The ash tree and the fairy

An ash tree stands tall
A fairy hides in its shade
They share a secret

Once upon a time, there was a young ash tree that grew in a forest. He was tall and strong, with green leaves and black buds. He was proud of his beauty and his wood, which he knew was valuable and useful.

One day, he noticed a small fairy flying around his branches. She had delicate wings and long golden hair. She wore a dress made of flower petals and carried a tiny wand. She smiled at him and said hello.

"Who are you?" asked the ash tree.

"I'm a fairy," she said. "I live in this forest and I take care of the plants and animals."

"What do you want from me?" asked the ash tree.

"Nothing," she said. "I just like to visit you. You're such a lovely tree."

The ash tree felt flattered by her words. He liked her company and her voice. He decided to let her stay.

The fairy visited him every day. She told him stories about the forest and the other creatures that lived there. She sang to him and danced on his branches. She made him laugh with her jokes and tricks.

The ash tree grew fond of her. He felt happy when she was around. He started to look forward to seeing her every day.

One day, he asked her a question.

"Do you love me?" he asked.

The fairy looked surprised.

"Of course I do," she said. "You're my friend."

"No," he said. "I mean, do you love me as more than a friend?"

The fairy frowned.

"I don't understand," she said. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you want to be with me forever?" he asked.

The fairy shook her head.

"No," she said. "I can't do that."

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because I'm a fairy and you're a tree," she said. "We're different kinds of beings."

"So what?" he asked. "We can still love each other."

"No, we can't," she said. "It's not natural."

"It doesn't matter," he said. "Love is stronger than nature."

"No, it's not," she said. "Love has to follow nature's rules."

"That's not true," he said. "Love makes its own rules."

"That's foolish," she said. "Love has to be wise."

"That's boring," he said. "Love has to be free."

"That's dangerous," she said. "Love has to be safe."

They argued for a long time, but they could not agree on anything.

Finally, the fairy sighed.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But I can't stay with you anymore."

She flew away from him and never came back.

The ash tree felt heartbroken by her departure.
He missed her terribly.
He wished he could see her again.
He hoped she would change her mind.
But she never did.

He became sad and lonely.
He lost his joy and his pride.
He stopped caring about his beauty and his wood.
He let his leaves fall early and his buds turn brown.
He gave up on life.

Years passed by.
The forest changed around him.
Other trees grew taller than him.
People came and cut down some of them for their wood.
Animals moved away or died out.

One day, a man came to the forest with an axe.
He saw the ash tree standing alone in a clearing.
He noticed how weak and sickly it looked.

"This one will do," he thought.

He raised his axe and swung it at the ash tree's trunk.

The ash tree felt nothing but relief as the blade cut through him.

He fell to the ground with a thud.

As he lay there dying, he saw something shining in the sky.

It was the fairy.

She had heard his cry of pain and had come back to see him.

She flew down to him and landed on his stump.

She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"I love you."

But it was too late.

The ash tree was already dead.

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