• Why was I sitting outside in the rain, I don't really remember that cold and bitter August. All I can remember was my heart was sinking, the bitter feeling of floating away in the chilling breeze. I never remembered putting on my jacket or shoes before I ran out of the house to catch the rain.

    I went without a word, like a shadow scumming to the bitter-sweet light it so craved. I ran so fast, my heart was racing, my feet sore. Some would say it was not wise to be in the rain in a well used T-shirt, without shoes to cover my feet. I could careless to what was not wise, to what was wise. I had somewhere to be, my hart aching to be there when I could not. It was like the day before.

    The day before I hated so, the sun was shining like there was something to be happy about. In a single night, I had lost the two people I loved more than myself. The only two people I would call friends. The bitterness of the light seemed to rub it in my face, like it was not bad enough.

    How long I ran, how long I was gone, I did not care. The place I needed to be I was there now. The old tree had been there for so long, since the three of us were young. We played under this tree that hung by the ocean, we called it our secondary home. How it had grown all these long years, how much shelter it had given to us three. We always met here, before or after school. On the weekends we slept under it, despite rain, sleet or snow.

    I remember how the Tree had never grown a fruit, only leaves and more branches. On this day it was not bare when it should have been, it was so luscious and green. It was so large that not even the waves hitting it could stop it. Right where I would lay at its trunk, two smaller trees had begun to grow. I remember the feeling of safety as I hid in its torn trunk. It was so dry, so cozy, I felt safe only there. There I slept, crying in my sleep. The tears falling to the tree, where later two fruits would grow. I felt so safe wrapped in the tree, that had always been there. It seemed to curve to my body where I had always slept, keeping me warm and safe.

    When light broke for the next day I remember seeing the two fruits, lush and growing, nearly glowing with glee. The rain had passed, so had the storm. I remember hugging onto the tree, in a way of saying thank you. I felt better somehow, my heart slightly mended. I'll never forget the Night I spent in the Tree of Unburdened Peace.

    Dedicated to Born_killer and I_play_Wow
    Terica Scarborough and Dillon Keys, May they Rest in Peace.