After that, Aries never mentioned it, nor did she think about it again.
The small tree grew to a considerable height, bearing lateral branches. Few months passed, and it continued to grow big and tall.
After nine months of observation, Derek saw the tree had branches but was bare, no life, no green, not even a single leaf growing on it. There were other trees with long green leaves replenished, bearing fruits in every corner. The problem was that this one tree without any foliage was killing all the other nearby trees and shrubs.
The troubles of this mystery tree were brought to Luna's attention.
"It's harmful and it’s been killing all the other trees around it. This tree needed to be cut down." Derek suggested.
After mentioning the exact location of this tree, Aries remembered and thought about it.
'Was Simon's heart buried under that tree? Was it corrupting all the other trees around it?'
"I'll go and check for myself, but thank you for informing me, Derek."
That same afternoon Aries paid a visit. When she arrived at the location, she noticed the tree looked ugly and dead, which made her sad. She also saw the devastation of other trees around it. Aries went up close and touched the trunk on this dead standing tree.
"I don't want to cut you off, but..." she sighed. "I'm sorry." She said and gave one last look at the tree before leaving.
~*~
The next evening. Derek came running to deliver the news to Luna about that same tree.
"Thattreethetreeits..."
"Derek slows down," Aries said calmly.
"You've to come to see it for yourself." He said, and that made her curious, so she went along with Derek to find out.
Aries was getting closer and could smell the delightful fragrances that the air carried with it. She closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet fragrance. From afar, she could see the crown of the tree, it looked as if it was covered in snow, but as she arrived, her feet halted at the spectacular view. This dead tree was alive, green, and was filled with small white blooming flowers. She couldn't believe that the effect of her words could make so much of a difference.
"What did you do? Did you make a potion and sprayed it on it? Derek asked genuinely, considering Aries was one of the powerful witches.
"Nope, all it needed was a touch of Love." She smirked and admired the tree again. "Now, we don't have to cut this tree." She said to Derek.
"I guess so." He replied. Derek turned around to leave, "Are you coming, Luna?" He said, using the honorific title.
"Yeah, give me a few seconds." Aries said to him, and went closer to the tree and touched its trunk, "I'll come to visit you once in a while." She promised to go to the tree.
~*~
As promised, Aries went to visit the tree. She decided to sit underneath that tree and maybe read a book, just like the time she'd done when she was in school.
Aries dozed off while reading. When she woke up, she found it hard to comprehend that she fell asleep. Aries began to pack everything and made her way home. On her way, she received glances, and she noticed people were looking at her, more like observing.
"Those flowers look beautiful in your hair, Luna." Someone complimented on her hairstyle.
"Flowers? What flowers?" Aries asked.
"In your hair?" The girl pointed at Aries's head.
"What are you talking about?" Aries touched and felt a velvety petal, and she plucked it off of her hair. She began to wonder, who? Her eyes fell on her phone.
"Here take a picture of it, I want to see it." She requested the girl. The girl gave her a wired look, then taking the phone, she snapped a picture.
What Aries saw was that her hair was decorated with those tiny white flowers, surprised Aries turned around, to find out who dared to do that?
When she arrived, she saw an aisle runner that was created on the ground, covered with flowers.
Before stepping on it.
"Explain and show yourself?" She demanded angrily.
But no one showed up.
Strangely, the tree started to sway, back and forth. Aries realized there was no wind, then how?
She took steps walking on the flower aisle, closer to the tree, and stood right in front of it.
Suddenly a hefty looking branch wiggled and moved and offered her a flower.
She gasped, "S-Simon."
~xXx~
