-willow tree-

alone

That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, Adaline made her way to the old willow tree, heart pounding with anticipation. She had been looking forward to this moment all day, eager to reconnect with Jane and share her thoughts. The events of the day had weighed heavily on her, and she hoped their nightly meetings would provide the solace she craved.

As she approached the tree, however, she noticed that Jane was already there, sitting against the trunk with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. The usual warmth in Jane's demeanor seemed to have faded, replaced by an air of cool detachment. Adaline felt a knot form in her stomach.

"Hey," Adaline called out, forcing a cheerful tone as she stepped closer. "I'm here! Sorry if I kept you waiting."

Jane looked up but didn't reply immediately. Her expression was unreadable, shadows playing across her features in the dim light. "I wasn't waiting long," she finally said, her voice flat.

Adaline's heart sank at the lack of enthusiasm in Jane's response. "I was thinking about what you said last night," she began, trying to bridge the growing distance. "About how we can support each other. I really want to be there for you."

Jane shifted slightly, her gaze falling back to the ground. "Do you, though? Because it seems like you're more interested in playing the part for your friends than actually being honest with me."

Adaline bristled at the accusation. "I'm trying, Jane! It's not easy for me. I have to keep up appearances at school, or I'll lose everything. You know how it is!"

Jane's eyes narrowed slightly, the hurt evident in her expression. "No, I don't know how it is. You don't seem to understand what it feels like to be treated like an outcast. You get to go back to your friends and pretend everything's fine. I don't have that luxury."

Adaline felt a wave of frustration wash over her. "I'm not pretending everything's fine! I'm just trying to survive here! I thought we had a connection, but it feels like you're shutting me out."

"I'm not the one who's shutting anyone out," Jane shot back, her voice growing colder. "You're the one who chooses to tear me down in front of your friends. I don't know how much longer I can handle this."

The tension hung thick in the air, and Adaline's heart raced as she struggled to find the right words. "I didn't mean for it to go this far, Jane. I thought you understood why I had to act the way I did. I thought you would be okay with meeting here, away from all that."

Jane's expression hardened, a mixture of disappointment and resolve etched across her face. "Maybe I was naïve to think that we could really be friends. You're right; you have to keep pretending for them. But I don't want to be part of a lie."

Adaline felt as though the ground beneath her was giving way. "No, please don't say that," she pleaded, desperation creeping into her voice. "I care about you! I want to figure this out together!"

Jane stood up, her body tense and her eyes blazing. "Caring isn't enough if you're not willing to stand up for me when it counts. I can't keep coming here if it's just going to remind me of the way you treat me during the day."

Adaline felt a deep ache settle in her chest. "I'm sorry, Jane. I truly am. But can't we at least try? I don't want to lose what we have."

Jane took a step back, the distance between them feeling more significant than ever. "I think you need to figure out what you really want. Because right now, it feels like you want to keep me as a secret, and I'm tired of being hidden away."

With those final words, Jane turned and walked away, leaving Adaline alone beneath the willow tree. The branches swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the air felt heavy with unspoken words. Adaline watched Jane's retreating figure, a mix of regret and sorrow washing over her. She had thought their nightly meetings would be a refuge, but now it felt like a chasm had opened between them, one that was growing deeper with each passing moment.

Adaline sank to the ground, her heart aching with the realization that the connection they had built was on shaky ground. The weight of her choices pressed down on her, and she knew that the path ahead would require difficult decisions. As night enveloped the park, the silence around her felt deafening, a stark contrast to the warmth they had once shared under the willow tree.