Laughter from above drew Leah’s attention to the trees again. Before, the lights had stolen her full attention, but now she could see Evan’s silhouette perched on one of the branches, and it made her smile widen. The poem he recited was one she’d heard him teaching Marigold in the past, and although she didn’t know it word for word, she knew more or less the next few lines.
“It’s a magical tree That makes miracles happen Hopes become realities And nevers become alwayses”
To her, this surprise was infinitely better than any dress or painted room. It wasn’t something to be viewed just by her or him, but by everyone who passed by this way. For that very reason, this declaration of love took a lot more courage to share. But that wasn’t surprising, not really. Evan had courage in spades.
He told her to step into the light and she did, blowing out the candle as she walked. Up closer, it was easier to see the man perched in the tree. Her smile became a smirk. “I hope you don’t expect both of us to be on that branch. I’m sure it would break.” The humor helped quell the nerves that had been poking at her all day.
Leah turned to look at the wall again. “You really outdid yourself this time. Painting a mural on one of the prison’s walls. I really hope those vandals don’t decide to ruin this.” She bit her lip, sincerely wishing she’d had an inkling to bring a camera with her. Because surely the mysterious troublemakers around Sing Sing would see fit to deface this somehow.