5 Stifling Feelings

This chapter is dedicated to KatieMoDonathan. Thank you for voting!

An unbearable stench filled the air. Countless critters and other small animals fled away from the source of the foul smell, like a flock of fearful birds, startled by the booming sound of a gun shot.

Littered on the ground were numerous lumps of varied sizes. The center of it all was a tree, currently confused on what he should feel about his current situation.

The cow that ravaged his leaves was now lying on the ground, seemingly feeling unwell as it curled itself underneath his shade. Moments later and it let out a low grunt before a rumbling sound resounded. It shat a lump of feces, unceremoniously dropping to the ground. It has been like that since it woke up after eating like a whale. It continously excreted every few minutes, gving Luke an unlimited supply of warmth from the cold.

Luke stared at the scene before him that would've made any persons stomach turn. He thanked the gods that he hadn't preserved his sense of smell.Otherwise, the mental torment he was now experiencing would've increased a thousand fold.

He closed his eyes as he decided to focus on the warmth enveloping him. He observed some changes occuring inside him. For one, he seemed to feel some sort of connection with his roots and branches. It felt strange and unusual however he immediately got himself to adapt to the feeling.

He suddenly thought of something as he tried to connect his consciousness with his branches, attempting the impossible.However his effort was to no avail as they didn't even budge an inch.

It seems like he cannot move his branches but what about his roots?

He focused on getting some sort of reaction from his roots as he struggled to make it move. He felt as a strand of his root underneath the ground twitch, making him feel ecstatic. His determination doubled as he resumed his efforts with expectation.

Moments later a pencil thick root dugged itself upfrom the ground. Luke felt his heart bursting with happiness as he saw the soil covered root, resurface.

He can finnaly move!

Hope bursted inside him as he watched his root's stiff movement. He looked at the cow in front of him and he surprisingly found it less unbearable than before.

Atleast it isn't as useless as his brothers.

Luke fell silent as he felt a pang of pain struck his heart.

He was reminded of his brothers and his family.

He was too absorbed by his dire situation that he even forgot about his family that he spent 16 years of his life with. His root dropped down lethargicaly as his mood soured as fast as it soared a moment ago.

How are they faring? Are they sad that he's gone? Will he even see them again?

Questions bottled up in his heart as it threatened to break. He was overcome with worry and sadness. Afterall, he always relied on his family for everything. They always supported him when ever he was in difficult situation.

His brothers always caused him trouble but he knew just how much they really cared for him. Even if their words and action says so otherwise, he can still tell as clear as day.

His heart was filled with notalgia as a distant memory swelled within him.

He was just in elementary and his brothers were already in middle school then. Luke had always been bullied by the boys in his class because of his looks. He looked very feminine then, excluding him from the rest of the boys who had already started to develop as young men.

He always kept his true feelings to himself, never letting others catch a glimpse of his heart. Not a single word of complaint ever left his mouth but only his brothers immediately saw through him. They gave him confidence, teaching him how to fight for himself. They were there when he first landed a punch on someone else's face and when he was gravely punished for it by their parents

They were always there.

Luke quivered lightly as he felt a stifling feeling in his heart.

Will they cause more trouble now that he's gone?

Come to think of it when did they even not cause trouble? Luke humored himself but he found himself unable to laugh

The wind that brushed through his barks blew stronger. The sky turned darker as black clouds hid the sun. Rain drops dripped down from the sky.

Moisture hit his leaves and a refreshing feeling gushed within him. However he didn't have much reaction to it as he only stared off into the distance

What was his purpose of being here?

Why does he have to stay in this place alone?

Only the solemn pitter-patter of the rain accompanied him as his thoughts wandered on into several direction. He felt stiffled and downcasted.

He considered giving up but he didnt even know how to. He wasn't given much of a choice was he?

He smiled wryly inside.

The gloomy rained persisted. Luke felt a warm feeling below him. He looked down and saw the silly cow, rubbing it's head on his barks like a cat despite it's rough texture. He doesnt know if the cow was offering comfort to him or not but he felt warm inside regardless. He suddenly thought of a qoute he once came across with, on the internet

' One thing you can't hide - is when you're crippled inside. '