My Oak Friend

The leaves danced along the concrete sidewalk as their radiant colors were reflected in the sun. Bright oranges and yellows streamed down the old oak’s trunk and flickered away as a cloud passed the sun. Erika sat there underneath the glorious tree as the cool, crisp fall air stung her cheeks. She had ran out of the house without a jacket and had to press her arms around her knees in order to keep warm. Her mother’s boyfriend had come home from work and although it was only 3 ‘o clock in the afternoon, his craving for alcohol had lured himself and her mother into a drunken and seductive rage. Just as the boyfriend’s burly hand was sure to collapse against her face, she ran as fast as she could to the comfort of the old oak tree. There she would remain until the sun was down and she was sure the duo would be passed out on the floor. The woodsy trail leading to the tree had become far too familiar as she realized she was running to its shelter almost every day. She was no longer afraid of its dark shadows and the eerily squeaky scratches the branches made when they rubbed against one another in the wind. Now she welcomed the noise, as it seemed to be the only company she had. She imagined the big tree scooping her up in its might arms and swinging her back and forth the way her father did before he passed. She imagined the leaves coordinating their falls so they would land precisely on her nose just to tickle her. She imagined the squeaky branches asking her about her day. Erika leaned into the tree and began to wonder what it would be like if her mother and her boyfriend were no longer around. No more yelling or screaming. No more hitting and fighting, she could finally be free. She felt a pang of guilt as she practiced getting a phone call from a police officer telling her of their terrible demise. The sun began to draw into the forest and the wind began to get colder. Erika stood up and made her trek home as she wished her friend farewell. She opened the door to her house and stepped over the still bodies. Stale liquor filled the air as she made the way to her room. She looked out of her window and in the direction of the old oak tree. The wind blew and she imagined the tree sending a message to bid her sweet dreams. Erika dozed off to sleep.