When sisters are young make believe often takes control of all their time, and this was not any different for Artemis and Jade. While both were younger they were obsessed with Alice and Wonderland, Artemis more so because she wanted to be like Jade, but the older sister loved the story. If they were not continuously watching or reading versions of the tale, they were at the park, acting parts out. Artemis always played Alice, while Jade was always the Cheshire Cat.
Jade loved to pretend to be the disappearing feline, and at the park it was quite easy to hide from her younger sister. Especially when they decided to go into the forest to play. The older girl would climb into the tall trees and trail behind her sister while Artemis called out for her.
Artemis would start with just calling "Cheshire Cat" or "Cat", but after a while the young blonde girl would become scared. Jade would keep up the act though as her sister called out for a little while longer. "Jade? Jade, please come out." Artemis was always terrified that her sister had really abandoned her. That was when the game finished and Jade would reappear.
"Don't worry," She'd say to her sister, who was usually almost in tears, "I'm up here, I never really left." This would make both of them smile, and Jade would climb down from her perch. At least, that was how the game went for years.
Now, as Artemis stood at the outer tree-line of the old forest, the game was different. The rules had changed. This was the first time Artemis had been to the park in almost a year. For the most part, the two girls had outgrown Alice and Wonderland. They hadn't played their old game in a long time.
I'll disappear, just like the Cheshire Cat. Jade's voice rang in Artemis' mind as she took the first few steps into the forest, "Cat?" In this family, it's every girl for herself. "Cheshire?" Artemis stopped when she thought she heard something behind her. She whirled around with her hopes were set high but they only came crashing off her pedestal when she saw a small squirrel had crushed a twig.
The tears began to prick her eyes, "Jade?" She began to yell the name over and over, her feet taking her farther into the trees. ...you'd slow me down. "Jade, please come out." Artemis stopped suddenly in front of a large tree that had a small rabbit hole near its base.
The young blonde girl knelt to investigate her findings. Inside, the hole was quite empty and it was clear no rabbits lived here anymore. She pulled away from the whole and sat against the tree. Her cheeks felt warm and wet from tears. The game wasn't the same anymore. Jade always came out.
I'm up here, I never really left. I'll just disappear, like the Cheshire Cat. The two phrases bounced back and forth through Artemis' mind and she felt new tears reach the surface. Jade's voice continued to go through her head, two contradicting phrases that meant so much to the younger sister.
I never really left. Artemis squeezed her eyes shut as a sob curled up into her throat.
But you did, Jade.