Alice comforts Kate one day, knowing that she is sad
Kate never imagined she could have such tense silence with her own rabbit.
Max had just dropped Alice off back in Kate’s room. Although all of the furniture was in its rightful place, everything was off, indicative of the sweep security had made through her room while she was gone. She was glad it wasn’t like one of those scenes where the frustrated police officers trash a room out of contempt - it was neat, and the same, and yet unfamiliar.
At least Alice was back where she belonged. But Kate felt like she owed her an apology.
Kate wasn’t getting anywhere staring at Alice from her bed. This wouldn’t do.
She stood and approached the cage, but Alice made no moves, conveyed no expectations of being released. Even when she unlatched the cage and pulled Alice out, she just hung in her hands until Kate set her down on the floor. Even then, on the floor, Alice simply kept an eye on Kate from arm’s reach away, almost unmoving except for the rocking motion of her breathing.
Kate knew things couldn’t just go back to the way they were. The way things had been had made her miserable, long before that video ever ended up online or she had been taken. She wanted them to just get better, like seemingly everyone had promised when they’d seen her or sent her notes in the hospital.
Now that she was back here, it seemed like everyone just wanted to ignore her, except maybe her old friends, and even they were tense. Even Alice.
“Alice?” Kate asked.
Predictably, there was no response.
Kate sighed, shifting her attention to the door, the ceiling, the mirror that someone had uncovered.
“Alice, I’m sorry that I was gone. I know Max probably made a good mommy, but that wasn’t right. You didn’t know what was going on.”
Kate wondered if she should feel ridiculous. Everyone had insisted that she not apologize to them, had instead apologized to her. Even Victoria. But Alice wasn’t pretending to feel sorry. She had been abandoned, and that one-eyed look was unforgiving.
“But I’m here now. And I’m not going to leave you again, okay?”
Kate offered out her hand to scratch Alice behind the ears, but Alice made no move to approach.
And, just a little bit, that broke Kate’s heart. Alice always, always loved her unconditionally. Kate knew that was still true, but there was a trust broken.
Kate returned her hand to her lap, and although her throat felt constricted, she remained determined.
She had one more idea. She hoped Alice would accept.
Kate hummed for a few seconds to get the tune in mind, and then so softly that it could barely be considered singing, began,
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
As Kate sang, finally, finally, Alice seemed to acknowledge her, and she stood up on her hind legs for a few seconds.
Kate smiled, but continued to sing, offering out her hand. Alice ignored it, instead walking right up to Kate and hopping up into her lap.
Kate pet along her soft fur as she kept going.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Kate wasn’t sure if that meant Alice forgave her or not. But it was enough.