Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock Holmes and Co.
During my years of association with Lily Greenwood, I had no idea of her fears. It was only when she had a nightmare did I know her weakness…
"Help me! Big grey rabbits are on the loose!" Lily screamed into the night. I looked at my friend in surprise. She was afraid of bunnies?
I decided to test out my theory. First, I put a grey stuffed rabbit near her bed. Then, I would wait inside her closet and see if she is really afraid of rabbits. If she was, she would jump away in fear. If she wasn't, she would throw it away in disgust. It was completely foolproof.
What I didn't count on was that our landlady would allow visitors without our permission.
Lily had screamed and jumped away. Then, our landlady had ushered two guests into our sitting room. They heard her screams and rushed into her bedroom. I emerged from the closet and looked at them properly. I was appalled. It was Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade. They had seen our true sex.
"What on earth is going on here?" Mrs. Williams asked. She had chased after the two men and found that not only are her tenants female, Lily was also incredibly messy. She put her cigarettes box on her bedside table and her criminal relics in her drawing table. She also stuffed her files into the closet and her correspondence in the fireplace.
The two men looked around, surprised. "If I am not mistaken, this room belongs to a girl!" Holmes exclaimed. He was sitting on Lily's favorite dressing chair. Lily had recovered from her shock and was utterly angry.
"What right do you have to charge in our rooms!" She said out loud in a clear female voice. "Mr. Holmes, Inspector Lestrade, answer me!"
"It was only a joke, Lily. I had heard you screaming out "Big grey bunnies are on the loose!" in your sleep. I thought that it was just make-believe. I did not know that you are really afraid of rabbits! I was the one who placed the stuffed toy on your bed." I admitted. "But I didn't expect them" I pointed to the two detectives, "to arrive to your rescue! Now see what you have done, we are discovered and would not be allowed to work in the detective force anymore!"
"Patricia Adeline Brown, if you do not shut up, I would certainly kill you!" She had screamed. The detectives were appalled at this openness and the fact that I was female as well. "Inspector Lestrade, Pat and I resign from our duties. We can not let those utter imbeciles to know that we are female! Goodbye!" With that, she pushed them out of her room.
"Pat, we are moving to America. We can not stay in this male biased country any longer!" She screamed, packing all of her things into a suitcase. I went into my room and looked over my things. Must I really follow everything she said? Must I be always loyal to her? I could not choose. I have to tell Lily.
"I can't. I love this country and its people. You move to America. I will stay here." I told her. She looked surprised. "Pat, I thought you are my best friend!" She said, stepping back. "But when you make my decisions for me and when you shout back at the men, I could not tolerate you any longer. Now I see why you had no friends in the first place." I said quietly. Lily had shock in her features. Then she closed her mouth, opened it again and said in a harsh cold voice.
"We shall not be friends any longer, Patricia. I have to go." She grabbed her suit case and got out of the door.
That was the last time I will ever see of Lily Isabella Greenwood. I had heard she prospered in America. I continued working as a private detective and became Holmes's apprentice. I had also ceased to become Lily's chronicler and am now happily married to Dr. John Hamish Watson, Medical Department. Who says we can't have the best of both worlds.