17 Feb 2019, 01:05
The Rabbit Casket
"He's in Heaven now, Pavvy. There, he'll have all the vegetables he can ever want."PAVLINA
June 11, 2014
Warm, summer air graced Pavlina’s features as she, her father, and her dearest sister exit the cool interior of their home to face the rolling, green hills that were her family’s property. Overhead, the sun shone brightly and the skies were as blue as ever - what a perfect day it could have been, Pavlina thought, had the situation not been so heartbreaking.
As the girls followed their father down a stony path between several rows of hedges, Pavlina staggered behind, her knuckles turning white from how tightly she was holding a small, cardboard box; her bunny’s makeshift casket. The last thing she wanted was to drop him. He was resting so peacefully inside. “Yeah, and now you’ll actually have to eat all of your vegetables, Phae. You can’t just drop them under the dinner table for Houdini anymore,” joked Pavlina, in an attempt to uplift the overall mood. She couldn’t muster any more tears. The teenager had cried all that she could already.
“...She did what, now?” her father chimed in disbelief as he quickly worked the latch on the garden’s gate with one hand, his other carrying a large shovel. Though he was not facing her, Pavlina was certain that she had heard a chuckle in his tone, and it somewhat eased her. With a loud clunk, the gate was opened and both girls went through as Giannis waited to close it again after them.
“It was one time!” whined the seven-year-old before taking off, full sprint, to the grassy, open area where Pavlina chose for her pet to lay. There were all kinds of wildflowers growing nearby, and Phaedra had wanted to pick some to decorate the box for burial. Their father had proclaimed that it was a sweet and mature gesture for someone so young, and Pavlina agreed. Death's inevitability and the unfairness of life was important for her little sister to understand. In a way, Pavlina felt relieved that it was only a rabbit whose life was taken, otherwise, the young girl’s introduction to such a life lesson would have been much more traumatising.
Following in the direction after her sister, Pavlina made sure to slow down her strolling so that her limping father could catch up. Once he was beside her, she did not hesitate to blurt out what had been tormenting her since that dreadful morning. Her sister was too distant away to hear now. That was good.
“Dad,” Pavlina started, getting her father’s attention despite the softness of her voice. Meeting his dark eyes, she continued on, slightly wavering, “...Why did mum kill my rabbit?”
