The Tree That Was Silent.

In the middle of a small town park stood an old tree.

Its thick trunk was cracked, birds nested in its branches, and children played under its roots every day.

No one knew how old it was.

Everyone just called it "the tree."

The bench next to it was always occupied — old people, lovers, lonely people sat on it, and they all did the same thing: talk.

The tree was silent.

It didn't move, it didn't answer, it just stood there, as it always did.

But anyone who stayed near it long enough suddenly felt their heart become lighter.

One day, a little girl sat down on the bench, holding a sketchbook in which she drew trees.

Hiding in the shade of the tree, she began to sketch silently.

Suddenly, it spoke:

- You're just like me.

The little girl looked around, but no one was there.

- Who spoke? – he asked quietly.

– I – said the tree. – But only those who listen can hear.

The girl was not scared.

He smiled and continued drawing.

– And what would you like me to draw? – he asked.

– You don't have to draw. Just remember me.

The years passed.

The tree became more and more worn, the little girl grew into a woman, then a mother, and when her daughter once asked:

– Why do we always come here for walks?

he answered:

– Because this tree can listen.

And when the tree fell on a stormy night, the woman did not cry.

He went to the stump and whispered:

– Now I will listen for you.

Lesson

Not all silence is emptiness.

Some are attention.

Some are love.

And some are so deep that words cannot spoil them.