The Promise

It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. My Dad had asked me why I was going outside alone so soon after Charlotte died. I told him I needed to be alone. He nodded silently and left the kitchen, leaving his half eaten casserole on his plate. I closed the front door, trying to escape my thoughts. I rolled up my sweat pants, tugged on my socks, adjusting them to my liking, finally pulling on my boots. I opened the front door again, and was surprised at how cold it was. My hair blew in my face as I shut it behind me. I walked toward the sidewalk, shivering.

I found myself wishing I was on a nice stroll, with a warm light on my face, but instead I was aimlessly wandering down the freezing street, I thought of my sister. I had always called her Sissy when I was younger, but now whenever her name was mentioned, it was always Charlotte. Calling her Sissy, just made tears drip down my face. I wiped my eyes, noticing they were watering. I stopped at a street checking left, then right. I quickly ran across, swallowing my fear. I slowed down, as I reached the other side of the road. Bumping into a man, I murmured an apology, with my head down. I walked, and read the names of stores in a shopping center just ahead. Sometimes it helped with the grief. Distractions were the best way to keep my mind off of her. I shook my head again trying to keep my thoughts on the stores. Daisy’s Doorknobs, How strange, but I guess people do what people want to do. Bob’s. What a weird name for a grocery store, Maybe Bob is the owner? Or the owner’s brother? I shrugged my shoulders as if to express my cluelessness to myself. Snow was still falling, and it now was completely dark. The streetlights turned on suddenly, I jumped, people brushed past me, no doubt heading home. The snow, so fresh on the sidewalks was like a blanket, soft and white. Shortly it would be messy, and brown from the busy foot traffic. I couldn’t help smiling at a family, two girls were playing together while the parents laughed and talked. The mother was holding a baby who was clapping happily at the girls. Me and Charlotte used to be just like that. We were so close, and happy together. But now she was gone, and now I could never be so happy like that again. I remember when we played at the playground together when we were very young. She would push me while I was on the swing, I once fell off and scratched my knee. I cried, and Charlotte comforted me. She always knew how to fix anything. within seconds I was back on the swing. Why did she have to go?! Does’t she know how lonely and sad I am?

I was lost in my thoughts as I walked to the back of the city. There were barely any streetlights and I felt myself shudder. I kept walking to a small store, it was closed.

“How weird”

I knew my curiosity would get the better of me.

“I’ll come back tomorrow”

I slowly walked back to my house, when I got there, I almost immediately went to bed. After brushing my teeth and saying goodnight to my dad, I jumped in bed, and read.

The next morning, I awoke with the book resting on my chest. There was still some snow on the ground but it had obviously melted quite a bit. Making my way downstairs, I smiled at my dad, he was making omelets, that was Her favorite breakfast. I ate fast, and after a quick "see you later." I headed out once again. Walking swiftly to the sidewalk, I retraced my steps from last night. There was Daisy’s Doorknobs and Bob’s Grocery Outlet. I ran to the back of the alley. Just as I thought my curiosity would get the better of me, there was the small store. A flickering neon sign reading,OPEN. I walked toward the store, it’s pathway was stony with weeds growing in between the cracks. The door opened with a creak, I took in a breath. Inside

were rows of cages, in the cages were cats, birds, bunnies and gerbils. The worker seemed surprised to see me. I mumbled a greeting and slowly walked into one of the aisles. This aisle had small cages with bunnies inside, I saw different colors, types and sizes but only one made me stop in my tracks. This bunny was creamy white with brown splotches, soft floppy ears framing its striking eyes. I guess it looked like your usual run of the mill bunny. Yet something made me stop. It’s eyes were sad, but hopeful, like it had not yet given up. I turned and walked toward the worker, a middle aged woman with long, straight, brown hair. I cleared my throat and she turned to look at me.

“Yes?”

“Um..I was wondering how old that bunny is.” I said, gesturing in the direction of my bunny.

“Oh..she’s a year old, and her story is quite sad, she was born in a litter of four, but she was the only one that survived.” She shook her head sadly. “Her mother was in here last week but was adopted so she’s all alone now.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say.

“If you want I can take her out, in a fence so you can meet her.” “Alright!”

The woman smiled and walked over to the rabbit, she unlocked the cage with silver keys she pulled from her pocket. The bunny kicked at her when she reached in the small crate, but in the end, let the woman pick her up.

The lady strolled over to a dog fence that was set up in a circle. She pulled open an end, and set the bunny inside, she gestured to me, and I walked forward into the enclosure. I sat down, and for a while she hopped around me, seeming happy to be out of her cage. After about 20 minutes she finally noticed me. I set a small apple piece in front of her, she sniffed at it looking up at me. I smiled as she grabbed the apple and hopped into a corner. When she finished, she skittered toward me and stopped right in front of me. She hopped into my lap and sniffed at my hands, I laughed. I stayed with her for about an hour. Then my dad called me home. I thanked the worker, hugged the bunny, and whispered to her,

“I’ll come back soon, I promise”

I left, not knowing if I would be able to keep that promise.

For the past couple weeks I’ve been visiting the bunny, and working, working so I can finally adopt her. I thought about the bunny and Charlotte. I remember the day we heard the news that Charlotte was in the hospital, from a terrible car crash. We rushed there, and they told us she was gone. I cried for days, refusing to leave my room. From that moment, I was terrified of roads, and driving. I haven’t driven since. The picture of the bunny flashed in my mind. Small, and sweet. I wanted her to be mine. I rested my head on my pillow, closing my eyes.

When I woke up, I checked my clock, 8:00 A.M. I guess I slept through the day. Heaving myself off my bed, after a big stretch, I made my way to the small living room.

“Good Morning”

“Finally awake?” My dad smiled.

I nodded, still half asleep.

Stumbling into the kitchen, a steaming cup of tea rested on the table. Drinking the steaming liquid as fast as I could, I thanked my dad, and started my trek out to the pet store. I walked for

half an hour, I was slow this morning, the sidewalk was crowded. People were rushing both ways, probably to get to work. Then I saw it, the store, the roof covered in snow. The soft blinking light of the open sign welcoming me. Carefully making my way over the icy sidewalk. I opened the door, to see the familiar face of the girl who worked there, Lucy. I smiled at her and went to the kennel where the bunny normally was. I frowned. She wasn’t there.

“uh-Lucy? Where’s the bunny?”

“She was adopted this morning, isn’t that great?”

I nodded, blinking back tears.

This morning, I finally had enough money to adopt her, but it was too late.

“I um..have to go” I mumbled.

As soon as I got outside I burst into tears. I sadly walked home, bumping into people.

When I finally got home, the snowing had stopped, the sky was a dark gray, and it looked like it was going to rain. As if the cloud read my thoughts, it started to sprinkle, I quickly walked to the porch, trying not to get wet. I opened the door, and my dad wasn’t there. I searched the house.

“Dad?”

I checked my room, and there he was, sitting down, his back facing me. I walked over to him,

and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to me and smiled. That's when I noticed a small, white and brown lump in his lap. I gasped. The bunny looked up at me. I smiled, tears in my eyes.

“But-how?”

Now it was my dad’s turn to smile.

“I was wondering where you had been going these past few weeks, so yesterday I followed you, and met this little bundle of joy."

I hugged him.

“Thank you Dad”

He grinned and handed me the bunny, she hopped out of my lap, and zoomed around the room, she finally stopped in front of me, and fell asleep. I smiled and stroked her floppy ears.

“What should we name her?” My dad asked me.

“Charlotte. We should name her Charlotte” I smiled.

“I love you Dad, and I love you Charlotte”

The bunny seemed to smile, and at that moment I felt like Charlotte was sitting next to me, stroking the bunny’s soft ears.

I will love you forever Charlotte and that, I promise.