoned all her will to move her body toward Bella’s. The first movement didn’t quite help her as she fell hard on her side, but she didn’t let it stop her.

Forcing her joints to bend, she pulled with her arms and pushed with her stiff legs. She wouldn’t let Marie forget about Bella. Not if she had anything to say about it.

“What on earth are you doing?” Bella asked, her honey-colored eyes widened.

Grunting, Lu Lu pushed forward. She moved slowly, but with each strained movement, she slowly got closer to Bella and eventually, could place her hand in hers.

Bella’s body shifted. “What—”

“My name is Lu Lu. That was the name Marie decided to call me. Just because I am the new doll in this cabinet doesn’t mean Marie forgot about you,” Lu Lu said, meeting Bella’s gaze.

Bella simply stared at her in astonishment, which encouraged Lu Lu to continue. “I won’t let you become a No Name. I won’t let you suffer the void.”

“Why would you try to help me?” Bella asked. “I have been nothing but cruel to you. This is my fate. It is the fate of all dolls, eventually. Nothing can last forever.”

Lu Lu didn’t back down. “Maybe not forever, Bella. But that doesn’t mean we will face the void today.”

~*~

Darkness fell upon the house again, signaling another day has ended. Marie and her mother did not return to the cabinet, but Lu Lu had heard them going up the steps again. Marie’s mother was probably putting her to bed for the night.

They spent most of their day in front of a picture show that sang songs and caused many bursts of laughter and throwing of small, popped kernels. “Popcorn,” she thinks Marie’s mother called it.

Marie’s laugh was music to Lu Lu’s ears, but as much as she wanted to be with Marie, she needed to stay with Bella. The dark-haired doll hadn’t said a word since Lu Lu moved to hold her hand. Perhaps it was for the best. Bella was probably trying to prevent herself from jinxing her chances of being with Marie again.

Despite their earlier arguments, Lu Lu had enjoyed being with Bella like this. It was like having another friend. Someone she could help in their time of need. It was a wonderful feeling, even if Bella didn’t think the same.

To Lu Lu, Bella was as much her friend as Marie was.

Soft footsteps came down the stairs, which brought Bella to attention. She attempted to nudge Lu Lu off of her, but Lu Lu refused to move. “Trust me,” she whispered.

Bella stiffened but didn’t argue as they watched Marie come into view, rubbing her tired eyes. She looked around; her eyes narrowed until her gaze landed on the cabinet. Pulling out a nearby chair, Marie climbed atop of the seat and opened the cabinet doors.

Her head titled, confused. “Lu Lu, why are you on your side like that?” Her eyes widened as if she recalled something. “Baylee! I haven’t seen you in forever. Are you and Lu Lu friends?”

Marie picked them up and hopped off the chair. She then went over to the couch and placed them neatly beside one another. “Stay right here. I’m going to get us some cookies!”

Once Marie was out of sight, Lu Lu looked at her friend with awe. “Baylee,” she murmured. “My name is Baylee.”

“It’s nice to properly meet you, Baylee,” said Lu Lu. Their eyes met and Lu Lu placed her hand atop Baylee’s. “Let’s have a good day.”

“Thank you… for believing in me.”

Lu Lu felt herself lighten. “That’s what friends are for.”