Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder if she was dressed a little too casually as the elevator lifted her higher towards the terminally ill ward of Gotham City Children's hospital. She looked down at her black converse shoes under her comfortably fitted blue jeans. She wore a plain blue v-neck shirt over a white camisole. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders in black spirals. I should have dressed nicer, she thought to herself as she hugged her book closer to her chest.

She sighed nervously as the elevator "dinged" and the doors separated. The check in counter was visible from where she stood. The environment looked warm and welcoming, or at least as warm and welcoming as a terminally ill ward of a children's hospital could work. She noticed the baby blue walls and the framed illustrations of circus animals that were obviously done by children hanging on them. Her nerves began to subside as she came closer and closer to the counter. The nurse sitting behind it on the telephone was wearing a white scrub with rainbow prints all over it. In front of her was a bouquet of roses with a tag that read, "To: Emily Sweaton." Elizabeth waited patiently in front of the counter as the nurse finished her important call. She looked to be in her late forties. She had dark skin and was slightly heavy set. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and around her right wrist was a bright blue watch with cloud prints around the buckle. She smiled vibrantly and nodded at Elizabeth to let her know that she would help her as soon as she was done taking care of business on the phone. Elizabeth could tell she was a woman who loved her job.

"I apologize, miss," she said politely as she hung up the receiver, "What may I help you with?"

"Hello, my name is Elizabeth Dubois," she said, "I'm here to volunteer by reading to the children. I wasn't sure who I'm supposed to check in with."

"Oh, you're Elizabeth," the nurse said with another smile, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

Elizabeth paused for a few seconds before the nurse clarified. "Your stories? I've heard about the stories you've had published.."

Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, yes. It's nothing big really," she said, "Just a few independent deals, really."

The nurse smiled. "Don't go selling yourself short," she said, "You must be talented to have your stories published at all."

"Well, thank you," she said, "I very much appreciate your compliment."

"My name is Felicia," the nurse said picking up a clip board, "You can just sign here on the next empty line and just write volunteer on the side of your name."

Elizabeth did as the nurse instructed and handed the clipboard back to her. "Thank you," Felicia said kindly, "Now, if you'll just wait one minute I'll call someone to come escort you to the playroom."

"Thank you very much," Elizabeth smiled. The warmth and kindness of Felicia helped ease her nerves and any worries that she was under dressed. She was already glad to have met her.

Within a few moments, Elizabeth was approached by a slender woman with a bright yellow scrub and sunny blonde hair and blue eyes. She also had a warm smile that made her feel relaxed and at ease. "Hello," she said sweetly. Her voice was slightly high pitched and it put a smile on Elizabeth's face. "You must be Elizabeth," she said extending her hand, "My name is Elissa."

Elizabeth accepted her hand and shook. "It's very nice to meet you."

"Likewise," she said, "Let me show you to the playroom. The children are being gathered as we speak."

Elizabeth took their time walking down the halls to marvel at her surroundings. "I can't get over how wonderfully bright this is for a hospital."

Elissa smiled. "I'm glad you noticed," she said, "Sometimes children need help coping with their situation so we try to make this hospital as enjoyable as such a place can be. That's why I'm glad you're not dressed uptight and busness-y."

"Oh…" Elizabeth said with a chuckle, "I was actually a little worried with how I was dressed."

"Well, no need," she said, "People who volunteer often times over think how they should dress. I think the children just need to see someone relaxed and calm instead of seeing someone who looks like they might give them another needle."

"I understand," Elizabeth said with a nod. She could not imagine being so small and so sick, and she could not begin to imagine how scary it must have been for them.

The playroom was designed to look like a fantasy forest. Detailed evergreen trees with sunlight peeking through their green pine needs to hit the green grass were painted on the walls. Elizabeth also noticed small pixie fairies peaking from behind some of the trunks, sitting on branches, and marching on the ground with whimsical little instruments. In each corner was a fake tree just to add to the affect. Lined along the walls were multiple toy boxes for the smaller kids, and blue and green tables and chairs with notebooks and chapter books for the older kids. She found herself impressed once again with the effort put into making this place a comfortable environment for the kids.

"The children should be coming in at any moment," Elissa said, "It's really nice to have someone read to the kids. They haven't had a story time session in a while. It's become really difficult for us, since we nurses have a lot of kids to take care of. We really appreciate your help."

Elizabeth smiled. "It's my pleasure. I like kids, and I like telling stories," she explained, "I think every kid deserves an escape every once in a while."

As they spoke another nurse strolled in with a little girl in a gown. She was no higher in height than the nurse's kneecap, and around her wrist was an identification tag. She had no hair on the top of her head, no eyebrows, and no eyelashes. Her skin was pale, and she looked so small and fragile. Her eyes were round and grey, and Elizabeth could not help but think the little girl was very beautiful. "Hello," Elizabeth said kneeling to her level, "What's your name."

The little girl gave her a coy smile. "Emily," she answered. Her voice was full of innocence, and it warmed Elizabeth's heart. "That's a really pretty name," Elizabeth smiled, "My name is Elizabeth." She held out her hand and Emily accepted it allowing Elizabeth to gently shake hands with her. "How old are you, Emily?"

"I just turned five," she said proudly.

"Wow, that's wonderful," Elizabeth smiled, "I think you are old enough to sit on the lap of the story teller and help me turn the pages. Would you like that?"

Emily's eyes lit up as she nodded.

Elizabeth pulled out a chair from one of the tables and sat on it and helped Emily up into her lap just as more children began to arrive. Some of the kids had no hair like Emily, while others still had full heads of hair but were still pale like her. Others were in wheel chairs, while others kept themselves up with crutches. Some were even missing an arm or leg, while a few even had eye patches to cover up a missing eye. Despite everything, their faces were lit up with excitement to hear a story.

"I'm excited to see everyone here," Elizabeth said as she picked up her book, "I really hope you like the story. It's called Rabbit Ears." She held up the book so that the children may see the picture of a small boy with pink hair and rabbit ears holding hands with a small girl before separating the covers and starting to read her story;

— Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl named Seena. Seena had light sunbright blonde hair that hung past her waist and clovery green eyes. She had a friend that no one could see. His name was Heyma. Heyma had pink hair and pale skin with a rabbit's tale and ears. Heyma and Seena went everywhere together, and they shared each other's deepest darkest secrets. Seena told Heyma about how one day she wanted to marry the prince of the kingdom and be a princess, and Heyma told Seena about how he longed to be real. "Don't be silly," she would tell him, "You have bunny ears and pink hair. You can never be real."
One night Heyma stared upon the moon and wished to himself, "I wish I could be real, so I could marry Seena." The moon suddenly began to sparkle so brightly that Heyma had to shield his eyes. A beautiful woman with glowing skin materialized from the sparkles and floated down in front of him. "Hello, Heyma," she said, "I am the Moon Goddess, and I heard your wish and I wish to help you." He looked at her with hopeful eyes. "You're going to make me real?" he asked. She smiled a sorrowful smile. "I cannot make you real," she said somewhat sadly, "I can only give you the ability to be real if Seena chooses you. It is up to you to make her want you." Heyma let out a little sigh. "She'll never choose me," he said, "She's in love with the prince." The goddess nodded sorrowfully. "I know she's in love with the prince, but there's always a chance you can change her mind. Do whatever you can to make her fall for you."
And so Heyma continued to be nice to Seena, but he was sure to compliment her when he could. He would call her beautiful almost one hundred times a day, and he would sing to her at night. "You're such a good friend," she would always say, but he always hoped for her to say that she loved him.

Seena grew up to be the most beautiful woman in the village, and the prince took notice and propsed to her. She accepted without hesitation, but was visited that same night by the Moon Goddess. She told her of the deal she made with Heyma, and told her about how important her choice was to him. Seena knew that Heyma deserved to be happy, but she always wanted to be a princess. "I can't choose Heyma," she said to the Goddess, "I've been working all my life for this." The Goddess looked at Seena with much sadness in her eyes, "Then Heyma shall never be real, and his sadness will cause him to wither away. You are no true friend."
On the day of the wedding all the villagers cheered, and Seena greeted them each with a smile. In the distance, however, she saw Heyma. He was crying, and his tears were washing him away. He was slowly vanishing just as the Goddess said he would. She turned away from him and ignored him and the sadness of seeing her one true friend vanish before her eyes. The Goddess visited her again that night as the prince was sleeping. "Heyma is gone now," she said furiously, "And it's all your fault!" Seena looked at the Goddess fearfully. "I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't mean for him to disappear." The Goddess began to wave her wand. "There is only one way for me to bring him back!" Seena fell to her knees. "What needs to be done?" But the Goddess was already way ahead of her waving her wand into the air. She chanted an incomprehensible spell, and Seena felt the top of her head began to itch. She ran to her vanity and saw her hair begin to transform from blonde to pink and rabbit ears began to sprout from her scalp. "No!" she cried, "What have you done?" The Goddess smiled. "Heyma is being reborn as we speak now as a real human boy," she said, "I can guarantee that he will be happy. He'll have lovely parents, a lovely home, and he will be married by the time he reaches the age of nineteen to someone who really loves him." Seena began to sob. "What about me?" she asked, "How can I go on living like this?" The Goddess laughed. "You must leave your prince and this kingdom and search for the boy," she explained, "and you must seek his forgiveness. If he forgives you, your appearance will go back to the way it was…but I must warn you. Time is short, and the longer it takes you to find him the more imaginary you will become and you will eventually disappear just as he did if you don't find him soon."
And so Seena left her prince and her kingdom. She made sure to do so before anyone woke up and saw her new appearance. They would surely find her horrendous to look at. It took her sixteen years to find Heyma, and during those sixteen years she dealt with ridicule by the people. All they saw was her pink hair and rabbit ears, and they treated her like dirt. She expected the same from Heyma who now had long blonde hair and clovery eyes, but he treated her with kindness. What broke her heart was not the fact that he went on to marry a sweet and kind maiden instead of her, and it was not the fact that her prince had moved on and had chosen another princess soon after she left. What broke her heart was that Heyma did not remember her at all, but forgave her anyway, and that he called her beautiful even when everyone else ridiculed her. She turned back to normal, but she had aged some from the years of stress. On the day of Heyma's wedding she cried just as he did, but no matter how many tears she shed she just couldn't disappear or take back the decision she made all those years ago.—

"So, did you enjoy the story?" she asked the children.

"It was sad," a boy in a wheelchair said. Elizabeth nodded. "I agree with you, but why was it sad?"

"Because Heyma had to disappear," he answered.

Emily, still sitting on her lap, shook her head. "But he came back," she argued, "He came back and got to be happy."

"But Seena didn't get to marry him," said an older girl sitting close to them on a chair. Her hair was just starting to fall out. It was dark brown and thinning, and she wore a pink bandana. Elizabeth smiled at the girl who smiled in return. "So you think Seena should have been able to marry Heyma?"

"No," the girl responded, "I think it's just kinda sad that she didn't pick him first, because he was nice to her and the prince was not nice."

Elizabeth liked her answer. "What's your name?" she asked the girl.

"Erin," she responded.

"I like that name," she said, "What would you have done, Erin?"

"I would have chosen neither," she said, "boys are just weird!"

"Hey!" called the boy in the wheelchair, "Are not." He had a contagious laughter that made everyone in the room laugh.

After they all shared a laugh, Elizabeth decided she wanted to stay just a little longer. Elissa okayed it with a nod. "So, do you kids have any favorite stories you would like me to read?"

Elizabeth was there reading to the kids any book they picked out for another hour or two before she felt her cell buzz. She took the phone out of her pocket and saw the name Jake flash across her screen. It was time to go. Elissa smiled as she asked the kids, "What do we say to Elizabeth?"

"Thank you!" the kids said in broken unison. Elissa called for more nurses to help the children back to their rooms. When a nurse came for little Emily she threw her arms around Elizabeth and hugged her. "Are you going to come next week?"

Elizabeth smiled. "Absolutely, I loved meeting all of you."

Elizabeth tapped her legs nervously with her fingertips as she waited for the elevator to reach her. She was going to be late, and Jake was not going too be happy. She checked her phone for the time. It was 5:12 PM, and he always got home at approximately 6 PM. She didn't know how she was going to make it back to her apartment that was all the way across town in less than an hour. I can't be late, she repeated to herself over and over, I just can't.

She heard the elevator 'ding' as it had before as the 'down' arrow lit up. When the doors separated she didn't even think as she moved forward and ran right into who Elizabeth guessed to be a police officer. She was thrown off and lost her balance for a second. "Oh, goodness," she said slightly embarrassed, "I'm really sorry."

The officer smiled and shrugged. "No problem," he said, "Don't worry about it."

Elizabeth noticed that he was fairly young with dark hair and a nice smile, so much so that she didn't notice that she was still holding on to his arm. She apologized again before releasing him. They both shared a laugh, although hers was more awkward and uncomfortable. There was a brief moment in which the two just looked at each other. Something about his smile seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Oh, wow," she said, "Now, I'm staring like a creeper." She let out another uncomfortable laugh before entering the elevator.

"Hey," he said before the elevator doors closed.

Elizabeth blocked them from closing with her foot. "I'm sorry," he said, "but you don't by any chance know where the playroom is, do you?"

"I actually just came from there," she said, "It's straight down the hall, your first left, and your second right, but I'm afraid most of the kids have gone back to their rooms. Felicia there at the front desk should be able to help you find who you are looking for though." His attention followed the direction of her finger pointed at the woman behind the counter. He then turned his attention back to Elizabeth and nodded at her with a wave as the doors closed.

It was 6:03 PM when she reached the door to her apartment, but for whatever reason she was not as nervous as she usually was when she came home late. Her day had been too wonderful for anything to ruin it, or at least that was what she was feeling as she fumbled for the keys.

The door swung open before her key reached the door knob, and there stood Jake. Jake was a tall man of twenty seven. His brown eyes beamed down on her as his jaw ticked with frustration. His shaved head added more towards his quite intimidating appearance. He wore a white T-shirt and jeans, and she was bombarded with the stench of his alcoholic breath. "You're late," he said, "What the hell is wrong with you?"