I sit here in the park, all alone. Well, not alone, just not talking to anyone. I watch people walk by; some look at me. The wind in the air always feels nice, blowing through my hair. I reach toward the sky, where the sun is. I can live like this forever. 

The buildings here, I hate them. They just keep growing, growing, and growing all the time. That’s all they just do. They grow and take over places. I see friends, or as close as I can get before they’re moved or brought down. I want to do something to help, to get up and protect them, but I can’t. I just sit here and watch them. 

This place — many have come here, or have come by. I get to see people here and there. But it wasn’t like before. Before the internet, before the phones, before these buildings. These buildings are the cause of this. It took away my favorite time; watching people gather, kids playing in the grass, and every party, from setup to clean-up, and even the animals that come by. Whether it’s pets or wildlife, they come by, and I watch. 

People always want more; I understand that. I, too, want more, but I stay. 

The time I’ve been here, standing my ground, has been too long for me to remember. All I know is the memory I keep from all the watching I’ve done. I saw both the beautiful times and the ugly times, and even the very ugly times. I could complain about everything that is here now, but it wouldn’t make any change, even if someone were to hear me. If people could hear me, though, there are so many stories that many like. Stories that at least one person wants to hear. But nothing will come out, only the sound of my hair in the breeze can be heard from me. 

There have always been people in suits walking by. There was a group of these people who stopped by and looked at me. I didn’t fully understand what they were talking about. I wasn’t one to know any fancy talk people would have. I have no use for that. Why would I need to?

Huh, what’s that sound? I’ve never heard this sound before.

But I think that there is a second sound, harder to hear. It sounds like people walking, and it’s getting closer. I can’t tell with the other noise being so much louder. They’re in sync with the footsteps. Soon, I can’t hear the footsteps any more. The sound is getting louder, scaring away all of my woodland friends.

I can see that it’s some sort of machine, it’s getting closer and closer, and it’s heading straight towards me. I try to scream, but I can’t. I don’t even know why I try. It takes a few moments before I fall down.

Hitting the grass floor with a few moments left, I look towards the sky one last time with my sap seeping out.

Soon, my park will be gone.