Private A Home I Left Behind

Filomena's ears quirked at the quiet whisper. This form gave her exceptional hearing and those words gave her hope. Was that it? Had she convinced him of her identity? It was not. "My exploration journal." She answered, her voice hoarse. Would nothing prove herself to him? But wasn't it her fault? For vanishing for thirty years without any contact.

Father had every right to believe her dead, and that the young rabbit woman before him was a fraud. "I would go into the woods by our home and fill out my exploration journal." She wiped her fuzzy eyes with a paw. "I drew maps, made notes on the animals I saw and where. Sometimes I'd bring home insects or rocks I found pretty. Once, a snake I thought was well-behaved but was actually very sick and died just as I brought it in the house."

She continued. "You and mother were always punishing me for not coming home on time. I was always late for dinner." She shook her head, "And I was never satifsfied with the woods. I wanted to go further. Go to new places."

"Father." Filomena knew she had gotten through. He took a step forward and she bounded of the chair and into his arms. Being small like this, she could almost pretend she was a child again. Back to simpler times. "I was foolish, father." Meena sniffed, her voice heavy and rough. "I sh-should never-! Never have-" Should have never vanished.

"I took you for granted." She said. "You and mother and my siblings. All these decades, all the sorrow I must have brought upon you." The weary caution, the hesitance, what must her poor sisters and mother have gone through as well. "I must apologize to mother and Anzu."

Daughter of mine. Filomena sniffed and wrapped her arms as tight around her father as she could. It hurt, to hear that mother was far off in the Narrow Reality. It would make seeing her again difficult, but if meeting in person could not be arranged then letters would do. Meena would send a million letters to her mother, whatever it took to let mother and daughter reconnect.

"I'm sorry to hear that father." Meena gave a light squeeze. "And I'm sorry I could not be there for you. Or her. What of Azu and Celeste? Are they on the island? Are they well?"

It felt good to hear that mother would be overjoyed to hear from her. She missed her mother. Missed the sound of her voice and the smell of her perfume. Funny all the things one miss when they have been gone for so long. And to hear that Celeste was on the island was equally nice. Perhaps Celeste could give her advice on how to reconnect with the family once again.

Father hugged her tight and that is when a feeling of dread sunk in. He took a deep breath. Filomena's paws tensed, her short claws gently tugged on father's shirt with the motion. Azu. . . dead? Meena couldn't imagine it. The very idea of Azu gone was. . . it was impossible. She could not imagine world where her sister did not live.

"Zoraida. . . and. . . Jeremiah?" Filomena said, her voice the hoarsest it's ever been today.

Zoraida. . . all grown up and with a son of her own. Meena sniffed, and clung to her father. Little Zoraida, what kind of woman was she now? No doubt someone Azu would be proud of. Filomena must see her and Jeremiah soon and make up for all this lost time. Though, there was little time to process this as father explained another death.

"So much tragedy." Meena whispered. And where was she? Selfishly seeking her own goals and desires. "Azu. . . Tomas. . . I mourn them both." Filomena rubbed her eyes with her paws and gave one last sniff. She pulled a small amethyst crystal from her pocket and pressed it to her forehead. Gentle, soothing peace washed over her, the magic imbued within granting her temporary peace.

"Father, how may I contact Celeste and Zoradia? I wish to see them as soon as I am settled at the school. I have taken a job there as an instructor in witchcraft and druidry."