In a forgotten corner of the world, where maps ended and whispers began, stood a peculiar tree. Its bark shimmered faintly, as though holding the glimmer of moonlight even in the day. The villagers called it the Tree of Unspoken Dreams because of the strange fruit it bore—round, golden orbs that pulsed faintly like beating hearts.
No one dared to touch the tree, not out of fear, but because of the stories. They said the tree grew from the wishes people were too afraid to speak aloud, and plucking a fruit would force you to face the dream you had abandoned.
A boy named Jonah lived in the village and often sat beneath the tree, staring up at its branches. His father worked the mines, his mother washed clothes for the wealthier folk, and Jonah dreamed of escaping—of building ships that could sail beyond the edge of the world.
One restless night, he crept to the tree. Its leaves glowed softly in the moonlight, casting a silvery haze. “It’s just a tree,” he whispered, reaching for the lowest branch. But as his hand brushed a golden fruit, his vision swirled.
Suddenly, he was standing on a vast ocean, aboard a ship he recognized as his own. The sails were stitched with stars, the wood hummed beneath his feet, and the wind smelled of adventure. His heart pounded with the thrill of it—until he noticed the waters darken.
Beneath the waves, shadows writhed. Creatures with glowing eyes and twisted smiles stared up at him. “You dream big, boy,” a voice rumbled from the depths, “but dreams come with storms.”
The ship trembled, and Jonah fell to his knees. He wanted to run, to wake up, to return to the safety of the shore. But then he heard another sound: his voice, whispering, “Sail on.”
With trembling hands, Jonah grasped the wheel and steered straight into the storm. The creatures roared, the waves crashed, and for a moment, it seemed the dream would devour him whole.
But when he emerged on the other side, the sea was calm, and the horizon glowed with the first light of dawn. Jonah blinked and found himself beneath the tree, clutching the golden fruit.
He didn’t take it with him, but as he walked away, he felt something had shifted. His dreams no longer scared him. They challenged him. And for the first time, Jonah felt ready to answer.
January, 2025
