Age old friends

  She lay down in the long, green grass. It was soft to the touch thanks to the rain recently. It was quiet, only the birds and crickets could be heard chirping.

  She gave a satisfied sigh, looking up at the sky. It was half filled with clouds... White, fluffy cloud. Playful, joyful, happy. The sun was behind one of them at that point, but it was nice.

  Near where she lay was an age old oak tree. It had been there since she was a child, playing around and in it, watering it when the rains didn't come. She'd grown so fond of it, it was like a pet almost. It listened to her breath, knowing her mood, and she knew the tree cared. It often sigh with her when she was sad, and rustled its leaves for her when she was happy.

  As the years passed by, their friendship developed into more than a child and pet relationship. They were close friends... Best friends... Nothing could keep her from visiting the tree.

  She was growing old now, her time nearly up. Unsure of how many times she'd be able to see this tree before she departed this world, she decided to visit it everyday. She sat with it, she read it books, pruned the lower branches, watered the based when it didnt rain, raked the grass when too many leaves had fallen.

  Today, however, she was just relaxing. She turned to the tree.

  "I'll miss you when I leave. Will you miss me too?" She asked it.

  The tree sigh and bowed in the wind as if to say "yes".

  She smiled and patted the based, "I'm glad you'll miss me... You're my greatest friend, and you have been ever since I first met you, when I was only a toddler."

  The tree rustled its leaves slightly, letting her know how important their friendship was to it. It shed a few leaves and they landed next to her.

  "Don't be sad, my old friend... My time is drawing near, but don't be sad, ok? They'll be others for you to play with, perhaps another little girl. A little girl more interesting than myself." She said, trying to comfort it. "It's ok... Wherever I may go, I'll wait for you there. I know you'll be around for a few more years, but I'll still wait."

  The tree didn't respond.

  She smiled, closing her eyes as she lay back down, "You're such a sook, you know."

  There was silence between them for a while, each enjoying the company of the other.

  The hours past by in silence before she finally sspoke again. "I love you. I've never loved anyone but you. I wanted you to know that while I still had the courage to tell you. But now, I'm going to sleep. You'll look after me while I sleep, wont you?"

  The tree was still for a moment, then one of its branches lowered and lifted her up. "I love you too" It whispered to her, and craddled her while she drifted off into her eternal slumber.