A Note From the Author, Crackercruncher123:

Hello there, reader! I hope you're having a pleasant morning/day/evening/night. Thank you very much for choosing to spend time reading my story, "Finding Hope". I hope you enjoy reading it!

Creak! Crash! Several Holland Lop bunnies jumped and squeaked as the chain-link gate swung open. "Adoption day! Adoption day!" These furry sentries cried. The concrete halls of Sunnybrook No-Kill Rabbit Shelter seemed to reverberate with the very essence of these words, but just once each month. Adoption day. Adoption day! It was time for Mr. Warren, the shelter head, to prepare the rabbits for travel to the Adoption Fair. As he unlocked cage after cage, lifting rabbit after rabbit into the portable carriers to transport them to their possible new homes, hopeful thoughts swirled through each bunny's head.

In the last cage, where darkness ruled (the lightbulb had burned out long ago), a seemingly young, beautiful Lionhead rabbit stood proudly on strong legs. But the sound of cages opening roused dreamers from their dreams; and the Lionhead slowly faded, its image twisting and contorting into the shape of a sad, older, neglected rabbit. And she had little hope for adoption: a five-year-old English Lop Rabbit with arthritis does not get adopted easily, and this she knew. The familiar ache of the wire cage bars on her feet was harder on her than any other rabbit in the shelter. But with hope a tiny flame can kindle, and Adoption Fairs always brought that hope. Mr. Warren unlocked her cage door.

After a bumpy, painful car ride, she was lowered onto the sun-warmed grass of Sunnybrook Park. A glance upward - into the faces of potential adopters - sent a bolt of hope rolling through her. She hoped that, maybe, today was the day.

Awkwardly making his way through the crowds of milling people was an elderly man in a wheelchair. His name was Jeremy Smithson, and he had been in an accident while serving in a war. Today was the day he had decided to adopt, to bring hope back into his life. But so far, all he saw were baby bunnies. They had hope, for good reason: everyone loves baby bunnies! But he wanted a rabbit that needed hope itself. Just when he thought there'd be nothing that fit the description, the crowd parted and he saw her. He rolled quickly over to her.

Around her, baby bunnies were getting adopted all over the place. She sighed, thinking today was like every other adoption day and there wasn't any chance, until... a young boy leaned to pick her up, and she felt like bursting with joy. But he seized her roughly by the legs, and a jet of pain rocketed through her. She whined in agony, and he dropped her, shrieking "Mommy, I don't want that mean bunny! It made a mean, scary, moan-y noise!" She fell two feet in slow motion, hitting the ground with a low thud. She didn't move, overcome with shock. Mr. Warren rushed over.

"HEY! You! Boy!" a deep, stern voice rumbled. "Don't you dare touch that rabbit again!" The little boy froze. Jeremy, enraged, shot forward in his wheelchair.

"Can't you tell she's different? She needs extra care." He rolled towards Warren, who was holding her. She had opened her eyes, but she wasn't moving. He took her from Warren, ignoring protests from the shelter head, and said, "I'd like to take her." Jeremy signed a form, cradled her, and whispered in her very long, soft ear. The bunny, comfortable in the nice man's arms, heard him whisper to her, "I'm going to name you 'Hope'. I think you've had it all along." The newly-named Hope, having recovered from her fall, nuzzled his arm. And in that instant, Mr. Smithson knew that not only had this bunny always had hope, but also that she'd bring hope to him.

Thank you so much for reading: your support means so much to me! :) If you enjoyed, please consider voting or leaving a kind comment. Each comment and vote always brings me so much joy. Thanks again and please stay safe!