A tree stood still. All year round, a tree stood still. All day and night, a tree stood still. Until... I walked down High Street and passed the same tree every day for 20 years. I was always on the move. Back and forth, forth and back past a tree that stood still. The tree that stood still never grew a leaf throughout my entire life of knowing it. I ignored that fact. The tree that stood still never seemed to age. I ignored that fact. The tree that stood still never lost a branch. I ignored that fact. The tree that had stood so still always appeared the same no matter what direction I looked at it. I ignored that fact. When passing the tree at night, the street light would flicker and suddenly turn off as I passed the tree that stood still on the opposing side of the street that it stood still on. Every time that I had looked over in the direction of the tree that stood still, it would seem that it was gone. The tree seemed to haunt me from the same position on the opposite side of the street. Yet, when the street light flickered off, there was nothing. There was a vague depth of the night shroud that veiled my sight. The mysteries became of the past as I walked home and slept. It was just another afternoon in the summer, when I passed the tree that stood still. It was a normal day, when I noticed the sun was out. It was hot and I wanted to be shaded. I thought it must be lucky for ants. My shade must be as big as that tree that stood still. Then, I saw it. Or, didnt see it. My shadow. Where was it? How could my shadow, on a bright afternoon, have left me? The beating in my chest stopped. My thoughts were silenced. Body frozen and drenched with disdain. I had only one question left. What is the tree that stood still? I gasped for air as if I had been deep sea diving without an oxygen tank. The ground started moving under me. My feet took sprints from my position. I ran. I found myself blocks away on the lawn of a church. As I turned my head, I found the shadow that I have had my whole life return to follow me. I must have been dehydrated. Its just one hallucination. I should take care of myself and perhaps this would not happen. I continued to conclude my day. The next night, I found myself walking the path, the path of High Street that I had passed every day for 20 years. As I came close to pass the tree that stood still, the street light flickered. I managed to glimpse down at the ground behind me, when I saw the tree disappear in midst of the flickering of the street light. The tree phased in and out of my sight as I bent my eye lids far beyond the edge of my retina. My eyes bulged out as I noticed that tree that stood still was not a tree and nor did it stand still. Neither did my shadow. The shadow that was once an extension of my being was snipped from the point of connection at the base of my feet and gave the impression, it was lost from my possession. I found myself drenched with disdain, yet again. Although this time, I did not run. I stood postured and faced the flickering lamp post. The first step was difficult. My knees bent like a rusty door hinge as my foot landed like Neil Armstrong on the moon. The street light went out. The tree that stood still was no more and was engulf by mystery. Although minor yards away, the tree disappeared. My shadow disappeared. And, I.. I was there no more. The shadow that was once dictated by me, had now dictated I be the shadow. The tree that stood still became free of observation and became of the shadow. Life, itself, is a street light. Flickering. Everything is shadow.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 06:57:47 +0000
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