Under the Oak Tree
Chapter 1: The Unexpected Meeting
The rain had been falling slowly since early morning, transforming Willow Creek’s normally busy streets into a quiet, dark scene. Lily clenched her coat around herself as she hurried down the wet sidewalk, her boots getting through puddles. She arrived late for her shift at “Pages of Time,” the small bookshop where she works. As she rounded the corner, she noticed a figure holding an umbrella below the large oak tree in front of the store.
As she approached, the man looked up and their eyes met briefly. His deep blue eyes had a hint of sadness and his dark hair was slightly brushed. Something about him caused Lily’s heart to skip a beat.
“Are you lost?” Lily asked,
The man smiled, a pleasant genuine smile that made Lily’s heart the race. “Not exactly,” he answered. “I’m just waiting for someone.”
Lily replied and unlocked the bookstore’s door.
“You are welcome to wait inside. It’s warmer, and you can look through the books while you wait.”
He paused for a moment before replying. “That sounds good. Thank you.”
As they entered, they were greeted by the familiar smell of old books and polished wood. The man closed his umbrella and shook off the excess water before following Lily deeper into the store.
“Feel free to look around,” Lily said, smiling as she passed behind the counter. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
The man smiled and began walking through the corridors, his fingers following along the edges of the books. Lily found herself watching him interested. She felt attracted to him and wanted to learn more about him.
After a few minutes, the man approached the counter with a book in his hand.
“This one caught my eye,” he said, placing the book on the counter.
Lily smiled as she looked at the title: The Secret Garden. “It is a classic and one of my favourites actually.”
The man replied with a smile on his lips. “I believed it might be. Isn’t there something comforting about it? A hidden garden is a place to escape…”
Lily looked up at him, her heart jumping another beat. “Yes exactly. It’s like discovering a little bit of magic in the noise of everyday life.”
He replied thoughtfully. “I could use a little magic right now.”
The words were spoken softly, as if he wasn’t going to say those loudly. Lily’s smile faded slightly as she noticed sadness in his words.
“Is everything okay?” she asked softly.
The man thought before a sigh, “It’s just… Life can be complicated, doesn’t it? I’ve been dealing with a few issues and it can feel hard at times.”
Lily expressed in understanding. “I understand the feeling. But sometimes it helps to lose yourself in a good book, even if only for a short time.”
He smiled, a genuine smile that spread to his eyes. “You’re correct. Thank you! I’m sorry I didn’t get your name.”
“Lily,” she answered, smiling back. “And you?”
“Liam,” he said, holding out his hand.
Lily shook his hand, her heart rushing from the comfort of his touch.
“It’s good to meet you, Liam.”
Chapter 2: Coming Closer
Over the next few weeks, Liam visited the bookshop several times. Every time, he and Lily would discuss the books he was reading, their favourite authors and eventually their lives. Lily learnt that Liam had recently lost his mother and had come to Willow Creek to get away from it all and heal. The sadness she sensed in him that first day was deeper than she had expected.
One rainy afternoon, Liam arrived just as Lily was closing the store.
“Do you want to grab some coffee?” he asked,
Lily hesitated for a moment before raising. “I’d like that.”
They walked down the street to a small restaurant and sat at a corner table near the window. The rain continued to fall outside and the sound relaxed them as they sipped their coffee.
“It’s been nice getting to know you,” Liam said, breaking their comfortable silence.
“You’ve been a bright spot in what’s been an extremely dark time for me.”
Lily stared at him, her heart hurting from her weakness in his eyes.
“I’m happy I could be that for you. You’ve also been a bright spot for me.”
Liam smiled, a small but genuine smile. “It’s been difficult, losing my mother. She was everything for me. I came here to escape, but… I did not expect to find someone like you.”
Lily reached across the table and placed her hand on his.
“I have no idea what you’re going through Liam, but I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”
Liam pressed her hand, his eyes filled with respect.
“Thank you, Lily. That means more than you realise.”
Chapter 3: A Walk in the Forest
Lily and Liam became closer over the course of several weeks. They spent more time together, taking walks in the forest that surrounded the town and discussing their dreams and fears. On one such walk, they arrived at the edge of a small clearing with the sun breaking through the clouds and casting a warm glow over the scene.
“This place is beautiful,” Liam said while staring around at the trees, their leaves shining with rainwater.
“It is,” Lily agreed, her eyes shifting to Liam.
“I used to come here when I needed to think, to clear my head.”
Liam turned to her with a soft expression.
“Do you still need to come here, now that you have me to talk to?”
Lily smiled, her heart full of emotion. “Not that much. You have been a good listener.”
Liam moved closer to her, reaching out to gently place a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad I could be that for you.”
When they finally parted ways, they were both out of breath, their foreheads resting against each other.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a while,” Liam stated,
Lily smiled and her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. “Me too.”
Chapter 4: The Challenge
As their relationship developed, they soon faced their first challenge. One evening, Liam received a phone call from his sister, who was struggling to deal with their mother’s death. She needed him to come home and help with the sale of their mother’s home.
“I don’t want to leave,” Liam said, frustrated as he told Lily later that night.
Lily took his hand, her heart suffering at the thought of him leaving.
“You have to leave, Liam. Your sister needs you.”
“But I need you,” Liam pointed out, his voice breaking.
“I’m finally feeling like myself again and it’s because of you. I do not want to lose that.”
“You won’t,” Lily told him, “I’ll be here when you return. We’ll figure it out together.”
Liam drew her into his arms and held her tightly. “I don’t want to lose you, Lily.”
“You won’t” she said softly, placing her face against his chest. “I promise.”
Chapter 5: The separation and Desiring
The next few weeks proved difficult for both of them. Liam returned to his hometown and left Lily in Willow Creek. They spoke on the phone every day, their conversations coloured with a desire and the pain of missing one another.
“I miss you,” Liam said one night, his voice challenging with emotion.
“I miss you, too,” Lily responded, her heart hurting from the distance between them.
“It’s hard being away from you,” Liam confessed. “But knowing you’re there, waiting for me, it makes it a little easier.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Liam,” Lily said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 6: A New Beginning
After several weeks, Liam returned to Willow Creek. Lily felt an emotion of joy and relief as soon as he walked through the bookstore’s doors. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him and holding him tightly.
“I missed you so much,” she said softly, her voice struggled with emotion.
“I missed you, too,” Liam said, covering his arms around her. “I couldn’t wait to get back to you.”
They stood there for a long time, just holding each other, the stresses of the past few weeks melting away in their support.
Later that evening, as they sat under the oak tree where they had first met, Liam took Lily’s hand in his.
“Being away from you made me realise how much I needed you in my life,” he said, his voice was honest. “I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side.”
Lily’s heart walked a beat as she looked into his eyes, seeing love and belief in them. “What are you saying Liam?”
Liam took a deep breath and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small silk box. “I am saying I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Lily. Will you marry me?
Lily was surprised, her heart loaded with joy and love. Tears flooded up in her eyes as she looked at the ring and then back at Liam.
“Yes” she said softly, her voice full of emotion. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Liam passed the ring on her finger, his hands shaking slightly from nervousness and excitement. He then drew her into his arms as the rain began to fall again, taking them both. But neither of them cared, they had discovered each other and that was all that mattered.
As they stood there, tied in each other’s arms under the oak tree where their story had begun, they knew that their love was special and would last a lifetime.
The End