Olga Giloza

School 157, St Petersburg

The Love Tree

This autumn was beautiful. Golden, yellow, red and tawny leaves were falling on the ground. It was a small death of nature before winter. She was unhappy this day. She didn't pass her exam, she didn't have a boyfriend and there was no one to support her.

She was walking around the park and thinking about her problems. There were miserable thoughts on her mind. Nothing else. At last she sat on the bench and cried. She was sitting here, crying and looking at the leaves falling down... but suddenly a red leaf landed straightly on her hand. Amazing, but a telephone number was written there! She was astonished at first but then smiled and decided to call that number. While dialling it she wondered what she would say.

- Hello!

- Good afternoon! Who is it?

- It's... it's a girl from the park. A tree leaf with your telephone number has fallen into my hand.

- Ah yes... it's a silly story. I know, you may think that I'm crazy, but i was in a bad temper that day. I've just broken with my girlfriend and to my own surprise I've written my number on the leaf. It was still green then.

- An interesting story indeed! Today I had practically the same feelings. But I don't have enough imagination to write a phone number on the leaf... And nobody has called you since you wrote your phone number there?

- No. You are the first. By the way, please, don't leave this leaf in the park, please. Take it with you.

This conversation continued for about an hour, she learnt that a stranger was a student keen on photography. He sounded very natural and sincere. Finally, the conversation was over and she went home. She walked and smiled to everyone - to the children running across the street, to the pedestrians, even to small dogs. She came home in a romantic mood, then her mobile phone rang. It was the number from the leaf.

- Hello!

- Glad to hear you.

- What are you doing tomorrow?

- Actually... I don't know yet.

- Maybe you could join me for the photo session in the Summer Garden?

- I think I could.

- When?

- About 3pm, I hope.

- OK, see you.

The Summer Garden. Everything is gold and red, bright and really romantic. At first they just walked around the garden. When they were on the little bridge surrounded by the trees, he took his camera and started taking photos.

At first, she thought about postures, grace, but he advised her to be natural. He started with colour pictures and then switched to black and white ones. Wasn't she really photogenic? The images were a little sad, romantic and peaceful. She looked lively and both mysterious and revealing at the same time.

- You know, I have a feeling that I have known you forever.

- Me too. I have an idea, I hope you'll like it.

- What is it?

- The idea of a photo. Look at this tree!

There they made one perfect photo. She was standing near the tree with the leaf in her hand and looking thoughtfully in the sky. She really liked all the photos, especially this one. Before they parted he promised to call her.

The next day he didn't call her. Not the following day either. She thought that it was the end of her life. It was silly, she asked herself not to think about him, but she could not. She had fallen in love. She was morally shaken and shocked. At school nobody could understand what was happening with her. She used to be very happy, opened and helpful, but now she became sad and secluded. Her friends could not understand her feelings.

She spent much time alone, but the inspiration came to her. Every day she went to the park where the leaf landed into her hand. Some years ago she used to draw very well and now she felt like drawing again. Sometimes she used bright colours and sometimes only black-and-white.

One fine day she went to the park again. Today she decided to paint another tree in the opposite corner of the park. She took pastels and sat on the old chair. She looked at the tree for a moment and started painting. But in the middle of her work she saw a little girl who was looking for somebody. When the girl was walking by her, she asked her to come closer.

- Hello.

- Good afternoon...

- I'm Caren. And you?

- I... I'm Sarah, answered the girl shyly.

- OK, Sarah. Can I ask you to pose for me?

- Oh no! What should I do?

- Just sit in front of me and I'll paint you and then you'll take the picture with you.

- Oh. Thank you.

She started to paint. That day she was in high spirits and the inspiration came to her. She painted very fast and masterfully. The girls in the picture bore a real portrait likeness with the girl sitting on the ground. But after a few moments the girl asked Caren:

- Are you this girl from the tree?

- What tree?

- Here...

She pointed with her hand.

- What are you talking about?

- Follow me!

- No, no, no wait!

Now she was running after the little girl.

They stopped.

- It's you! Look!

Caren almost screamed. It was unbelievable. She was standing in front of the tree and on every leaf of this tree were her images! Smiling and sad, sitting and lying, black and white and colour, but always very appealing, and all of them were her!

And in the centre was her best photo near the tree. She couldn't believe her eyes!

- Is it me?

- You? For sure!

Caren took the leaf with her best photo and left the park. Since that day she came to this tree every day, and every day she was waiting for him. She realised the leaves would fall down soon, but she didn't want to take the other pictures off. But everything comes to an end. One day, all the leaves with her images were gone and a cold wind was hurrying the people along the canal. She went out of the park, knowing she would never come here again. Just one last glance at the Love Tree... Suddenly her phone rang. The unknown number.

- Hello?

- Caren, is that you?