Under the Pear Tree

In a small town lives a young woman named Lyla with dreams of being a simple baker. She adored the artistry of pastries and cakes, especially the ones with fruits and fillings. To fulfill her wish she works eight hour shifts, sometimes doubles, six days a week at a diner down the road. On her only day off she spends her time sitting under a pear tree in the forest behind her house. It was planted there and cared for by her grandmother before she passed. The tree has become a loving memory and her most favorite place. She always brings with her a basket of baked goods she experiments with at home along with a pen and notebook to write down all of her ideas for her bakery. Everything she could possibly think of like the calligraphy of the menu, the source of ingredients, the color of the walls, and all the flavor combinations she could think of. She could sit there in the soft grass for hours on end as she lives everyday with imagination and possibilities.

On one particular evening during her shift at the dinner, a young man that she has never seen before takes a seat at her table. She is immediately drawn to him out of curiosity. He looks intelligent and kind, and is subtly handsome. Lyla shakes away her fascination and approaches the table. She pulls her notepad out of her pocket and greets the mysterious man who is still focused on the menu. He orders a honey glazed croissant and a glass of lemon tea. When he finally looks up at her from the menu, as cringy as it sounds, he is blinded by her beauty. In his eyes she is picturesque and flawless with her honey red hair that flows past her shoulders, her yellow-green eyes that shine in the sunlight, and her peachy rose complexion painted with freckles. She writes down his order, smiles, and walks back to the counter with the menu. His eyes followed her every move. Moments later she returns with his order and before missing his chance he introduces himself and asks her out. Lyla’s cheeks become flushed. Before she could even think she agrees to a date, bringing a smile to his face. Over the next week, Lyla and Cole, the young man from the diner, spend more time together as she shows him all of her favorite places. She learns that he is visiting town for a project as a free-lance photographer. He travels to remote places to capture the quiet life of small towns and the nature untouched by man. They both share with each other their passions and hopes for the future. As they spend more time together they become closer, falling for one another like in a fairytale. How could they become so infatuated with each other in such a short amount of time?

On Lyla’s day off, she takes Cole to her favorite pear tree in the forest where they have their first picnic date. The sunlight shines on the tree giving it a bright morning glow. The forest sings with the calming sounds of nature. They both lie under the shade, sharing stories and laughing at embarrassing memories of their pasts. Being a photographer by trade, Cole breaks out his camera and secretly takes photos of Lyla as she plucks the ripe pears from the tree. Each photo captures her peaceful beauty until she finally notices. She shoves the camera away with one hand and pushes Cole to the ground with the other. Hovering over him, she brushes a weft of his chocolaty hair away from his face and looks deep into his bright blue eyes. She plants a gentle kiss on the tip of his nose. As she pulls away he grabs her by the neck and brings her in for a deeper, more intimate kiss. Her lips are soft and taste like sweet berries. Her hair tickles his cheeks and neck giving him delightful shudders. The aroma of vanilla and lavender that emanates from her is addictive. Cole has unmistakably fallen for her and so has she for him. This day will remain unforgettable. They’ve come to understand one another. Learning their fears and divulging their secrets. Their love is new and sweet like a fantasy that every young woman craves but… it cannot last.

As the time goes by and their love grows deeper and more mature, their days together are numbered. Eventually, Cole must return home to publish his work and prepare for his next trip. Both are saddened by the truth that their relationship will soon come to an end. Their dreams lead them on different paths diverging away from one another. Cole wants Lyla to travel with him but she wants him to stay. As a compromise, Cole suggests that he could move in with her and travel from their home. A simple solution that could save their relationship. But, Lyla could never be the girl that waits for her lover to come home after being weeks or months away. Now that she has found who she believes is her soulmate, she would never want to be apart for so long, as selfish as it may be. Unfortunately, Cole realizes that he feels the same way. Unable to come up with a better solution, Lyla takes time off from her job so they can spend as much time together as possible. Everyday they do their best to be happy by watching movies together, baking, and going on walks through the forest. Who would’ve thought that it would end so soon? Who would’ve thought that their future couldn’t be the same? On his last day in town they stood before the pear tree and shared their final kiss, tears trickling down their cheeks. Cole whispers a promise in her ear before turning away. Lyla stands there watching him as he leaves. A month was all they needed to fully love each other and a month was all it took to tear them apart.

After Cole left town, Lyla’s days became more grey and dismal than before. She makes more time to plan for her bakery and puts more focus into her skills to distract herself. Her only solace is the one place she feels happy regardless of her sorrow. The one place where a certain promise was made… under the pear tree.