Years rolled by, so many things changed around me, what was once called countryside is now called a city. Tall buildings grew on all sides of me. I could no longer boast about my height. There were more people, more noise and very few of my clan. I think the younger generation doesn’t find it as painful as I do; they have grown up in this environment. Yet, we were all so apart, that we couldn’t even hear each other. I soon found myself in the corner of a main road, supposed to be one of the busiest roads here in this city. I stood there unnoticed. Yet I did what I am supposed to do, I spread my branches and covered a part of the road. Pedestrians would stop and relax under my shade, it made me feel good. No one thanked me, but I was proud, I do as my parents taught me to, I give, all that I can, whether or not I receive anything in return. Years of living with the humans had taught me about how they think and what they do. I then turned my back to the house, which sheltered my friends, their sons and grandchildren, who loved to listen to their grandpa, tell tales about the swing, yet no one came near the dusty old swing since I am not as cool as their gadgets. I listened to street mongers, who sit in the shade of my branches and gossip, I take immense pleasure in swaying to babies that sleep in the swing of cloth tied to my other arm now stretched out to the road, the angels do thank me with his gurgle, but I never dwelt on it for I knew that someday when he grows up, he wouldn’t know me.
I stand by this road, watching mothers scoop up their babies and gently kissing their foreheads. I have seen young lads, waiting for their loving ladies, and walk away hand in hand completely oblivious to their surroundings. I have seen men warmly wrap up their old parents and walk them home. I feel jealous, I wish there was someone for me, someone who’d love me for what I am. I wish there was someone who’d smile at me, someone who acknowledged my presence. I feel lonely; I am starved, starved for love. I have given all that I could do everyone around me, I have borne every pain with a steady heart, I have lived giving love, yet receiving none. I am tired of this existence. Had I been axed just like my family, I wouldn’t have lived to see this day. Then, I did not want to live at all. Yet, funny are the ways of life, I have spent nearly a century hoping to see changes. I hoped things would change and I waited. I thought that someday people would hear me, someday they would understand our lives, and someday they would respond to our feelings. It never happened. I think I have waited long enough. It doesn’t seem like a change to me anymore, if at all it happens, it would be a miracle. It is time for me to leave now. I have performed by duties to my satisfaction and I now leave to join my family and my master. Hoping that someday the miracle happens!