Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows




It felt like I'd lost all interest in having fun. My days were spent either lost in books at the library or immersed in experiments at the lab-studying became my only

escape.

Every year, I'd find myself wandering back to that little alley, hoping maybe this time he'd have returned. It was also a chance to give the tiny house a good scrub from top to bottom.

In my second year of college, I heard my dad was out of prison. Apparently, he'd teamed up with that casino boss and headed south to chase his fortune.

Days drifted by like beads on a string, turning into weeks, then months, and before I knew it, years had passed.

In my fifth year, I took an internship at a hospital and met someone who really looked out for me. Funny enough, he turned out to be Lord's brother Cassidy. I barely recognized him at first.

After graduating, I followed Jonah's lead and took the civil service exam back home, landing a job in the criminal investigation unit. I was fueled by the hope of maybe working alongside Jonah someday. I wasn't fazed by the demands of the job— fearless, some might say. I even got compliments for being more capable than the guys, which was a big boost for female forensic experts like me.

Over those six years, whenever the world felt like too much, I'd think of him. Knowing he was somewhere out there gave me comfort. His presence, even if just in my mind, made all my troubles shrink away.

Time with them was a mystery-both endless and fleeting. I relived those moments over and over, finding happiness in memories alone. If any part of their presence in my life were erased, I wouldn't be who I am today.

That day, I was deep into writing a report when suddenly my heart clenched painfully. The pen slipped from my hand, rolling to my feet. It felt like my heart was breaking, the pain was overwhelming, my limbs went numb, and tears streamed down my face. The sadness was so intense it made me want to vomit.

It was as if a tree, deeply rooted in my soul, was being cut down somewhere distant.

"Lana, what's up?" Cassidy, who was working next to me, rushed over, clearly worried.

I grabbed his sleeve, "I need to take off. Right now. I need to go to the church."

I'd had these moments of panic

before, but never this strong. Loving

someone felt like worshipping a

fragile deity whose every

velas

tied to my own breath. I was petrified and needed something to hold onto for some sense of

security. They say wishes made in church carry the most weight. Content belongs to Novelxo.org

When you're powerless and desperate, faith becomes your only anchor.

Even as I stood in front of the

chapel, my heart was still racing.net

The rain was pouring down. Cassidy didn't want me to be alone,

silently held an umbrella over us. Content belongs to Novelxo.org

I refused to use it though, worried that my prayers wouldn't be heard if my heart wasn't completely genuine.

Realizing he couldn't change my mind, he put the umbrella away too. Soon, we were both drenched, looking like a couple of crazed folks to passersby.

The sky was a heavy gray, with

et

streaks of rain roaring down, and the trees lining the stone path swayed wildly. The rain came down in sheets, relentless and unforgiving. Content belongs to Novelxo.org

While everyone else dashed for cover, there we stood, stark and strange.

The church sat atop a hill, one hundred and eight steps from the bottom to the top.

Ignoring the curious glances, I climbed up amid the heavy rain.