The Dead Oak Tree

Dear Love,

I sit under the Dead Oak Tree

The wood is cracking and the leaves have left

Its shadow rests lonely on the ground

I stare at my feet and my eyes fill with tears

The tree awakens

Its broken branches crack with age

Its body creaks and groans

The air around me grows cold and stiff

I wrap my arms around my legs and I cry into my knees

My tired body rests upon the Dead Oak Tree

Its eyes begin to open

And it's long clawed fingers reach out

The branches surround me

The brush against my shoulders

They tangle up my hair

Its arms grow closer ready to strike

They reach farther and farther

Then stop

The long clawed fingers hesitate

I hear a voice in the distance call out

Your voice

As I raise my head the branches back away

It sits behind me

Waiting

I hear you calling but I can't cry out

My mouth is open but no sound escapes

I am helpless

I try to stand

But I am rooted to that Dead Oak Tree

I claw at the ground

I wiggle and squirm

But my body won't budge

No matter how hard I try

I cannot seem to move an inch

Except to shake my hand

There is nothing I can do

The branches swoop down

They tear up my clothes

They scrape at my skin

They trap my arms and keep them close

You are too far away

And I am alone

You wander the woods

But the tree has already won

I'm a battle where I had no fists

And I had no chance

I am sorry

You searched through the night

You called and called out

You tried and you tried

But I didn't answer

I couldn't answer

The tree holds me captive

And I soon fall asleep

I am too weary to fight

And your footsteps have long ago been silenced

When I open my eyes I can hear you again

The sun is up

And as you get closer the branches get looser

The roots holding me down slither back into the ground

And my voice re-enters my body

You stand above me

And you reach out your hand

You have found me

But you have not saved me

I brush off the branches and I get to my feet

And the tree is still

It seems to be over

The branches are gone

But there are still leaves in my hair and grass on my clothes

And the evil lingers

You take my hand and you lead me away

It watches us go

It fades into black

I am free, I am gone

But I will always come back

Sincerely,

A broken girl