Trees are usually overlooked, but if one listens they have quite the story to tell. It's a life that gives others life. It changes ever so slightly every day, but drastically every week. The burden of the leaves became too heavy so the tree had to let them go.

At the base of the fenced-in tree, was a tiny mound of dirt to the eye, but a whole universe to the ants living inside. The ants found comfort and living with the overarching tree. The tree did not seem bothered by the many guests. The changing leaves were the coming of something new, but the sad departure of what once was. All the hurled up emotions erupted like blazing, oozing lava from the head of the tree. A year's worth of worry, hate, and despair bottled up. However, it did not come all at once. It slowly grew weary and spewed out tiny parts at a time. Slowly more and more of the tree's surface became enveloped with the year's feelings. The leaves grew heavy with worry and despair. At first, the tree tried to hold on tight, but later realized it was easier to just let go. Day by day the burdens of the tree grew lighter and lighter as it dismissed its leaves. The leaves remained scattered at the foot of the tree, not quite ready to leave.

One day, the clouds came and with the clouds came the rain. The rain was bittersweet. The ant community drowned and became one with the grass. The tree grew weaker and colder and the rain took its toll on the lean build. The wind that followed the storm blew away all the burdens, the leaves. They were no longer scattered at the foot of the tree. The wind gave the tree a fresh start, one where it did not need to be haunted by the leaves it had let go. The leaves that had survived and still intact with the tree- thankful, but dreading the next blow.