Under the Willow Tree by Mow May (best beach reads TXT) 📖

The cool spring breeze blew threw my hair. The moist ground made my body sink into the earth. I had my pen and notebook out writing a poem. My pen scratched down lines about The willow tree I was under.
"Missing you is all i do."
Everything i write, is all about you.
I'm under your willow tree.
Seeing all that i can see,
Being with you is where i'd rather be."
I scratched that out. Ugggg, i could never get anything right. "Ahha, I got it." My pen slowly began to write until... "CRASH" One of moms wine glasses fell from the tree and shattered. I jumped. My Writing utensil flew up in the air That was the third item that has fallen and broke all week. I buried the glass underneath the soil, not caring about the Pain that the sharp edges were puncturing my hands. I always buried he items when the broke.
I pulled the broken glass out of my bloody hands and went to the creek to wash them off. I looked at my reflection in the water. I looked so much like my mom, with the thick red hair and the freckles. My dad looks nothing like either of us. If only i could see my mom again. I thought.
I raised my head as i heard the echoing of my father calling me. I quickly grabbed my pen and notebook and ran back to the house.
"Where have you been young lady" My dad asked sternly as we ate our chicken Parmesan and pasta. "Under the willow tree, like i always am" I mumbled with my head down. "Well i looked and you weren't there." "I was bleeding so i went to the creek and washed off." Dad stood up Fast and angry. "Your mom went missing at that creek! I have told you and told you to stay away!" "Yeah Well, unlike you i choose not to spend my whole freaking life worrying about everything!!" I fired back. "Go to your room. Don't use that tone with me... I'm done talking to you."
I stomped up to my room, buried myself in my covers and cried.


***
The next morning. like always, it seamed like nothing happened last night. My dad did his normal routine. Drank coffee and read the newspaper. He only read the sports section though. Ever since mom went missing he stopped reading the tragedy of what was going on in the world.
Today was not normal to me though. I was going to ask dad the hardest question i have ever had to ask. Even worse when we took that all about puberty class together... awkward.
"Umm, dad, do you think mom is still out there... like alive." I asked as i shook. He slowly raised his head and looked at me. "Honey, she has been missing for three years, the police looked every where for months and months."
I knew he was going to say that, i just didn't want to believe it. My eyes teared up and i ran to his embraced arms. "I miss her so much..." " I do to sweetie."

***
The next morning i went and sat up against the tree. My mom named me willow after this tree. She loved us so much. We were such a happy family. The day i found out she was gone, i didn't come out of my room for three months.
Dad brought me out some cheese and crackers. He sat down beside me and we ate them together. "Thanks." It was a nice day. It wasn't to hot and it wasn't to cold. Dad and i watched the clouds go by until he herd the phone ring from inside. I watched him walk off.
later that night my dad came into my room holding something. "Whats That." I curiously asked and sat up. "I found it under the bed." He held up a shiny gold locket. "I remember that night when i took her out to the fanciest restaurant. It was her favorite. Before we left i stuck this in her pocket. When she reached into it earlier on she found this. Oh, you should of seen the look on her face."
I smiled, loving when dad told these stories. I could just picture her in my mind. Her lilac smell, her soft glowing hair. I miss that. 'do you want to go hang it on the tree. I nodded. I threw on my rain boots and sweatshirt. Dad grabbed a flashlight and we went out.

***
The next day i didn't go outside at all yesterday. Dad and i both stayed in our rooms. Some days are like that.
When i woke up the next morning i found dad outside by the willow tree reading. That was unusual. He always finds me out there. I went out and sat next to him. 'whats up." "oh just resting and thinking" he replied. It was quiet for a couple minutes until dads cell phone buzzed. We both jumped. He answered. I couldn't make out the mumbling of the voice on the other line. I watched dads face looked confused until he realized what was being said to him.
He hung up. "Just another prank call about your mother returning." "Oh."I said always wishing it wasn't a prank. We sat in silence for the next half hour until blaring lights and sirens arrived at our house. Dad and i turned around and saw a woman getting out of the car, with glowing red hair and freckles. A breeze blew through, and i smelled the smell of lilacs.

Publication Date: 05-29-2011

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