November 18

Willow's Beginning

The yellowish orange leaves fell from the trees making the hills and the lake around me stand out. It was truly beautiful, but the only thing that stood out from the rest was the one tree that wasn't like the others. It was chopped down and it stood there, looking isolated. It's been like that since the day I moved out here when I was 12 but it has been 4 years since that. Montana is sincerely a stunning place to be in, especially to live in since you get to see it daily. I wonder why the tree never grew back and became a full tree again.
I break my gaze from the wonderful view and began to walk back to my house, realizing that my mom may have made dinner by now. I look around, and the sky was appearing to become darker and darker every step I took. I spotted my house from afar, stopped to see my mother gardening her flowers. I smiled at her and in that moment, she noticed me and called me to come to her. Slowly with big steps, I walked over to her direction
"Hey sweetie, how's the tree?" She asked with caring voice, knowing that I went to go see it. She stared at me with her big gray eyes and short dark brown hair, looking at me puzzled as to why I'm not immediately answering back. I always disappeared,in the afternoon to go examine that tree; acknowledging that it may never get better.
"Still the same.." I said as I sighed. I feel bad for it, it's the only one cut down. She nodded in response, and took me by the hand. She smiled gently and let go of my hand. I smiled back; she knows the tree isn't doing any better, but still asks anyway to get a conversation going. Since dad died, it's just been her and I. Sometimes I wonder if my dad was the one to chop the tree down. My mom went back to attending the flowers, while I was walking to door to my house. I glanced back over at her, she looked peaceful which was calming.
As soon as I got into the house, I put down my bag that I was wearing and roamed the house till I got to my room. I sat down on the bed while I took my brush and began to brush my long dark brown hair. It was in tangles because I had to go through a forest to get to my destination. I kept brushing till I saw myself in the mirror that was hanging up near me. I saw black bags under my sky-blue eyes and my hair still goofy like, crazier than this morning. I sighed at the sight of myself and went back to brushing my hair; hoping that it would tame it a little.
I stopped brushing my hair and gave up realizing that it wasn't going to become less tangly, so I decided to take a shower. I got up, but as I was walking out, I saw an envelope that had the words, "From Dad" on it. I stared at it, curios if I should open it, shook my head and went to go take a shower. 
Thirty minutes passed since from when I left my room. I sauntered back to my desk, still to find that envelope there. I picked it up and turned it over to the back side; it read "November 18". I was interested as to why there is a date on there. I balled up my fist, with the note still in my hand, and started to head to my mother. If anything, she may know something about it.
"Mom?" I yelled, waiting for a response back. I waited a few seconds, no response came back to me. I yelled again, and nothing.
"Maybe she is still outside," I whispered to myself, "but it's dark, so why?"
I grabbed a flashlight for the table. I stepped outside to find her sobbing in front of the Bellflowers. I was paralyzed for a moment, snapped out of it and ran to her. I stared at her before saying anything. She recognized that I was with her. She turned around to face me. She looked broken, her eyes full of tears and her skin red.
"What happened mom?" I asked her softly while hugging her for comfort. She hugged me back, and from the looks of it, she definitely needed that hug. I put down the envelope so I could fully hug her. She saw me put something down, and she grabbed it. She examined it and flipped it to the back. I watched as more tears flow from her face. This time she wasn't making any noise. It was a silent cry, which terrified me.
"I was going to ask about this.. I don't know what this is or why there's a date." I pleaded while she was still crying. She wiped her face and looked up at me. She giggled a little and opened her mouth to talk.
"Honey, do you know what today is?" she asked with a little crack in her voice. I shook my head to her question. Since it's break from school, and I haven't been keeping track of the date. I know it's November, but not the actual date.
"It's November 18 sweetie.." my mother said has her voice said trailing off. I made a puzzled face at her. She smiled and pointed to the forest. I was even more confused by this point.
"Willow, go look at the tree." She said glimpsing at me. I don't understand why the tree is involved, but I nodded. I started to run towards the forest. I felt the grass run along my legs while I was running, it felt like I belonged. The wind and the tall trees surrounding me felt like home. I spotted the tree, and stopped running. I gasped at the sight I was seeing. "How?" I wondered, "This doesn't make sense."
            have ever laid eyes on. It stood there, tall and strong. I stared at it for a long time, curiosity filled my mind as I'm looking at this tree. Then it hit me, the letter. I sprinted back to my mom, who was still with the flowers.
            "Mom!" I yelled as she recognized me. She stood up and opened up her arms to hug me. I ran into her arms and began to cry. I don't understand what's going on. I don't understand how my mother knew that the tree grew back and how it grew back that fast. I don't understand how it ties up with dad. All I knew is that I'm holding my mom and this letter.
    "How..How did you know about the tree?" I ask her, with a small crack in my voice. Her face became lighten, and whispered, "Your father loves you."
    "What?", is the only thing that is going through my mind. "Dad?" I stuttered. She smiled and nodded her head.  I backed up, looked at my mom for permission to open the letter. She gave me a signal that I was aloud to open it and so I did. I unfolded it and it was a short paragraph, reading:
    "Willow, my beloved, when it is time, you will find this letter. Protect your mother while I'm away. The tree that does not have a top, will eventually grow back. You probably wondering how and why, but all will be revealed soon. Beloved, I know this is a difficult time, but you are a strong, independent girl. I love and miss you greatly.
~ My Beloved,
Dad"

I cried softly as I read this. I had so many questions, and I needed to find the answers. My mom put her hand on my head, slowly stroking my hair. Something in her face was relaxing but mournful. She reached for my hand, and whispered "Dad loves you sweetheart."
    I realized that the tree that grew back was like my dad. It seemed like he wasn't there, but in the end, he was always here. I just couldn't see him, and so, from that day forward I always went back to the tree to talk to it about my problems and enjoy its presence.
"Where are you going?" Mom asks me as I grab my bag from the table. I glanced at her for a second and she instantly knew where I was going. I ran out of the house and into the woods. I saw the tree, but paused to see a tall figure standing there. I look closer trying to examine it. "Dad?"