Elias takes a deep breath, scanning the tree from the roots to the wilting branches at the top. His muscular hands are resting on his hips as his fingers tap a beat that only he can hear. I can sense Olivia holding her breath, waiting for the verdict.

“It’s not like it’ll disappear or anything.” He sizes it up and licks his lips. “But he’ll look less… alive.”

I exhale loudly then mutter curses as I pace back and forth, not sure who to hit first. It’s either me because I wasn’t more careful, Elias because he dashed all my hopes, or Olivia because she brought him.

As I’m marching around like some sort of freak and Liv is still looking like she saw a ghost, her brother pats Mushroom like a great old friend.

“He still has a few good months left.”

Like that makes it any better.

Despite my best efforts, I can’t help but think about what I could’ve done to make things better and I didn’t. It always happens this way: you only come to terms with how badly you treated someone or something when there’s nothing left for you to do to make it right.

I sigh. “Alright. Thank you for your help.”

I know without looking at my watch that I need to leave to get dressed up. I wish more than anything to stay home and watch a movie or read a book instead of going there. It’s not possible to hate something more than I hate having to make an effort for my mom.

Elias rises, brushing his pants before touching the trunk of the tree. “You’ll be okay, buddy.”

I gaze at Olivia, trying to figure out why her good-looking brother is chatting with a tree. I mean, I do too, but never in front of others.

“You all right?” I ask, concerned.

He turns his head, surprised by my question, then he pats Mushroom again before stepping away. “Yeah, speaking with plants really helps,” he says as we walk toward the front of the garden.

“E is trying to make tree therapy a real thing. Well, you’re his first client.” Liv laughs a little too hard.

Smiling is her armor, and I can’t blame her.

Elias pulls her gently into his arms and kisses her on the forehead. She relaxes, a small sigh escaping her lips.

“I needed to do a lot of investigation, and it’s really hard to convince people that something they’ve never heard of might work.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself,” I utter. I get where he comes from.

He nods, circling a strand of Olivia’s blonde hair on his finger. “I’m sorry to be the one to break the news.”

Liv kicks my leg with her shoe, and I roll my eyes at her obvious hint.

I nod. “Thank you.”