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The room they had brought me to was massive, far larger than the office we had just been in. Its openness felt almost suffocating, the space too wide, too bright, and too filled with things I didn't understand. The high ceilings stretched above me, the light from wide windows spilling across the room and casting everything in a soft golden glow. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books, strange objects, and polished trinkets that caught the light like tiny stars. There were tables and chairs scattered throughout the room, their surfaces covered in neat piles of papers, more books, and delicate decorations that seemed too fragile to touch.

My eyes darted around, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff. There were so many things I couldn't name or place. Everything felt sharp and busy, nothing like the quiet simplicity of the woods I called home. My gaze landed on the rug beneath my feet, its soft fur texture catching my attention. It was pale, like the colour of dried grass under frost, and I wished I wasn't wearing the socks Esme had given me. They were strange, too snug around my toes, and they dulled the sensation of the rug beneath me. If I could feel it fully, I thought it would be soft, not warm like my rabbit, but comforting differently.

My focus drifted downward, grounding myself in the familiar weight of the rabbit in my lap. It had settled comfortably there, its small body curled into itself, its fur brushing against my hands as I gently stroked it. It felt good to touch something familiar, something real. My fingers moved carefully along its back, tracing the delicate curve of its spine. The rabbit twitched slightly at first, its nose wriggling as it adjusted itself in my lap, but it didn't seem to mind my touch.

I let out a small breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding, my fingers combing through its soft fur. It was so much better now, so much livelier than it had been before. I smiled faintly as it shifted, nuzzling into the crook of my arm. The warmth of its body seeped into my skin, soothing the strange unease that always crept up on me in places like this.

"You're soft," I whispered to it, my voice barely audible in the vastness of the room. "And warm."

The rabbit's ears twitched slightly, its small, steady breaths brushing against my wrist. I ran my fingers gently along its side, careful not to press too hard. It was mine, and it was fragile, and I needed to be cautious.

The room around me faded as I focused on the rabbit, the overwhelming brightness and noise of unfamiliar objects retreating into the background. All that mattered was the small, warm creature in my lap, the steady rhythm of its breathing, and the softness of its fur under my fingertips.

For a brief moment, the house's strangeness didn't feel so suffocating.

I stayed like that for a while, sitting cross-legged on the rug with the rabbit nestled securely in my lap. My fingers traced absent patterns through its fur, the steady rhythm of its breathing grounding me. The rest of the room was too big and full of things I didn't understand, but as long as I kept my eyes on the rabbit or the rug, the strangeness felt distant, like it wasn't pressing down on me as much.

The rug caught my attention again. I shifted my feet against it, the fabric brushing faintly against the soles of the socks. I wanted to feel it properly, press my bare toes into the soft fur, and see if it was as nice as I thought. My hands stilled for a moment on the rabbit as I considered pulling the socks off, but the thought of doing something like that here under their watch made me hesitate.

"You seem calmer now." 

Esme's voice startled me, gentle as it was. My head snapped up, my arms instinctively tightening around the rabbit. She was standing nearby, her hands clasped lightly in front of her, her golden eyes soft and watchful. She smiled when our eyes met, a faint but reassuring expression that didn't feel like a threat, but I still didn't relax entirely.

"You've done so well with it," she said, her gaze flicking briefly to the rabbit in my lap. "It looks much happier. Stronger, too."

I didn't respond; I just looked back down at the rabbit as if to confirm her words. It was twitching its nose again, its little body warm and steady against me. It was stronger now, and I felt a small surge of pride in that.

"It's lucky to have you," Esme continued, her tone warm but soft enough that it didn't overwhelm me. She stepped closer, her movements slow and careful, before lowering herself gracefully into a chair nearby. "You've cared for it so well. You're very gentle."

Her words lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a strange, invisible warmth. I wasn't used to people talking to me like that, not with kindness. It made my chest feel tight in a way I couldn't describe. Instead, I focused on stroking the rabbit, letting my fingers move in slow, careful motions.

After a moment, Carlisle entered the room, his footsteps quiet despite the vastness of the space. He carried a small wooden box in his hands, and he stopped a few feet away from me, his golden eyes scanning me and the rabbit with the same calm precision he always seemed to carry.

"I thought this might help," he said, his voice measured and soft. He crouched down slowly, placing the box on the floor near me before opening it. Inside were small bundles of dried herbs, bits of hay, and what looked like a few pieces of fresh vegetables. "It's food for your rabbit. Things it might like."

I stared at the box, my fingers pausing on the rabbit's back. It was a kind gesture, but something about it felt strange. Not wrong, exactly, but deliberate. Like he was trying too hard to make me stay here. I glanced up at him, his calm face revealing nothing but an easy, patient expression.

"Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely audible as I reached out with one hand to pick up a small piece of hay. The rabbit stirred slightly, its nose twitching as I brought the food closer to it. It nibbled hesitantly, and a faint smile tugged at my lips.

Carlisle's expression didn't change, but his golden eyes brightened just slightly as if he was pleased by the sight. "It seems to trust you more and more," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "Animals can sense care. They know when they're safe."

Safe. That word hung heavy in the air between us, and I felt its weight settle uneasily in my chest.

"It likes me," I said softly, my eyes fixed on the rabbit. "Because I don't hurt it."

"That's right," Esme said, her voice warm but faintly insistent. "And you're safe here too. For as long as you want to stay."

I didn't look up, my fingers still running gently over the rabbit's fur. The idea of staying here longer made my stomach twist, but I couldn't deny how much better the rabbit was now. It was stronger and warmer, and I didn't want to ruin that.

"I'll... think about it," I whispered, the words feeling strange and heavy on my tongue.

Neither of them pushed further, but their silence felt deliberate as if they were waiting for me to settle into the idea on my own. I stayed where I was, my attention focused solely on the rabbit, trying to ignore the way the house around me seemed to press in closer.

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2nd decmeber 2024

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