Fear the Stars
part one
YOU JUST HAVE TO BURY THEM
“C’mon,” Joon is gesturing outside. “Time to say good-bye.”
But Secondary stays in the chair. She doesn’t even look at the box.
“Please,” Joon says in exasperation, putting the trowel on the table. He’s trudged dirt into the estate. Mrs. Lee won’t be happy about that. “I have to leave. I have to leave soon.”
“She’s okay,” Secondary pouts. “She’s just sleeping.”
Joon sighs. “She isn’t okay. She got very sick and now she-”
“Don’t,” Secondary threatens. Well, as much as a five year old can threaten a thirteen year old.
“Don’t cry. Don’t tell me you’re crying. I have to leave soon.”
And Secondary’s lip wobbles. She forces herself to look into the box. Oralee, the tiny baby bunny Joon had given to her as a present named after Secondary’s favorite Champion, is laying there. Secondary had given Oralee a small towel that she stole from the kitchen to use as a blanket and hand fed her warm milk and washed her carefully every night, but a week later Secondary had woken up to find Oralee stiff and still. She cried and cried and wouldn’t stop until Serf Rose ran to get Joon. Anytime something went wrong with Secondary that couldn’t be fixed with an iced pop, they always ran for Joon.
“It’s okay,” Joon says. “It didn’t hurt. She was sleeping. It didn’t hurt at all. C’mon, I have to leave.”
“She’s…she’s still just sleeping.”
“She’s not sleeping. She’s-”
And Secondary covers her ears.
“Listen,” and Joon kneels down to Secondary and pulls her tiny hands away. His hands are cold and dirty. His eyes are flat and tired and his tone is impatient. “This rabbit is dead. You can’t do anything when someone’s dead. You just have to bury them.”
And Secondary starts crying.