carousel.

She unlocked her drawer and pulled out the old carousel trinket her mother had given her years ago when she was but four years old.  She slowly placed it on her mahogany table and blew the dust off.  It swirled around for a moment, then vanished, never to be seen again.  She winded it up and watched in wonder as the horse went up and down, slowly rocking back and forth, and the music that had so often filled the nights of her childhood entranced her once again.  The gentle beat gave the girl a sudden blast of cold nostalgia.  Vivid memories of her innocent childhood clashed with her more recent ones and even overtook them for a moment.  Something about the music pierced her like a dagger straight through her stomach and she could not help but feel slightly haunted.  She couldn't explain what it was.  Her mind then went blank as she stood, her gaze fixated on the rotating representation of her lost childhood.  A single tear fell from her eyes as the carousel haulted.