The Old Oak Tree

"Have a good night, boys! Stay safe out there." 

The old door squeaked as I pressed against it. I turned my head back, smiled at the old cashier, and waved my hand.

"Until next time!" The boy behind me gave his farewell.

As I stepped outside, I felt a hand grab my shoulder.

"Are we going to stop by the spot?" The boy behind me asked.
"It's late, and I can barely see the road from here, Garnet."

Garnet let go of my shoulder and stood by my side.

"It's been too long since we've been here together; it'll be quick!" Garnet insisted.

I leaned my head down and let out a light sigh.

The door opened creakily behind us, and the old man peered his head out.

"Do you guys need any help?" He asked, tilting his head, confused why we were standing there.
"I'm trying to convince him to visit the old oak tree with me," Garnet said while digging his thumb into my shoulder. "Just like the good old times!"

A truck with bright headlights pulled into the parking lot, causing us all to flinch. It was currently nighttime, and we were at a gas station 30 minutes from town. Most people didn't travel here at night; they had never done so. Occasionally, some high schoolers would stumble across the area, whether by accident or word of mouth; they never dared to cross through the trees.

"Ah, the old oak tree," the old man began, "not many come to visit anymore."
"Remember when we would visit when we were younger?" Garnet asked.
"I remember those days fondly, kid-- look how much you've grown."

The old man smiled; he may not have shown it much, but I always believed he appreciated our company.

Garnet blushed and scratched his head. I stood there, watching their conversation, but my mind was trailing elsewhere.

About how the crickets sang so wonderfully tonight. It was as if they were in a choir, singing to a sold-out concert hall.

The old man looked over at me while Garnet recovered from his blissfulness.

"Be safe out there. The foliage has grown, but it's exactly how you remember it."

A smile crossed my lips. 

The old man headed back inside as the truck driver approached the entrance. He tilted his hat, and I nodded my head.

We were walking towards the road as we heard the sound of a plane soaring above.

Garnet and I stopped to look.

"I wonder how the city looks from up there," Garnet imagined.
"I bet it's beautiful."

As we crossed the pumps, a cigarette ad was still playing on the machine the truck was parked in front of.

"I don't understand how people can smoke," Garnet began. "The health risks can't be worth it."
"You never know what people are going through; maybe it's the only part of their day where they can relax."
"Would you ever smoke?"
"Not a chance."

As we left the gas station, the world around us grew darker. After crossing the road, there was nothing but darkness.

I pulled out my phone and turned on the flashlight. Garnet followed suit. 

The grass rustled beneath us as we walked through the trees. Every time a branch snapped, Garnet would freeze. 

How would he feel if someone were out here with us?

The trees didn't continue for long, but every second they walked, the tension deep in their chests rose. 

When the oak tree appeared before them, all of their worries washed away.

In a vast open area stood an oak tree, all alone at the top of a hill.

"There!" Garnet yelled excitedly, running up the hill. I followed suit.

The crickets were significantly louder than they were at the gas station; they were practically deafening. But above all the singing, an owl could be heard calling from the top of the old oak tree. 

It was waiting for something-- for someone.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

At the top of the hill, Garnet had already thrown himself on the ground. He was looking up at the old oak tree above him. I walked over and joined him.

The leaves of the tree were a dark, emerald green.

"What do you think the tree would say if it could talk?" I asked.
"I don't know, maybe it yearns for sunlight. What do you think?"

I lay there in silence for only a moment and closed my eyes.

"I think the tree would wish to be free."

Garnet rolled to his side and faced me, a pondering look on his face.

"What makes you say that?"

I pointed up in the sky, and Garnet rolled back over to follow my direction.

"Look at the leaves, they all reach upwards. It's as if they want to fly-- fly into the wind."
"They can achieve that-- can't they?"
"The leaves can, but the tree can't. I can only imagine how lonely it must be in the fall."

I stood up, walked over to the trunk of the tree, and lay my head against it.

"Everything leaves at some point-- nothing stays forever. One day, the leaves will leave this old oak tree again, and so will the crickets, and so will the lonely owl above."

I lay down against the base of the tree.

"One day, we will all be alone. One day, we'll all be like this oak tree, wishing we could fly away with our friends-- our family. But nothing lasts forever. One day, we will be stuck wishing we lived every moment-- appreciated every memory."

Garnet stood up and walked over to where I was sitting and crouched over my legs.

He reached his fist out.

"I promise that no matter where life takes us, I will always be here for you."

I reached my fist out.

"That goes both ways."

Garnet put on a bright smile, one that could power an entire city. 

He lived every day-- as if every moment mattered to him.

Garnet sat down next to me, and we gazed upon the city's lights. It was slightly foggy, so the lights were blurry, but the layout of the city was still visible, even from so far away.

"I remember this view from when we were younger," Garnet began. "I was always fascinated by how the highway sloped into the city like the tail of a snake."

I nodded my head. There was one main entrance to the city, and it was the Starlight Bridge that went towards the hills. The lights are said to have been built by a goddess a long time ago.

"I personally like how the rest of the city is curved like the body of a snake in a defensive position."

As the story goes, the goddess was trapped on this lonely island by the other gods. She built the lights in the hope someone would find her.

"Do you ever think about how small we really are in this world?" I asked.
"I don't, but if you think about it, we're looking at thousands of people right now."
"Every house, every car, every person. So many of us-- with so little power on our own."
"But look what we can achieve together."

I nodded my head.

If one person could find her, then she could be free.

The owl still called from above.

The crickets still sang from the trees.

Yet sat in silence for a moment.

"Garnet, what do you think is the best feeling in the world?"
"If I had to say, it must be spending time with my family."

I nodded my head.

"After we become adults, we have already spent most of our time with our family. When I was younger, I took that for granted. Every day, when I wake up, I make sure I tell everyone that I love them, because one day, I won't wake up with them around anymore."

I looked over at Garnet, but he wouldn't look at me. His throat was twitching, and tears were streaming down his face. He was trying to stay composed. Maybe he wanted to stay strong for me-- or for someone deep inside him. 

If only I could show him that crying isn't a weakness.

The lights reached into the sky, reaching so bright they touched the stars. If they could see it, maybe they would save her.

But they weren't going to save her.

"Your turn," Garnet spoke, semi-composed. He leaned his head back and wiped at his eyes.

"I believe the happiest feeling in the world might only happen once in your life-- if at all."

A star shone brightly in the sky, causing a sudden flash of light.

Garnet was looking into my eyes, how deep red they must have looked. Eyes that were not staring at the night sky in front, but at the distant future.

"If I could make a wish, I would wish for a future where I could make a dream come true. Not just any dream, but the dream of someone who is most important to me."

The lights attracted travelers from a nearby area, people who left their homes in the hope of a better life. When they entered the city, they found no one there.

"If I could have one wish," I said, looking into the shooting star. "I believe I'm quite selfish, for the actions I take are typically ones that benefit me. That's why, if I had just one wish, I would wish to witness the raw emotion of someone I love--"

The star began to fade into the darkness, as if taking its last breath.

"--realizing their life dream."

I stood up and raised my fist toward the moon.

The travelers found just one thing left in the village, a book. One message was written in it. When the travelers read it, they all began to cry.

For the people she wished to reach never came, so she left everything for the few who would find it.

But, in reality, she never left.

"I hope your wish comes true," Garnet said, standing up beside me. "Come on, let's go home."
"Thank you for dragging me out here, Garnet. I won't forget our promise."
"You better not!"

We laughed and began walking down the hill back towards the gas station. When I reached the bottom, I looked back up towards the old oak tree.

For I had one final wish.

The leaves on the tree started to blow with the wind. Some even flew off towards the city.

But something remained.

Someone remained.

The owl at the top of the old oak tree was still calling out towards the darkness.

"I hope you find who you're looking for, too-- my dear goddess."