The only thing I knew that I existed 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 wrapped 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 above 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 hers, “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.

I began preparing myself and headed downstairs and met my own father. Same eyes like mine; he was a man full of supremacy. His cold eyes met my curious gaze and how I wished that he would turn into a loving father that I longed to have, and not this strange man whom he knew nothing about me.

“Grow up, my boy,” he said while looking at me. “Stop this foolishness at once and go back to your senses. Your world differs than anyone else. You have a great responsibility in this kingdom. Never forget, not even a second, that you are my only son.”

Upon hearing his words, I started walking away. Just a few steps more, for I desperately wanted to grasp for air. Was this really my world?

I closed my eyes again…

“Don’t you want to go outside and watch the beauty of the sun from the surface?” I asked her. Every single day passed, she was becoming even way more stunning. Every time that I needed comfort, she was here by my side. Our fantasy collided and I began to hope that this world would become real.

She held my hand and then smiled, “Silly rabbit. Only the moon’s glow can make me mesmerize. I don’t need the sun’s heat. It means nothing to me.”

“But you don’t deserve this darkness. You don’t belong in this world.”

“You know what, Mr Rabbit? In every darkness, there is a light hidden somewhere. If one is in the dark, like us, like me, it doesn’t mean that she’s not strong. It doesn’t mean she is hopeless. I am here because I feel safe. I am here because I want to. I am here because you exist with me. Up there, I know our worlds are a part. So far that I can’t even touch you. I don’t know you there but I feel your heart in here.”

Shocked by her words, I became silent. If only I could bring her into my world but I knew better than this. She had chains too and I couldn’t even reach her for my chains were becoming heavier as every single seconds passed.

Just like old times, I faltered into our fantasy as my heart was thumping rapidly.

“Is there a chance that I will see you up there, Mr. Rabbit?”

I looked away. This was too much. I needed to make a distance before we would fall from each other. My duty was to protect her and brought her light. This should not be happening. Behind this rabbit’s mask, my heart slipped away—towards her.

I gave her a wry smile, “You are safe in here, little girl.”

Her eyes saddened, “I know that too. But please don’t go away. I saw a beast here somewhere. And I am scared.”

“A beast?”

“Yes. I saw him watching over me. It was really huge and scary.”

“Don’t worry. You are stronger than the beast. No one can harm you. You have a pure heart. You can beat them, for even a devil knows how special you are.

“You think so?”

“Yes. You are exceptional, little girl. Someday, they will see what I see in you. Don’t be afraid. You will always have me. Wherever I am, you will always have my rabbit’s heart,” I uttered.

She alone could have it. One day, she would be free from her chains, and I, on the other hand was still up there. Empty. Aloof. Almost like dead. No matter how many laughters I heard, her laugh alone could make my heart beat. No matter how many fine-looking women in my world, no one could fill my emptiness the way she did. I wished that we had the same universe but we both knew that it wouldn’t happen. It never would.

“Someday, Mr. Rabbit, I can walk up there. I can make a step away from this dark world. I will be what I want to be. And my freedom will beyond reach.”

‘I know you do. That’s the spirit” I smiled resentfully. “I know you can. You are a fighter.”

She was holding back her tears, “Will I ever see you again?”

I didn’t utter a word because it was too excruciating to say since these words were like a knife stabbing my soul. As much as I wanted to save her, I could not even know how to break these chains in my own body. I wanted her for me but she would never be happy in my reality. There was no future for us. Her world differed in mine. She lived her life in simplicity and contentment. She was so fragile and yet she was never weak. She would forever be perfect in my eyes.

She smiled at me and leaned down her head upon my shoulder, “Don’t worry silly rabbit. I will grow up. You’ll see. You’re going to be proud of me.”

That was the last time I had seen her. I became a coward. My heart was aching for her but it was for the best. I could never have her in my world. Wishing something like that, made me feel insane. Months passed, and then years and I didn’t go there anymore. I was afraid that if I went into the rabbit’s hole and met her there once more, it would be hard enough to let her go. I knew she was strong and every day she was even getting stronger. She would probably forget me by now. She did see me as what I am behind this rabbit’s mask. With her, I could be what I wanted to be. She even shared me her light. She alone had given me warmth. And now, how would I supposed to live like nothing when I just let go the most precious girl that I had ever known?

The big day already arrived.

The day where I, the arrogant, childish prince, stood in front of a huge crowd, as the mighty King gave me his only crown and put it in top of my head. I was born for this. And this was the day that I finally had my freedom to do the things that I longed for.

That night, the kingdom held a large celebration and every living soul was invited to join the said party. I envied their smiles. They were true, unlike mine. Jealousy of how gentlemen danced with their lovely women as they were bewildered by a melody of a love song. I had everything that anyone could dream of but why was it that I felt so empty?

Out from nowhere, a lady knight from another kingdom appeared. Wearing her shining armor, they were looking at her with respect. She was here for one mission alone; to represent their kingdom. All knew her because she defeated a beast all by herself. She was fearless. She removed her armor and there I saw the little girl in my daydream. No longer was a girl that she had been created as her illusion, like the rabbit that I portrayed, but a woman whose beauty was incomparable. Her eyes were still gentle and she was looking at me as if she had known me as well.

I couldn’t think of as a wave of pent-up emotions seared me to the spot. I couldn’t breathe as I stared her eyes. Her skin was still pale from the last time I remembered her from a dream and not once in all these times that I had forgotten her magnificence. It was too good to be true that she actually existed in my world. She had a name for herself and she was no longer the scared little girl that I held in the dark. I was here, sitting in my thrown, staring at a woman I wanted desperately to kiss. Her light was even brighter than I expected.

“Hello, your Highness,” she greeted at me. She still wore her warmth smile. My gut tightened at the sound of her sweet voice echoing unto my ears. “How are you, King Stephan?”

“What are you doing here?” I breathed, finally breaking the taut silence that was rife with my bitter emotions.

“I wanted to see the newly crowned king with my own eyes.”

It was hard to just sit here when all I wanted was to scoff her into my arms and never let her go. The air between us was filled with our mutual affection and a million thoughts clashed inside my head. I wanted to tell her how much I missed her. But---

“Your Grace,” a man came towards us. His eyes were so deadly and he had his dangerous aura that one could never miss of. But when he took a glimpse upon her face, it was replaced by pure love and sweet sincerity. I thought those rumors about him weren’t true. Lord Yurik did change. He was somewhat tamed.

“It’s good to see you here, Lord Yurik.” I tried to calm myself as possible as my heart became heavy.

He smiled devilishly while he reached down for her hand and pulled her closer to him, “I believe my wife, Lumina, already greeted you.”

I didn’t know why his words shredded my heart, but they did. Still stunned, I look upon Lumina’s face, trying to hide this strange unbearable pain inside my rabbit’s mask, smiling back to the man who already owned my little girl’s heart, “Yes, she is.”

A fool I was, I never thought this day would come. Too see her happy in somebody’s arms, giving her tenderness to another, and showing her love to a beast that she effortlessly tamed. Now I knew why the beast was there with her in her dark fantasy. He wanted her light, her innocence, and her love. He was there because he could see her beauty as well, the way that I did. And when I left her there alone, it was the beast who protected her and kept her safe. And for being a coward, I was now paying the prize.

I could feel Lumina’s love for Lord Yurik. How could I let this happen? How could I let the beast in our fantasy fall down to her? And how could I simply let her go?

Seeing them together as they were happily dancing in the middle of the crowd tore me into pieces. This was my plan but I never thought that it would be so painful. Grinding my teeth, I looked at the window, into the black night that had been our only solace.

And this time, all I could ever do was to wear this stupid rabbit’s mask, smiling upon her as my tears gathered in my eyes, and my unspoken words were screaming for her. I am the new king with a broken heart and a dying soul. I wore a cheerful mask to deceive the world. And this was my resentment for my idiocy.

I deserved this.

Lumina, my sweet little girl that I loved, was not here to stay with me. She wanted me to see that my words were really did come true, that she was happy in her life without me in it. She had proven to me that our world was not as far as I believed in. But seeing her in Lord Yurik’s arms, made our world separated even more. It would never collide-- not in this lifetime. Stupidity and cowardice made us separated, not the cruel fate or reality’s chains.

She became the woman that I knew from the beginning that she would be. I was never been this happy after all these years but at the same time, I was slowly dying from my very eyes. For she was only here to give me back the only thing that kept me alive all this time because I knew she had it—my heart.