Days turn into months. Months turn into seasons. Seasons turn into years.
Time goes by with no such remorse. But the wise old tree is still standing, tall and strong. With the etched heart. Two etched hearts.
'S + F = 4EVA'
'M + T = 4EVA'
Both hearts had been etched in the same trunk. On opposite sides of the tree.
Sam and Freddie were long gone.
The tree found a new young couple to bring together. Two teenagers by the names of Marianne and Thomas. Like the previous pair, they hated their long names. So it was Mary and Tom instead.
Mary wasn't one to believe in love, as her home life spent with an alcoholic father. This experience had told her that love was fake and just 'fairytale stuff'.
Tom was her best friend. Whenever she'd come around to his house, crying and scared, he'd comfort her.
Both of the best friends seemed to not worry when matters became tough and seemed hopeless because they cared for each other deeply. Both swore to themselves and each other that they'd die for the other. If it was necessary.
...
They were fifteen and he carved their initials together in that old tree trunk and that was why she etched the big heart surrounding it.
They were sixteen and the two teenagers meet up secretly, late one night to talk to each other. The boy steals a kiss. Their first kiss. She is caught by complete surprise.
They were seventeen, both of them were leaning against the branch. Mary was reading. Tom was pretending to read, but caught glances of the girl beside him, when he thought she wasn't looking. She smiles when she thinks he's not looking.
They were eighteen and Mary met up with Tom to tell him she was leaving and never coming back. The tree's branches creaked, as if cringing in despair.
They were nineteen and Tom had come to the tree. He knew it was their tree now. Tracing the 'M' in the heart, he sighs sadly. He missed her so much, it broke his heart.
They were twenty, he still hadn't heard from her. A wind brushed through the leaves, whispering to him that she'd be home soon and to just wait.
They were twenty-one
They were twenty-two
They were twenty-three and the boy had just finished dinner with another girl and decided to visit his favorite place. The tree whacked the back of his head with one of its branches. It was annoyed.
They were twenty-four and she was back. She re-visited their tree, and it seemed to welcome her back with open arms. That etched heart was still there, and the initials. She smiled.
They were twenty-five and both of them were running over to their favorite place. Their hands were joined and their smiles were irreplaceable.
They were twenty-six, he walked up to the tree and found her already there, waiting for him. Waiting for the question. He was nervous. She could tell. They kiss each other, longingly. Leaves fluttered all around the two of them.
They were twenty-seven, they were having a simple picnic and that's when he asked her to marry him. She squealed and said yes, before tackling him in a kiss.
They were twenty-eight, the night before their wedding and she wanted some last minute advice to becoming a wife. Her fingers traced the etched initials, softly.
They were twenty-nine, she had run away, from him. Their first fight. Tears soaked the tree roots, as she clung to the trunk for support before collapsing on her knees, bitterly weeping.
They were thirty, he was a father. He shouted it out to the world. Only the rustling leaves were applauding him soundly.
They were forty.
They were fifty.
They were sixty and the woman lay herself down underneath that same tree. As she closed her eyes, she listened to the birds, and the gentle whistling breeze.
They were sixty one and he came to the tree to seek wisdom. Wisdom of dying and losing true love. It didn't respond.
They were sixty-two and her last visit was bitter-sweet. She knew this would be the final farewell of an old, dear friend. He watched from a distance, in silence.
They were sixty-three and the wise old tree knew it had happened. It knew that she'd be back soon enough to visit once more.
He was seventy.
He was eighty and he brought his two grandchildren to the same place. The branches sway a little, enjoying the company for a change.
He was eighty one, the tree's leaves fell to the ground and he looked at them, a weak smile spread across his face.
He was eighty-two and he noticed the initials had been covered over with moss. He frowned and shook his head and didn't do anything to fix it.
He was eighty-three and it was time. He asked his son to bring him to his favorite place. The tree swayed its branches slowly, it seemed to whisper : see you soon…
...
You know that wise old tree? It's waiting for a new young couple to etch their initials in yet another heart.
Just like Mary and Tom's. And Sam and Freddie's before them.
'M + T = 4EVA'
'S + F = 4EVA'
That wise old tree, will always remember. Because…
...it still knows everything.