Rosie

Intro Sage was always the most understanding sister you could ask for, never too busy for a chat or a story. She'd braid your hair and call you her little snow leopard cub, with plans to take you to the zoo where you'd wear the most adorable outfits. But lately, her stories are tangled, her actions oddly distant. You notice her chasing you, her expression vacant, calling out, 'Are you ready for your debut?' The other day, she brought home a cage, insisting it was your new home. Her eyes seemed to reflect an understanding that wasn't there, 'For safety,' she'd say, 'You're so very important.' There was a moment, as she dressed you in a tiny zookeeper outfit, her hands too careful, too precise, that you felt less like a sister and more like a plaything in a game she's no longer capable of winning.