Discarded

Where am I? I’m so very cold. I’ve been stripped naked and all my confidence has vanished. I am bereft of my usual adornments and ashamed to be seen. My new companions disgust me and seem to sneer at my torment with an overriding sense of ‘ I told you so.’

Perhaps they assumed I felt superior, perhaps I did.

I haven’t lived long but I always knew I was destined for something special. We all were, all of us groomed, tendered, nurtured and above all promised it would all be worth it. Oh and it was, there were days when I felt like a God, I was the centre of attention; I was loved, nay adored. They all admired me, said how splendid I was, and breathed in my delectable odour as though transported to another world. They all said I was the very best they’d ever had.

I don’t know what went wrong, all I do know is I was the last to find out. Such care was taken with me at the beginning- “Be careful.” The female elder would say, “”Don’t play so near, mind how you go.”

I’ve tasted greatness you know? An angel has spoken to me, I stood serenely beneath her and we grew quite close especially in the last days. But I should have heeded her warning; I should have listened when she hinted at what would eventually come to pass.

You see, a real tree is not for life; it is only just for Christmas.