The Window and The Cherry Tree

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I am staring out a window and not just any window

One from my past, in my present, and surely in my future

Forever ingrained in my memory

I used to stare out this window as a tiny 1-year-old me with my family

I would stare at the big cherry tree in our front yard, dreaming about Grandma Millie’s famous cherry pie

The luxurious smell enticed me to be on my best behavior to earn an extra slice

Fast forward, I am 6 years old

I had a bad day at school

Friends

Betrayal

A complicated issue for someone so young

Felt alone

Scared

Wanted to cry so badly

Staring out the window at the cherry tree, I felt better

I had to be strong

Calming down, I depended on that cherry tree until the day its leaves wilted

Its sweet, luscious cherries shriveled

My friend, my protector, my mentor… Gone

Many years later, at 17 years of age

I’m getting ready to graduate and leave for college

I’ll miss the cherry tree

I’ll miss the window

But I’ll savor the taste of Grandma Millie’s cherry pie and cherish the memories of watching the cherry tree through the window, hoping that the light from those precious moments will guide me forward no matter what

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Published November 2, 2021

Written by Mackenzie Chen ~ Graphics created by Fiona Xu