It was during a fireworks party, but I couldn't find Keith and went out to look for him. I saw him standing outside her building, holding a trembling rabbit in his arms. His feet shuffled nervously and he didn't even notice the snow on his hair.
I recognized the rabbit—it was one Keith had picked out after a long search. Elizabeth had teased me, saying, "That boy really cares about you. He spent an entire day at the pet market finding just the right rabbit and it nearly froze him to death!"
Now, I was the one frozen to the bone.
Keith eagerly handed her the rabbit as if presenting a treasure when Sadie came out, but she turned her nose up at it. "Keith, it's so dirty!"
After saying that, she ran back home without looking back.
When Keith came back in despair, his arms were empty. I rushed out like crazy to find the rabbit, secretly took it back and hid it in the attic.
Still, the rabbit died three days later. I should have known then that what isn't meant to be yours can't be forced. Yet, I foolishly and naively tried to hold on to Keith's love.
Keith went to the doctor's office while Sadie sat calmly by the bedside, her gaze steady on me.