The Oak Tree

The Memory

Jan.7, 2003

I watched her as she sat on my swing, Even though everyone said I was a very friendly kid, the oak tree was mine and I hated when anyone tried to go near it, it was my father's after all.

The only thing he ever left for me.

But somehow I didn't mind when I saw the new girl sitting on my swing in the middle of the night.

She was different.

"I didn't know you would be here tonight."

My sudden entrance startled the mystery girl so much that she fell off the swing with a tiny thud.

"Ouch! Mister how dare you scare me like that?"

She was angry at me still I couldn't but laugh. She looked like a flower in the autumn season.

Trying so hard to stay still but it was getting inevitable due to the hard blowing wind.

"Sorry flower I didn't mean to do that."

"Don't call me flower and go away, I don't talk to strangers."

"Well I don't know your name so what else should I call you? And this is my place, you're the one who's intruding," I said with a smile.

For a second she looked confused, her eyes traveling up and down taking in my appearance for the first time. Her rosy lips parted as she tried to say something in her defense, but she couldn't since it was her mistake after all.

"Oh, I didn't know it was yours. Sorry."

"That's okay flower! I can share it with you if you like it?"

"Uh..I love it, it's peaceful here," she said looking around the place with admiration in her eyes, but quickly diverted them back to me.

For the first time ever someone was making me feel awkward.

For the first time ever I was speechless and had nothing to say.

For the first time ever I genuinely liked the quiet feeling.

So instead of saying anything I sat on the swing and patted the space beside me, looking towards her for reassurance.

And to my surprise she did sit down, with a smile on her face, showing a deep dimple similar to mine.

We stared at the lake before us in silence for way to long until she spoke again.

"Heather, you can call me that, Harry."

The words were softly spoken as if she was thinking them over and over again.

I never knew or asked how she knows my name but at the moment I realized one thing;

'You are never too young or too old to fall in love.'