WP New Stories' One-Shot Story Contest

Entry 23: The Rabbit's Mask

The only thing I knew that I exist in her world was to help her fixing her shattered soul. Trapped in her dark uncertainties, I knew all along that I could help this little girl, weeping in this shadowy place, wanting to fade away in her real nightmares, and gave her luminosity in these odd daydreams that she alone created. This place was her dying heart, where there was nothing left to feel but this profound loneliness and unsounded pain.  She wordlessly hid in this murky world because she had thought that solitude made her feel home and safe.

“I am scared,” she said, rubbing her tiny little fingers on her pale, wet cheeks. Her solemn eyes were still fixed at me. It was like I did see a pure soul, lost and forgotten, yet strong deep within. “Tell me, Mr. Rabbit. How do you find me?”

I smiled at her question, hoping that this smile of mine, plastered unto my rabbit’s mask could make her feel fine even for a while. “I am Mr. Rabbit,” I stood in her front, holding my black hat, while taking my bow. “I have this magic. I can easily appear anywhere if I want to. And this place, my little girl, is my world.” I saw her brown eyes glistened for a moment then eventually died too. I gradually sat beside her, underneath this old oak tree, in which its leaves were no longer there and the only thing left was a bittersweet memory of a love story that I painfully recalled in a sudden blinked of my rabbit’s eyes.

“Can I hug you?” she asked sheepishly. I tried to back away but her vulnerability made me frozen on the spot as she slowly rapped her arms around me and her fragile body pressed against mine. It was so odd, about this weird feeling, since she was so warm when all her cold emotions were visibly appeared through her eyes.  His warmth embrace made me feel calm and for that instant, I almost felt like something had hit me hard from the inside.

I took a glimpse from her innocent face, wishing that this was really my world, but I knew that it was a lie. How a pure soul like her cornered in these beautiful daydreams? Just like me…

I wanted to touch her skin since the day that I had seen her, but all of a sudden, everything became hazy, and the next thing I knew, I found myself in my own bedroom. Alone. Forgotten. Unhappy.  Why did I have to wake up in this vindictive reality?

Closing my weary eyes, I still could feel her warm in my body. I should have given that silly, little girl a light, but she had given me something instead. Ruffling my hair, I began to walk towards this huge mirror not too far from me. I saw my own reflection, still wearing this invisible rabbit’s mask to fool everyone’s perception. This was easy than fighting something that I knew I would definitely failed. This was my reality. This was my life and I was born with heavy chains ever since. I had no freedom, no dream, and no happiness.

I heard a sudden knock on my door. I heaved a sigh. Hesitantly, I touched the royalty crown and put it in my head. This daily routine made my heart numb and the man that I’d become was all they wanted me to be.

Time to face the reality...

“Your Highness,” a servant smiled at me but there was no warm unlike her, “Your father is expecting you to come in their small gathering. The long day is finally approaching and you must be prepared before that big day comes.”

Yeah. The big day. I should be happy but I couldn’t even smirk. Wearing this facade, I showed her a slight laugh and then gave her this grin so vivid that even she wouldn’t notice about this blankness that I felt within. All I ever wanted was to be free and ran away from all of this. But I was never been that selfish. After all, in their hopeful eyes, I was still their respected prince.

“I will be there,” I said.

She stepped back, bowed down to me, before she turned around and left me here alone.