PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
Thank you to Rochelle for providing Friday Fictioneers as well as the photo this week!
The Tree of Love
The rhythmic sawing woke Lita who understood instantly its meaning. Each slice across the bark felt like it ripped her flesh.
Her mother’s grasp restrained her.
“We can’t let him kill the tree,” Lita said.
“We must.”
“But the magic—”
“Isn’t in the tree. It never has been. It’s here,” her mother said, pointing to her heart.
Yet, Lita felt deeply each blade stroke. Her connection with Rolf to whom she would have been betrothed severed. When the last slash fell the delicately flowering tree, Lita, too, fell, withered inside, her father’s words resonating: he is my enemy.
end 2/1/2018
Sascha Darlington
So many memories are tied up in trees.
This is true. And so much life. Thanks, Dale!
Symbols are important, but I agree with the mother – the magic is inside
Yes, but some people do let themselves be swayed by the power of the symbol. Thanks, Neil! 🙂
Oh my….this says a great deal with not many words. The tree is such a strong image and its’ “death’ is very moving. Then the Mother…. the magic is there still even without the tree. Whew! I love reading writing like this.
Thank you, Anne. I appreciate your comment. I really need to write like this more often so your encouragement helps.
Good! Writing fiction is not so easy and if I can encourage you to do more then I’m glad!
The magic is inside our hearts is such a nice thought. Trees, places, people will come and go, but so long as you hold them in your heart they will live on. Nicely done.
Yes! Thank you so much for reading, Iain! 🙂
What a great story about love, loss, and longing.
Thank you so much for reading! 🙂
Ouch. Harsh father indeed.
Thanks for reading. I suspect he’s one who has held a grudge for a very long time.
Those family feuds can be very infuriating. But her mom is right. Real magic is in believing it is there. Nicely done, Sascha
Yes, Varad. I agree. The reality and magic is always within.
Fascinating – I love the idea of the magic being inside her heart. But this left me with questions. Is this part of a larger story? I didn’t understand why the felled tree would sever her connection to her betrothed, or the closing line about her father. (Maybe it’s just me.)
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thanks, Susan for commenting. This is my premise: Some people believe that objects outside of themselves hold mystical powers. It’s like someone throwing a coin into a wishing well or leaving love letters in a wall believing that their wish *wish* or *desire* will come true. And despite a rational voice, some become overwrought if the sanctity of that object has been breached believing that those wishes or desires can never come to fruition. The father does not wish his daughter to marry his enemy (or most probably the son of his enemy (think Montague and Capulet) who is therefore also his enemy, thus tears down the mystical love tree. Heh. That explanation was probably more than my 98 word story.
Thanks again. 🙂
Beautifully written, as always.
I have seen such clashes and arguments between parents and children regarding ‘the suitable match’ and sometimes they can turn really ugly. I hope there is still a way for Lita to get back together with the one that she holds dear .
Thank you, Moon. It’s so true. Parents have a completely different idea from the children regarding love. For the children it is impossible to discern whether it’s love or lust…or hopefully both. Again, thanks.
As the song so rightly said –
If you believe in the power magic,
I can change your mind
And if you need to believe in someone,
Turn and look behind…
Our connection to trees, for whatever reason, goes very deep. Nicely done, Sascha.
Thank you, Sandra.
Dear Sascha,
While Lita’s mother is right about the connection being in her heart, there’s also the fact that the tree represents so much to her. Beautifully done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. 🙂