full

“Dear Rabbit” by Str8aura

A young woman who has decided to forgo humanity entirely must defend the decision to her father.

Today's story contains mention of Suicidal Ideation. Listener Discretion is advised.

Today’s story is “Dear Rabbit” by Str8aura, who draws on the side and very much prefers depicting animal subjects over humans, especially if they talk. She would like you to know she is NOT the Str8aura who draws Pokemon, that was an unfortunate coincidence. You can find more of her stories on AO3 and Furaffinity.

Read for you by Rob MacWolf — werewolf hitchhiker.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/dear-rabbit-by-str8aura

Transcript
Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf,

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today’s

Speaker:

story

Speaker:

is “Dear

Speaker:

Rabbit”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Str8aura, who draws

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

very

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

prefers

Speaker:

depicting

Speaker:

animal

Speaker:

subjects

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

humans,

Speaker:

especially

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

talk.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

NOT

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Str8aura

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

draws

Speaker:

Pokemon,

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

unfortunate

Speaker:

coincidence.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

AO3

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Furaffinity.

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


“Dear

Speaker:

Rabbit”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Str8aura

The

Speaker:

girl

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

side

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

door,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

finally

Speaker:

arrived

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

state

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

half-awakeness,

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

initially

Speaker:

recognize

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

exhaustion

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

lift

Speaker:

off

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

entirely,

Speaker:

allowing

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

sagged

Speaker:

shoulders

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

straighten

Speaker:

up.

Speaker:

Although

Speaker:

many

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

junior,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

guest

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

doorstep,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

composed

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

such.

Speaker:

Being

Speaker:

confrontational

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

antithetical

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

purposes.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

recalled

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

name

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

Emily,

Speaker:

although

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

been

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

couple

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

now

Speaker:

since

Speaker:

I had

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

discussed in

Speaker:

conversation.

Clearing

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

throat,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

spoke

Speaker:

gently.

"I'd

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

speak

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

daughter."

Emily

Speaker:

nodded,

Speaker:

first

Speaker:

automatically,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

unsurely.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

leaned

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

doorframe

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

talked

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

requiring

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

support

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

up.

"Oh.

Speaker:

Okay.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

not-"

I

Speaker:

gently

Speaker:

interrupted. "If

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

tells

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

leave,

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

leave.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

please

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

try."

She

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

scanning

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

ill

Speaker:

intent.

Then

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

nodded. "Yeah.

Speaker:

Alright.

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

her."

Emily

Speaker:

waved me

Speaker:

inside,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

messy

Speaker:

home.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

clear

Speaker:

signs

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

young

Speaker:

homeownership

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

scattered

Speaker:

around

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

yet-unpacked

Speaker:

belongings

Speaker:

crammed

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

corners

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

leftover

Speaker:

pizza

Speaker:

boxes

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

low

Speaker:

budget

Speaker:

christening

Speaker:

parties

Speaker:

recently

Speaker:

past.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

walk

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sweeping

Speaker:

glances

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

insecure,

Speaker:

seeing

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

natural

Speaker:

environment

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

entirely

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

scrutinizing

Speaker:

light

Speaker:

now that

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

sharing it

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

stranger.

I

Speaker:

kept

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

myself,

Speaker:

maintaining

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

politely

Speaker:

demure

Speaker:

expression.

Speaker:

Despite

Speaker:

this,

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

ourselves

Speaker:

stiff

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

unnaturally, a

Speaker:

steel

Speaker:

wall

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

tension

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

us.

I

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

seat

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

kitchen

Speaker:

island,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

excused

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

another

Speaker:

room

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hall.

Speaker:

While

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

waited,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

caught

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

framed

Speaker:

photo

Speaker:

above

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sink,

Speaker:

collecting

Speaker:

dust.

Speaker:

My

Speaker:

daughter

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Emily,

Speaker:

several

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

prior,

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

they were

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

college.

Speaker:

Both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Speaker:

wore

Speaker:

big

Speaker:

smiles,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

clutched

Speaker:

bottles

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

embrace.

The

Speaker:

door

Speaker:

opened

Speaker:

again,

Speaker:

gingerly,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

woman

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

careful

Speaker:

steps

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

clutching

Speaker:

something

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

arms with

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

delicacy

Speaker:

of a

Speaker:

birthday

Speaker:

cake

Speaker:

on a tray.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

closer,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

clearly

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

furry

Speaker:

bundle

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

white

Speaker:

rabbit.

Speaker:

Its

Speaker:

red

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

stared

Speaker:

past

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us,

Speaker:

eternally

Speaker:

alert,

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

state

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

comfort

Speaker:

provided

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

owner's

Speaker:

presence.

The

Speaker:

woman

Speaker:

sank

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

knees,

Speaker:

setting

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

drawing

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

arm

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

plastic

Speaker:

first-aid

Speaker:

kit.

"It's

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

a minute,

Speaker:

hold

Speaker:

on."

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

me.

I

Speaker:

watched

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

withdrew

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

syringe,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

soothing

Speaker:

whispers

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

pet,

Speaker:

stuck

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

neck.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

shuddered

Speaker:

once,

Speaker:

calmed,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

needle

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

removed

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

further

Speaker:

complications.

Then,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

pulsate.

Speaker:

Bulges

Speaker:

shifted

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

skin,

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

bones

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

straining

Speaker:

against

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

confines.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

began

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

stretch

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

inflate,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

tore,

Speaker:

releasing

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

within

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

second

Speaker:

epidermal

Speaker:

layer,

Speaker:

furless

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

unfolding into

Speaker:

joints

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

curves.

Speaker:

The rabbit's

Speaker:

mouth opened,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

emerged

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

top

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

crowning

Speaker:

baby.

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

remnants

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

rabbit

Speaker:

fell to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

ground

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

shed

Speaker:

skin,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

after

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment,

Speaker:

only

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

nude

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

slick

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

fluid

Speaker:

remained

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fetal

Speaker:

position.

This

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

slowly,

Speaker:

stretched

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

of its limbs,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wiped

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

cheeks

Speaker:

clean.

Then

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

noticed

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

shuddering,

Speaker:

careful

Speaker:

breath.

"Hey,

Speaker:

dad."

I

Speaker:

nodded

Speaker:

dumbly. "Hey,

Speaker:

Taylor."

Taylor

Speaker:

struggled

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

feet,

Speaker:

helped

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us.

Speaker:

Leaning

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

island

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

support,

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

stepped

Speaker:

over

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

former

Speaker:

body

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lurched

Speaker:

towards

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

coffee

Speaker:

machine.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

moment

Speaker:

nobody

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

anything as

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

ran

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

motions

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

robotically

Speaker:

retrieving

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

inserting

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

coffee pod.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

roommate

Speaker:

excused

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

give

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

privacy.

Speaker:

Only

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

machine

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

its

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

speak.

"You

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

talk."

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

raspy,

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

remembering

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

work.

"I

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were."

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

said

Speaker:

quietly.

Taylor

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sipped

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

facing

Speaker:

me. "I'm

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

fine.

Speaker:

Can

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

go

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

now?"

I

Speaker:

drew

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

breath.

"Taylor..."

"Yeah,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

know,

Speaker:

sorry."

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

voice regained

Speaker:

some

Speaker:

sympathy,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

turned

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me. "I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

jackass.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

just...

Speaker:

Going

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

that,

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

weeks

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

end,

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

hurts

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

back.

Speaker:

Stretching

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

muscles

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

exist

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

long,

Speaker:

finding

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

hurts

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

just...

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

complex

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

again.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

annoying.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

makes

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

cranky.

Speaker:

Sorry."

"It's

Speaker:

alright."

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

said.

Taylor

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

cup

Speaker:

down.

"But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

gonna

Speaker:

say.

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

heard

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

before."

I

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

before

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

spoke.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

needed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

count

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

time,

Speaker:

without

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

screaming

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

had

Speaker:

driven

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

away.

"It

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

feels-

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mean,

Speaker:

you're-

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

thought

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

might

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

good,

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

time.

Speaker:

Fine."

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

mumbled. "But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

let

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

stay

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

way

Speaker:

for a

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

live."

She

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head

Speaker:

sourly.

"I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

dignify

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

response.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

going

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

say."

"You

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

human,

Speaker:

Taylor."

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

lectured. "You're

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

anyone's

Speaker:

pet.

Speaker:

You're

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

daughter.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

feels

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

away."

"What's

Speaker:

wrong

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

running

Speaker:

away?

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

better

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

feeling

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

shit

Speaker:

forever."

"You

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

face

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

hard.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

need

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

strong-

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you-"

"I

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

strong

Speaker:

enough?

Speaker:

Is

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

it?"

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

asked

Speaker:

tiredly. "Was

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

daughter

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

spend

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

life?

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

miserable

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

morning,

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

work,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

pass

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

day?"

"Obviously

Speaker:

not,

Speaker:

Taylor.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

But-

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

hard

Speaker:

parts

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

life,

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

just-"

"It

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

easy.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

it."

Speaker:

She

Speaker:

interrupted

Speaker:

coldly. "I

Speaker:

passed

Speaker:

college

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

flying

Speaker:

colors,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

got

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fantastic

Speaker:

job-

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

anything.

Speaker:

Nothing

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

human

Speaker:

experience

Speaker:

appeals

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

me.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

took

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

different

Speaker:

route.

Speaker:

So

Speaker:

sue me.

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do?

Speaker:

What

Speaker:

would

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

rather

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

do?"

Both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

fell

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

familiar

Speaker:

rhythm,

Speaker:

neither

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

giving

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

form

Speaker:

an

Speaker:

argument.

Speaker:

It

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

screaming

Speaker:

match,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

conversation

Speaker:

either. More

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

two

Speaker:

birds

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

flight,

Speaker:

taking

Speaker:

turns

Speaker:

diving

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other,

Speaker:

then

Speaker:

falling

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

chicken

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

strike

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

actual

Speaker:

damage.

"You're

Speaker:

just

Speaker:

numbing

Speaker:

yourself.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

escapism-"

"Escapism

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

fine-"

"-You

Speaker:

threw out

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

life,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

bad.

Speaker:

You'll

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

fall

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

love,

Speaker:

or...

Speaker:

Or

Speaker:

eat

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

food,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

new

Speaker:

places-

Speaker:

See

Speaker:

anywhere

Speaker:

outside

Speaker:

of-"

"My

Speaker:

owner

Speaker:

takes

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

places-"

"Your

Speaker:

owner-

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

thing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

owned,

Speaker:

Taylor.

Speaker:

And

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

missing

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

all of

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

because-

Speaker:

What,

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

want to

Speaker:

work?

Speaker:

Because

Speaker:

life

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

hard,

Speaker:

a-and

Speaker:

you-"

"I

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

kill

Speaker:

myself,

Speaker:

dad.

Speaker:

Multiple

Speaker:

times."

That

Speaker:

shut

Speaker:

both

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

up.

I

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

hastily

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

recover. "A-and

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

doing

Speaker:

that-"

"When

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

rabbit,

Speaker:

everything

Speaker:

makes

Speaker:

sense."

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

said. "When

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

body,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

worry

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

place

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

future, or

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

economy or

Speaker:

politics

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

keeping

Speaker:

myself

Speaker:

alive

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

couldn't

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

things

Speaker:

you're

Speaker:

talking

Speaker:

about,

Speaker:

dad,

Speaker:

because

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

trying

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

slit

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wrists

Speaker:

every

Speaker:

day.

Speaker:

When

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

kid,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

went

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

about

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

do

Speaker:

anything

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wanted

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

life?

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

change

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

mind?

Speaker:

Why

Speaker:

can't

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

happy

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

me?"

My

Speaker:

gaze

Speaker:

dipped

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

floor.

"Because

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

feel

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

failed."

Speaker:

I said.

Taylor

Speaker:

deflated,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

tired

Speaker:

despite

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

steaming

Speaker:

cup.

"Dad..."

"I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

you,

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

okay."

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

her. "And... And

Speaker:

live

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

fulfilling

Speaker:

life.

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

known

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

do.

Speaker:

I've

Speaker:

never

Speaker:

known

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

help

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

tried

Speaker:

medication,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

therapy,

Speaker:

and-

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

there

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

understand

Speaker:

any of this. Maybe it's just because we couldn't do

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

kid,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

understand

Speaker:

it. It

Speaker:

feels

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

failed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

prepare

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

somehow.

Speaker:

For

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world."

"I'm

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world."

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

offered

Speaker:

sympathetically.

"You're

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

anymore.

Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

girl

Speaker:

anymore."

"I’ll

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

daughter,

Speaker:

dad.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

I'd

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

leave

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

someday.

Speaker:

One way

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other.

Speaker:

That’s

Speaker:

growing

Speaker:

up."

"I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

that.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

could

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

growing

Speaker:

up,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

were

Speaker:

happy,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

safe.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don't..."

My

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

cracked.

Speaker:

Now

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

approached

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

carefully

Speaker:

setting a

Speaker:

hand

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

shoulder.

"I'm

Speaker:

happy.

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

safe."

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

assured.

I

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

looking

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

world

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

man

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

age.

I

Speaker:

reached

Speaker:

out,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

grown up

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

girl

Speaker:

close.

"And...

Speaker:

A-and

Speaker:

you're..."

"And

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

okay."

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

promised. "I'll

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

okay.

Speaker:

As

Speaker:

okay

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

any

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

us

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

be.

Speaker:

Better,

Speaker:

even."

"I'm

Speaker:

sorry,

Speaker:

Taylor."

She

Speaker:

shook

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

head. "I

Speaker:

don't

Speaker:

blame

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

It's

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fault.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

just... I

Speaker:

wasn't

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

out

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

human. I

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

rabbit,

Speaker:

though."

I

Speaker:

pulled

Speaker:

back,

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

holding

Speaker:

her. "I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

still...

Speaker:

Visit

Speaker:

you?

Speaker:

See

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this,

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

time?"

Taylor

Speaker:

nodded. "Yeah.

Speaker:

Whenever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

want.

Speaker:

I'll

Speaker:

even

Speaker:

put

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

sometimes,

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

want

Speaker:

it.

Speaker:

But

Speaker:

I'm

Speaker:

happier

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other

Speaker:

way."

"I

Speaker:

hope..."

When

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

left

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

mouth,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

realized

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

hoping

Speaker:

for.

I

Speaker:

didn't

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

being

Speaker:

okay

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

enough.



A

Speaker:

little

Speaker:

bit

Speaker:

later,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lap,

Speaker:

lowered

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

well

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

instinct

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

prey

Speaker:

drive.

Speaker:

Her

Speaker:

nose

Speaker:

twitched,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

effort

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

away

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

patted

Speaker:

her.

Emily

Speaker:

sat

Speaker:

beside

Speaker:

me,

Speaker:

watching

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

handled

Speaker:

her.

I

Speaker:

found

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

voice

Speaker:

shallow

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

hollow.

"...She

Speaker:

entrusted

Speaker:

herself

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

you.

Speaker:

Can

Speaker:

you...

Speaker:

Can

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

care

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

her?"

She

Speaker:

met

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

eyes

Speaker:

confidently,

Speaker:

gaze

Speaker:

solid

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

loyalty.

"Of

Speaker:

course

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

will.

Speaker:

Taylor's

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

friend."

I

Speaker:

held

Speaker:

Taylor

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

lap,

Speaker:

gently

Speaker:

brushing

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

fur.

Speaker:

As I

Speaker:

did,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

remembered

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

last

Speaker:

time

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

was

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

small

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

helpless,

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

those

Speaker:

years

Speaker:

ago

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

infancy.

Speaker:

How

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

she

Speaker:

smiled

Speaker:

back

Speaker:

then.

Speaker:

How I had

Speaker:

looked

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

eyes,

Speaker:

holding her

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

sunlight,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

promised

Speaker:

her

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

life.

Two

Speaker:

decades

Speaker:

later,

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wondered

Speaker:

if

Speaker:

I had

Speaker:

made

Speaker:

good

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

promise.



This

Speaker:

was “Dear

Speaker:

Rabbit”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Str8aura, read for you by Rob MacWolf, Werewolf Hitchihiker.

Speaker:

You

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

web

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

thevoice.dog,

Speaker:

or

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

show

Speaker:

wherever

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

podcasts.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki