Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows novel Chapter 40

A few days later, once the initial buzz had faded, it hit me just how fast and intense the past six months had been. So much had shifted, and I only caught on afterward.

During the two-month summer break, Marie seemed to get sick more often. She used to hang a wind chime under the tree just on the fifth of each month. Now, any date with a five, and she'd be out there, hanging one up. Her dancing picked up pace too.

Sitting quietly with Jonah by the front door had become a bit of a routine.

But, Marie also cried harder while reading, leaned more on sleeping pills at night, lost her appetite, and even stopped visiting the farmers' market. It was like she just wasn't interested in anything anymore.

Eventually, everyone realized something was up, and we wanted her to see a doctor, but she wasn't having it. Jonah, Officer Cooper, and I took turns trying to convince her, but she wouldn't budge.

Then out of the blue one day, Marie finally agreed. Officer Cooper found a doctor.

The verdict? Moderate depression. I had a hunch it might've been because of Jonah's dad’s passing. No one really talked about him, but his presence lingered everywhere.

The challenges in life aren’t always visible. Everyone has their own winter to get through alone, and there wasn’t much I could do to help, not even muster basic empathy.

Luckily, Marie was proactive about her treatment and slowly got better.

And just like that, high school kicked off for me.

The school required us to board, but we got a weekend off every two weeks to head home. It was quite a trek—about twenty kilometers away with no direct route, so it meant switching buses twice.

"Hold on tight," he said.

I did as instructed. The bike roared to life, and the sudden thrust made me grip tighter. Beneath my hands was firm, warm muscle. A thought flitted through my mind: his waist is so powerful.

I’d never been on a motorcycle before, but once the initial jitters faded, I relaxed, letting the wind whip past. Feeling bold, I let go, spreading my arms like in the movies.

Just as I was soaking in the freedom, a kid darted out in front of us. Jonah braked hard, and I lurched forward, slamming into his back. I yelped as pain shot through me, and tears sprung to my eyes.

Lately, with puberty kicking in, I’d noticed my body changing fast, especially my chest—it hurt with the slightest bump.