The last tree 📝

Arriving at my workplace, I find a nervous crowd.

“How could this happen?”

“What will we be now?” 

“Can it be saved?”

I calm down my breath and fight my way to the front. Our tree is no longer standing. Smoke is still rising from around halfway up the trunk where it broke. The crown lies on one side of the floor.

“Oh, you are here, doctor,” Hanna, my assistant, finds me in the crowd. “Good morning, what happened?” I ask. “The summer storm hit it. What are we gonna do?” “I don’t know yet. Let’s clear out the people and then inspect the tree.” It’s the only thing I can say right now. 

Raising my voice, I yell: “Everybody OUT!. We will inspect and give an update as soon as possible.”

“Will we survive?” 

“What does it mean for our project?” 

“Can you save it?” The crowd asks.

“We will see; now, back to your tasks!” Hanna looks at me without much hope in her eyes. “I hope you have an idea, Dr. Smith. I don’t see how it could have survived this.” “Trees are thought – it survived a lot so far, and it will survive this – it must survive it!” “I hope so. Otherwise, our future will be even bleaker.” Hanna states. 

I don’t answer her.

• /writing