I wandered through the gardens, seeking an escape from my mother's endless summonings. She paraded me around like a well-groomed dog, introducing me to any man with good looks. It angered me immensely. Just thinking of it made me want to kick something.
Spotting an old oak tree, I hiked up my skirts and ran towards it, noting the leaves that hid the branches from sight. As a child, I'd climbed plenty of trees with my cousins Alice and Phillip. I didn't think I'd lost the skill.
I stepped onto a gnarled root, using it as leverage to reach up to a low-hanging branch. I scaled the tree until I was about six feet off the ground, then I settled back against the trunk, swinging my legs and singing softly to myself.
~~~
The tree's leaves formed a circle around me, making me invisible to my mother and the stuck-up men she tried to marry me off to. I was more peaceful here than I was at my own home. I hadn't seen Alice or Phillip, but it was their party, so I assumed they would be with the guests, not sitting in a tree avoiding people. The thought made me kind of guilty, and I broke off my song. Alice and Phillip had been my closest companions when we were five. Ten years later, and we'd been as distant as strangers.
My reverie was interrupted when I heard footsteps coming closer to my sanctuary. I peered down at the ground and saw a white rabbit near the roots of the tree. I relaxed, but realized with a jolt that the rabbit was wearing a waistcoat and holding a watch. He looked up at me, and his gaze was intelligent.
"Excuse me, were you the one singing?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. I blinked rapidly.
"Y-yes," I said, offering him an awestruck half-smile.
"It was very pretty."
"Thank you." I didn't question the rabbit's ability to talk. I didn't even think I was dreaming. Every night, I wished for some magic. I wasn't about to pass this magic up.
"Well, miss," The rabbit said, and he checked his watch. Suddenly, a blinding light flashed, making me flinch. When I looked down, I saw a white-haired boy with rabbit ears looking up at me with a smile. "Would you come to Wonderland with me?"
