Cherry tree lovers

Cherry tree lovers

They met everyday at the same place. Same time and always left feeling torn between two worlds. This is however not where the story begins. It begins when these two meet in the summer. One was a student and she had lived in this country since she was teenager, had grown accustomed to the freedoms that she had been granted, her freedom of choice, education and knowing she was different.

The other had also grown up in this country, although much like most of her typical Asian relatives had lived a sheltered traditional life. She had always loved it, had wondered how the others with their freedom ever managed to settle themselves to do anything. She works in a family business, they sell hot food and she can cook stir fry with her eyes closed.  

And every weekend, she would spend time with her family at the temple, where she was soon to be confirmed as a Buddhist. She was finally old enough, but then there was something different about this weekend. She ignored her instincts and just focussed on what her parents and friends were all doing.

The student sits across the courtyard talking to a friend. She had never seen a place like this, many churches which had turned out not to work for her, this place, this temple was amazing and beautiful. Sitting in the courtyard she could almost feel herself become so very peaceful.

Her thoughts are disturbed when she hears chanting. It is a deeply spiritual sound and she so interested to know where it is coming form she stands up and walks toward the sound. There she sees them, they look like a family. She listens, and then she sees the girl who turns and looks at her. The student smiles as the girl sheepishly looks away again. She is beautiful.

The young cook sits quietly, unable to focus. She doesn’t want that other girl looking at her, but silently does. She does not know whether to stay still or move away. Her mother catches her eye and gives her a look that states how she should stop being so distracted. She tries to focus. Eventually she excuses herself and walks toward the bathroom.  

She walks across the grassy courtyard and when she finally looks up she sees the girl standing there. She smiles at her not knowing whether to just ignore her or speak to her. The girls smiles back and now she cannot stop smiling. She stops herself, no one knows and they cannot know her secret. She moves past her and into the bathroom.

The student waits where she is, trying to decide what it is she will say to the girl when she comes out. Will she ask her name or simply strike up a conversation. She appears in the doorway and before she can stammer a word out the girl walks past her. She is surprised, but instead decides to be bold. She walks right beside the girl and quietly speaks to her. She is trying not to let others now that she has feelings like she does, so she speaks very quietly. Her voice is sweet and gentle, so the student asks her to meet her later, under the cherry tree in the field across the way. There they would be alone and out sight and free to talk.

The cook returns to her family who are so intend on their prayers they had not noticed her speaking to the student. She had found that out, the girl is a student of philosophy and had been bought here by her studies. She decides that she will meet her later.

She spends time with her family as they observe the traditional life she had always loved, but her mind wonders and when she finally sees her chance, excuses herself for walk. She walks slowly till she is outside and out of sight, and then her pace quickens, her heart beats faster and before she knows the distance, she sees the tree and the student underneath it waiting for her.

The cook, the beautiful Asian cook, the girl that she saw this morning was coming toward her and she cannot believe that she has come. When she is near she apologises and says she does not have much time. That is fine she says and they stand under the pink cherry blossoms quietly talking. She sees only this beauty in front of her, with deep brown eyes. When she can no longer stand to be far from her, she gently moves closer to hold her hand.

The cook smiles, and before they can control it, they are in embrace. They kiss tenderly, warm in  each other’s arms. They are out of time, and they part.

 And this is where they meet every day, at the same time. Till they profess their love to one another, and they leave their meeting place. For a quieter more private room, where they consummate their love. Eventually, they cannot bare to leave one another, and the cook finally leaves her family home.

Her family is outraged and angry. How that student could have done this to their daughter?! What right did she have?! They fight with her, and she leaves angrily. She goes to her home with the student and they talk, the student understands and she returns to her family. Although they still see each other everyday, till her family can longer stand the shame.

The student is shocked to learn that the cook is sent away to live with family in China. She is heart broken and feels as if her entire being had been trodden on. The cook’s father yells at her and tell her never to return, his daughter does not want to see her or hear form her. The student returns home alone, with all but the broken edges of heart to console her.

She goes everyday and sits by the cherry tree. For over a year she hears nothing. The tree takes on new blossoms in spring and she goes there as always to sit and have her lunch. But today, something is different. There is a new bench under the tree and attached to it a shiny new plaque. She walks closer and reads the name. She is in complete disbelief. It is her name, her beautiful lover’s name.

And now they will never know the true extend of their hearts. She cries at the tree for many hours and then returns to the courtyard where it had all begun.