Mom and Dad’s tree

The tree had been there for as long as Michael could remember. Planted in front of his childhood home, where his parents still lived, it stood three times as high as the house. He used to climb it when he was younger, he broke his leg from falling off, twice. He had also wondered if he would be able to make it to the top. To his nine year old self, it was there was a secret treasure at the top, like in his video games, but now he saw that there was nothing special about the tree top. Now that it had had fallen down unto the house.

The emergency team that came over were certain that it was the high winds that had caused it to tumble over onto the house, there were other trees that did just that earlier in the day. He sat on the porch as the team carried out his father on the stretcher. It seemed so sudden, mom had passed away just the week before, now it was Dad's turn. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders, it really did help. He followed team into the ambulance. His father was still breathing, short shallow breaths, and he had enough consciousness to refuse any treatment that the EMT's offered him. Even though the tree had smashed into his shoulder, there was bone sticking out, he refused anything for the pain. The EMT's were stunned, but they followed his wishes and just stopped the freeflow of blood, leaving the branch, which skewed him through the shoulder.

They were probably halfway to the hospital when his dad, who was nearly 70 years old, started speaking to Michael. "I guess it just is my time, I never wanted to live my life without her." He coughed a bit, causing some blood to spit out of the wound and his mouth, the EMTs looked very concerned. "I still don't know how you were able to live life without a partner. I would have died of loneliness years ago if I did not have her in my life. In fact, I don't think we every told you about how we first met. Did we?"

Michael replied. "Yes, you did, but I don't think this is a good time to recount it." He looked at the EMTs who were agreeing with him. "You need to stop talking so that you can rest. We can talk about this when you are better."

"No," he snapped backed. "I won't make it to the hospital, and I don't want to. I am going to tell you now. I was climbing this tree." He pointed at the branch sticking out of him. "When I fell, and hurt my ankle. I was only like a yard or too up. I was twelve, your mom, who was just a year older than me, had just moved in next door. Apparetly, she was watching me out of her bedroom window because only moments after I fell, she was there by myside. It might have been the pain too, but the summer sun shining through her blonde hair made her look like an angel. An angel with a golden halo. I was smitten." He paused smiling while looking at the empty chair to his left. "You look just like I remember darling." He then looked at the EMTs, "now let me die in peace." They all nodded. He then closed his eyes.