A Promise Kept Forever

Mariah literally swore on her best friend's grave that she wouldn't shed a single tear. You gotta be strong. Crying is for babies, Mariah. She can imagine Sam saying those exact words in that whimsical little voice that never seemed to switch off. The days Sam frisked across the grassy fields, the thick breeze that the chatty birds would sway alongside felt warmer, and the everblooming flowers were far brighter than the feeble blossoms this new spring had to offer. Mariah carried the little cremation urn all the way over to the still beautifully standing orchard less than a kilometer from her home. What was meant to be the reminiscence of a loved one further transformed into a hefty burden. From all the similar-looking trees, there laid only one tree that was different from the rest. As a virgin sprout, it hadn't quite reached its prosperity yet, but Mariah knew this tree would soon foster pears of all unique sizes and colors. It only took time.

Of all the gloomy days of thunderstorms and strong winds, Mariah wouldn't have so easily planned out a date that consisted of only sunshine and butterflies without it being a mere coincidence. She sat underneath the leafy tree for shade and settled the box to her side.

While the other kids played with cards, Barbies and makeup, Mariah and Sam would ride their bikes to this exact location; it was their playground. The intangible thorns of bittersweet nostalgia began prickling in Mariah's chest. The ardent wishes the two girls have shared would only now be stagnant dreams, like an unfinished project collecting dust in a broken-down shed isolated in an autumn forest with dead leaves of almost forgotten memories.

The most memorable moments occurred in summer break after the end of grade 4 where the two girls spent most of their days under the hot sun, strengthening their harvesting skills. Aside from the actual learning, they accumulated the fact that if you turn tough work into a competition the fun will make you easily forget how tiring the effort was altogether. Sam had constantly bantered over Mariah's overalls being too clean. "Don't be afraid to get messy!" She contended that the artist splattered with paint is only becoming one with the masterpiece he's trying to perfect. Mariah would scrunch up her nose and squint in a quiet, judgmental demeanor. Sam may have been simple and frisky, but that childish girl would sometimes reveal a sense of sophistication more than expected.

Had it not been for their unforgivingly strong bond that all this would've hurt less. It's been more than ten years since Mariah had seen Sam, and it hurts more when the only image of her long-time friend is of a young girl lying in a hospital bed. Although she'd appear visibly worn, Sam had always acquired the mobility to laugh and converse within the daunting white walls. At a certain point, Mariah had mentioned the tree they planted in the orchard a while back and Sam's expression unexpectedly dropped. She was only reminded of her once ambitious fulfillments in life that were no longer achievable. Mariah sulked alongside Sam; she didn't know what it was like to have your entire life thrown away in an instant, but she figured that could make anyone feel as though they've lost their purpose in even living.

"One day, I wanna be able to see our pear tree together!" Sam insisted. Mariah found it difficult to be enthusiastic. She took a deep breath and tried to hide the worried emotions plastered on her face. "Trees take a..long time to grow."

Sam ignored her grim remark and continued to chime. "When we're there we can each take a pear and eat it together." She nonchalantly smiled in a way that was surprisingly reassuring, in favorable spite of the measures. And all Mariah could do was smile and nod. In the very back of her mind, she was convincing herself that day would actually happen.

Mariah couldn't stop giggling while digging a sizable hole next to the tree using the tiny shovel she still kept for many years. She and Sam used to jokingly blabber on the silly fact that it was practically useless and insisted on throwing it out. A cackling Sam would be crying her eyes out right now if she were here watching her friend struggling to penetrate a decent hole with the shovel. After a cheery five minutes of digging, Mariah gently tucked the ashes away into the ground and piled the crumbs of dirt on top. She also made sure the soil slipped into her fingernails just to remind her of the pleasing feeling of being one with the earth, as Sam used to say. Like rain from a cloud, Mariah helplessly watered the ground with the tears she was endlessly battling up against.

The warm orange sunset was leaving and, as Mariah stood up to take off, she turned around a final moment to admire the tree's colossal height compared to her. The day they planted its roots in this spot, it was only just a premature sapling with the height of both ten year old Mariah and Sam.

In the chatter of the evening that was eventually turning to dusk, Mariah finally had the opportunity to hand-wash her clothes after rushing all the other chores. The sky reflected a balanced amount of light enough for her to see still; meanwhile, the wind hushed to a cease. No matter how much effort she put into rinsing it, the brown blotches on the yellow dress she wore earlier this day refused to disappear. Ultimately, it didn't matter as it was a mere reminder of the special day she buried her friend.

It was a perfect spot, the tree—right in framed view across from home. It wasn't even Mariah's idea, but Sam's. Since day one, she always wanted dear Mariah to keep watch on that beloved tree, which was precisely what she did. Even if Mariah knew that it takes time, every day did she peek out her window to silently examine the idle tree, independent from the rest, in hopes for any subtle change. For too many years, guilt was all Mariah felt. She felt as though her young friend's promise was inadvertently compromised, and that tree that would stare from afar was only just a constant mocking reminder. But now, Sam can also be there to see the pear tree. To one day see it grow just a tad taller. To one day finally bear its own fruit.

As she was slowly rocking on her bench and enjoying the midday sun, Mariah quietly pondered to herself. She created a whole fantasy inside her mind, one that included imagery of events that didn't happen but could have. What would Sam have been like, at the age she would be now? Would they have achieved the goals they wanted together?

Several years have passed, but Mariah had barely forgotten to watch the tree, even in winter, for it had just merely become a habit. Although, unfortunately, that habit would soon be overtaken by other significant events in her life. The fire from the hearth crackled in the background, keeping Mariah warm from the soft blizzard that whistled outside. She rubbed her belly that began to reveal a slight of a baby bump. It was protruding more and more each month.

After vitally cold winds relaxed to warmer breezes and sniffles of allergies flew in the air, a beautiful boy was born and became the finishing touch to a lovely family. With only now managing to keep the baby asleep after all the to-be-expected frenzies of the turn by turn on and off cycle that both she and her husband had to gradually get accustomed to, Mariah found herself struggling to rest. She took a step out through the back door for some fresh air, taking in the luck she had for not being allergic to pollen. The stationed rows of crops harmoniously flourished throughout the seasons, and Mariah and her husband were eager to have more. While she continued to stroll around the garden, she started to feel as though something was missing. Her eyes darted to the orchard up ahead. Disappointment laid in Mariah's face as she examined basket-fulls of pears black and rotten from the sides and core. Some had fallen to the ground. A few were still hanging on the branches with whatever strength they had left from their mushy rotten bodies.

Two perfectly ripen pears swiftly bounced from the wind swaying the thin branches of the tree that made the leaves dance about. They were hanging in the perfect direction of the sun, revealing their bright golden flare in contrast to the others. It wasn't understandably possible, but without questioning it Mariah happily grabbed the two pears and took them home.