Weeping Cherry
Jacob knelt slowly and silently beside the weeping cherry tree. This regular moment of focussed introspection somehow prepared him for his weekly meetings.
He was trapped in a perpetual winter, whilst the blossom boasted of a spring he would never again be blessed to experience. He was imprisoned by the stone that stood resolutely before him.
“Please let me go,” he pleaded. He knew he did not deserve freedom, but somehow hoped for the miraculous.
He longed for an opportunity to return to the past, to right his wrongs. Six years ago he did not live life like the cherry tree. Immaturely, he lived it in his own way, disregarding the right paths and expectations. Risks were for the taking. Life was purely to be enjoyed.
For the blossom, its fate was a natural circle of life, with many soft kisses landing gently upon the ground. Jacob’s fate, in stark contrast, was unnatural and destructive.
Five years, six months and ten days ago, became a day ingrained on Jacob’s heart. He had only just turned 21 the week before. Ironically, it was the middle of fall and all the leaves on the trees around him were turning stunning shades of red and brown. However, to Jacob, the colours meant nothing other than the reality that they were being stripped of life.
On that day the stone was positioned and the weeping cherry tree was planted.
He now acknowledged the tree that had grown with the years and was adorned with a multitude of flowers, but he would never be able to absorb the incredible beauty that others felt. To him the tree would be forever weeping.
As Jacob regularly stands up and says his piece about feelings and life, it is in the knowledge that he will repeatedly die with the blossom, maybe one year soon never to return.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello Paula, what a thought provoking story, a life in stark contrast to the Cherry Tree. My thought (because of your story is) – if only world leaders could see the world through the wonderful power found in nature, and not the power of the ego, then the world would be seen through the beauty of the Cherry Tree. Thank you.
Hi Eric,
I very much agree.
It is so amazing to be grounded in nature, to enjoy the beauty and power that we so often lose sight of in our daily lives.
Thank you for your comment.
I like the contrast of the ‘cherry tree’ with the protagonist, Jacob. The story is composed in a competent style.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you Dipayan.
I do hope Jacob gets his miracle; it sounds as though he has learned some lessons along the way. An intriguing story, Paula, and perhaps another one to follow… As a reader I’m hoping 🙂
Thank you for your comment Sandra.
Comments without a personalized avatar will not be published.
To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA very thought provoking story Paula, such an unhappy protagonist, my heart goes out to him. Hopefully one day something will come along and help him to blossom.
I pray that your protagonist will experience the miracle and have an opportunity to return to the past to change his mistakes and make it right to make him blossom. It is a very interesting story. Well written.