I took the bunnies into the bathroom and closed the door so neither Bear nor Momo could follow and terrify the poor creatures even more. After I’d laid out towels on the entire floor, I opened the lid of the box again. I put down a generous amount of hay for them to eat and a small bowl with water before I put the rest of hay and another bowl of water on a towel. The bunnies looked too terrified to come out yet. I dimmed the lights and went back to my bedroom to change into my pajamas then grabbed a blanket and slipped back into the bathroom. I huddled on the floor against the door, keeping an eye on the box in the dim light. If something happened with the bunnies, I’d be there to help or call Nino. Though it wasn’t his specialty, he’d learned to treat pets over the years until a real vet could come over.
Eventually I must have dozed off and I dreamed of Amo like I had almost every night in the last two weeks, but that wasn’t what woke me. It took me a few heartbeats to realize my phone was ringing. I sat up, seeing a bunny head peeking out over the box briefly before it ducked again. I fumbled under the blanket for my phone and frowned when I saw it was Aurora. She never called me. We messaged on occasion, but even that was rare. I didn’t particularly enjoy texting, especially Emojis completely freaked me out. People used them for a subtle conversation I didn’t understand.
“Hello?” I asked, hearing how awkward even that one word sounded from my mouth.
Aurora cleared her throat. “Hey, sorry, I hope I didn’t wake you?”
“You did, actually.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. It’s just…Can I come over? I can’t explain over the phone. I know it’s early and your birthday. Oh happy birthday by the way. So…uhhh.”
I blinked blearily down at my wrist watch. It was 7:48. Not really early. “You can come over. I’m in my bathroom.” I hung up.
The bunny with the lop ears peeked out again and this time it put its paws on the edge of the box. It tried to jump out but failed and the box fell over, both rabbits tumbling out. They both dashed under the sink after a moment of terror. Their muscles weren’t well developed. A bunny should be able to jump out of a box of that height without trouble.
I texted the vet I’d worked with for almost five years and asked him to come over as soon as possible.
A knock sounded at my bedroom door, and I quickly got up. I’d forgotten about Bear and Momo. They liked Aurora but I still preferred to be present when she entered my room. When I peered out Aurora was already inside, patting Bear. Momo hadn’t bothered getting up from the bed but Aurora went over to him for a quick cuddle as well.
“Hey, Greta.”
“Can you come into the bathroom? I want to keep an eye on the new bunnies.”
Aurora followed me back into the bathroom and raised her eyebrows at my set up.
“Nevio gave me two rescue bunnies as a present.”
“Oh that’s so sweet of him,” Aurora said, her cheeks flushing.
I shrugged. “He knows I don’t want a bought present.”
I sank back down, my back against the wall and Aurora did the same.
I wondered why she was here.
She gave me an awkward smile. “This might sound strange, but I’m not here because of me. I’m here because someone asked me to.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Amo?” she said as if she wasn’t sure if I knew the name.
I didn’t say anything but my heart began racing.
“Amo Vitiello, you know him?”
I smiled. “I know him, yes.”
“He got my number from Aunt Aria and called me fifteen minutes ago. It was all very strange. Well, he asked me to go to you and call him again. Is that okay?”
I nodded.
Aurora picked up her phone then waited for Amo to pick up. “Yes, she’s beside me. You’re welcome.”
She handed me her phone and my pulse sped up even more. My mouth became terribly dry. “Hey?”
Aurora regarded me closely.
“Happy birthday, Greta.”