She is clothed in a dreary, dark shade. Little wrinkles paint her face, long and needle thin. She is weak and frail, yet undeniably mine.
Perhaps the others like winter, but I don't. The sky overflows with a miserable grey, and the cold leaves my stalk brittle and dry. Nearby, our neighbors laugh and dance, further exacerbating my sour mood. If they're not careful enough, they too will end up crunched beneath giants' feet.
Wind catches our tree, and I bristle with fear. The other leaves laugh at me, clearly amused. Prickly words pool on my tongue, a few already having spilled over the edge. She gives me a sad look, and I quiet.
Unusually, the laughter fades, silence falling over us. Confused, I look beside me. Empty spots hang on branches, another few of us gone. Vibrations creep down my stalk as she shakes beside me. My gaze soft, I turn to comfort her...until I notice her cracked stalk. Immediately, my empathy vanishes. She knows she is fragile, and still she overextended herself.
My reprimands glide over her skin, cutting in deep. It's only when I sink to the bottom of the rivers flowing from her eyes that I stop. Gasping for air, I shift my eyes below. Remnants of us lay scattered on cement, broken and forgotten. I say nothing, and neither does she. The wind is stronger now, but I ignore it.
A cloud passes overhead, allowing a small sliver of light to fall upon us. Shyly, I turn towards her, hoping to make amends... only to be met with a vacant spot. I gaze around frantically, panic setting in. My eyes spot her, zooming in on her fading figure. Racing, desperate thoughts fill the spot anger usually takes.
I sit frozen, unsure of what to do. I love her, but...I can't leave. Not when the graves of hundreds below stare up at me so expectantly. Windy hands continue to toss her back and forth, carrying her farther and farther away. The wind blows harder, pressuring me into action. I must decide now.
I hesitate but pull myself free. The wind lifts me, jostling me around harshly. Bright, red-hot fear consumes me. Other leaves swirl around me, torn in opposite directions. Miraculously, the wind keeps us on the same path, allowing me a brief and restful reprieve.
Time passes imperceptibility, hours blurring together. I bounce and dodge, yet to land. My aching eyes still burn into her back, but finally, after a moment or two, I look away. Peering up, I see that the clouds have now cleared. A blindingly beautiful sun hits me, warm golden sheets settling on my face. I wonder how I've never noticed its warmth before.
Stung by its light, I shift my focus to what is around me. Skeletons of trees stand in unison, dry emerald blades tightly grouped together. An acorn falls with an inaudible crack, picked apart by efficient paws. A bushy tail flicks to and fro, delicate whiskers twitching. It is a strangely welcome relief from the brick walls and incessant chatter I am used to.
Eventually, we come across a hill. By now it is sunset, and I am stretched thin. The wind slows, humming with a quiet whisper. Birds pass in and out of trees, the only noise I hear. I still, expecting a familiar laugh...but nothing comes. Hopeful, I whip my head forward...but she is gone.
A terrifying rage fills me, snapping me out of my exhaustion. The wind, perhaps mocking me, settles me on the grass below. My anger throbs, pushing, slamming, shoving...but there is nothing for me to let it loose on.
An uncomfortable lump forms in my throat, silencing my rage. The first sob breaks loose, then another. No insects pass me, leaving me to suffer alone. I had let myself relax, and I had lost her. Worries fill me, and I begin to wonder if my love was ever enough. But now she is gone, and there is no way I can ever know.
Hours pass, day fading into night. I lay silent and empty, my skin puffy and red. The air thrums with tension, poised and ready to strike. This time, I let the wind pick me up with no fear.
Darkness surrounds me as I move forward. Moonlight falls on a passing tree, illuminating weathered branches. Something passes me, and I startle with a jolt. There she is, wedged in a tree, becoming harder and harder to see.
I shout as loud as I can, but it's impossible to hear me over the current. The wind argues back, tearing off pieces of me. By now, she is no more than a pinprick.
The wind continues to tear me apart, spinning me around in a dizzying blur. I can no longer see her. Closing my eyes, I try to shut out the pain. Death approaches me, twirling a sharp, windy knife. Memories flash in and out, and I shut my eyes tighter, wishing for the impossible.
Caught in the eye of a storm, the wind rumbles with a roar. Slowly, the roar fades, death retreating. A soft, gentle breeze brushes against my face. I feel a woody claw catching me, pulling me forward. I open my eyes.
Beautiful umber eyes meet mine, the wind nudging me closer. I fall forward, melting into her loving embrace. Tears merge where our flesh meets, regrets spilling from my mouth. I flinch back, expecting judgment...but there is none. All she gives me is a small, gentle smile. I manage a small smile back, the first I have given in a long time.
Stars wink and wave at us above, the cold air stinging. Bits and pieces of us float away, the hungry wind temporarily satiated. I observe the slope of her nose, the rise and fall of her lips—-and am filled with an unfamiliar gratitude. Our rest will end soon, but for now, this is enough.
We hold one another far into the night, our hearts warm and our eyes fluttering. The darkness grows heavier, its stars glowing brighter. Soon, we fade into a blissful slumber as strong winds whistle in the distance, another story soon to be told.