Flashtober, 2026

Orchard

She stands tall above me, her long arms stretching far past mine. She stares straight ahead, and she never looks down, no matter what I do.

I stretch my neck out long and my wood creaks with the effort. Still, she doesn’t look down.

The wind rustles my leaves and I let a few fall. Still, she doesn’t look down.

I flex my roots up, wiggling them at her.

Finally… finally… her wood creaks and it’s a heavy sigh. She pulls her long body up and leans her heavy limbs towards me. Her orange leaves brush mine.

I am mollified.