A burnt Apple tree (second draft)

This is a story I've been working on for the past two years. This is currently my second draft of the piece, and I would love some feedback.

"Today would be a wonderful day to have a drink, don't you think Doc?"

"I think it would be a wonderful day to have a drink! There's no good reason to go outside today, it looks so dead. I think the only reason why I'd go outside is to admire that beautiful apple tree. Speaking of which June, didn't you once have an apple tree? What happen to it?"

"I burnt it. I got tired of looking at its old ugly body. I hated the way it would always tease me with the promise of apple, and never give me any. One day I noticed that the tree grew an apple, but unfortunately it was grew on my neighbor's side of the wall. Ever since that day he fell in love with My tree, he'd joke around about how he would steal My tree and plant it in his yard. I didn't think much of it at the time. But when I finally realized that it only grew apples for him, I cut off the branches that snuck over onto his side of the wall. He was infuriated by my actions but I didn't care. It was my apple tree after all, not his. But ever since I cut the tree's branches it grew pale and lifeless. As if it only wanted to grow on his side of the wall, but I continued to cut its branches so it would only grow apples for me. It never did thou.
One day I had to leave for a business trip, and when I arrived, I noticed the branches creeping over into my neighbor yard. I finally got feed up with this unfaithful tree and I burnt her. I burnt her to the ground... Once my neighbor found out I burnt his favorite tree, he wanted to kill me."

"Why would your neighbor want to kill you?"

"Because I killed her."

"Who was her?

"The tree... Diana."

" So you gave her a name?"

"No her mother did. I always hated her name, I only feed up with it so I could be gifted with apples."

"Do you regret burning Diana?"

"Of course I regret it Doc. But it's too late for that now, she's dead."

"June, where did you bury her body?"

"Right next to my neighbor."

"What ever happen to your neighbor?"

"From the moment he saw Diana's dead body, he wanted to kill me. He barged into my house demanding for retribution. He was holding a rifle ready to kill me, but I knew he was going to come, so I prepared for his arrival, and the moment he walked through the door, I shot him. I shot him in the head, then I walked over his body and shot him in the heart, and his pride."

"So you confess to killing this man?"

"Yes Doc, I did. Why do you ask?"

"Because, your neighbor was alive at your court case? He testified against you and was the reason why your here. So I'm just a bit confused, when did you kill him June?"

"Last night."

At that moment Dr. Jones started to panic and pushed a red button under his desk. The button notified the guards to run over and detain. Sweat was now pouring down the Doctors face as he continued with his questions.

"How did you get out of the hospital June?!
Nobody is allowed to leave here without my permission."

"Well let's just say, you should pay your guards better. They quite easy too manipulate with some quick cash."

At that moment a group of guards ran into the room and talk June Roya to the floor. They throw cuffs on him and began to drag him out.

"Guards! Before you take to his cell I need ask him one more question.
June, what did you do with your neighbors body?"

" I buried him with his new lover. I thought death would a bit lonely."

"Where are their bodies June!?"

"Doc, I think I'll tell you in our next therapeutic sessions."

"Damn it June!! Tell me where you buried their bodies!"

From there on out June would not say a word, but only laughed at the situation.

With frustration in his eyes he locked at the guard and yelled, "Throw him in his cell, I want police here immediately. Once the police get here, have them watch guard. We need to have a staff meeting to find out how we could let this happen!"


Once the guards had left, the room was quite. The doctor was looking out his window, contemplating if he should jump. Once the public found out a killer was able to sneak out of his hospital, he'd be ruined. How could his own guards be so selfish he continued to wonder as he stepped closer to the window. But instead of jumping, he had grabbed the glass cup from earlier, and threw it at the window to relive some of the angry and frustration that was growing in him. Through the shattered glass, he was able to focus on the apple tree. This tree started to look as if it was dying as well. Maybe a simple of his soul, or just the passing of season. But the doctor remembered why he accepted this case, and was to find out what June had died to his ex-wife, and now his neighbor too.

Reviews

[C. Rose]

I like that the opening doesn't reveal that it's a doctor in a mental hospital. I'm tempted to say apple trees are people, but I'm not certain.