The Apple Tree

Epilogue – Last Pages

The last of the autumn leaves fall from the trees. As everyone watches Tily being lowered into her grave, Helena thinks about her last words. After the ceremony she pushes the little baby now known as Tily, off after her father and godmother.

“Do you know where Tily’s apple tree is?” she asks, hoping for some answers. Jasper shakes his head, clearly still to shook up about her death to think. Isabel looks up thoughtfully.

“It’s in the park, I think,” she whispers. They get into their car and Isabel drives to the park. All for people get out and walk in the gates. Isabel notices a gap in the bushes and she slips in it. They all eventually get through, even Helena and her pushchair. They walk up the overgrown path and see the tree. They see the burnt tree, the dead grass. Jasper sees a patch of earth that seems to be freshly dug and starts to dig.

“Jasper, what are you doing?” asks a concerned Helena.

“I think something is buried here. Remember her last words were ‘under the apple tree’,” he answers. His hands feel a book like shape and a pen. He pulls them out from the earth, “See.” They all gather around the book, Helena holding little Tily. They read all the late Tily wrote and they finally understand how she felt. The pain she suffered. The final passage was the most interesting though. Her final thoughts, her final feelings.

Even as the seasons change I don’t. I feel the constant torture winter brings when I’m alone. I feel the sweet summer as I get home and I feel spring in Helena and her new baby. Autumn never ends. Everything dies. I will too one day. Even as I close this book and you learn my deepest secrets. This one you will never know. That is unless you are like me.

Only the invisible understand this pain. I know if anyone is reading this it is Jasper, Isabel, Helena and her sweet baby. I wish I could be happy for you Helena I really do. Be careful; don’t let your baby go unnoticed. Don’t let her become invisible.

I know that if you are reading this I’m dead. That’s OK I forgive you. I trust you all. Believe me when I say that I am happier now. My autumn has finally ended and the cold winter is coming, but I look forward to spring and then summer.

I will always be here watching you.

I love you all dearly and I wish you didn’t have to feel this pain. What’s the worst that I could say? Things are better if I stay. So long and goodnight. So long and goodnight,

Yours forever,

Tily

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