Kjell was quietly humming to himself, while taking bath in the lake. Reed rustled, catching Dendress attention.

- What? I'm doing this to be clean and fresh, what other reason could I have? - he said to plants. He then heard quiet snickering coming from water lilies.

- No, human girl doesn't have anything with it - giant insisted.

But when flora around him started to enchant "Liar",  he raised his arms in defeat and admitted:

- Okay, okay. Maybe she has to do with it a little.

Plants began to frantically warn him, saying that humans are dangerous.

- Yes, I know all of that, but... - he stopped and looked at his reflection in the water. Same green hair and irises changing colors depending on emotion he currently was feeling. Now they were pink like cherry flowers.

- She's not like the others. She loves nature, she has this beautiful voice, she's pretty, she has cute, little laugh sounding like oinking... - Kjell's face was dreamy. Seaweed's spanking snapped him out of his daydreaming.

- Hey, what was that for?! - Dendress asked. Water in lake bubbled in response.

- I know you're worried about me and I really appreciate it, but I'll be fine! I'm over 1000 years old and no human had discovered me yet! - he argued. Plants finally stopped bothering him, but still warned him to not get too attached to this human.

- Yeah, yeah whatever - Kjell said nonchalantly and left the lake. He then sprawled on the ground and let the warm sunrays dry his body. Giant sighed in satisfaction - it was a life.

He was resting like this, until he felt he was dried. He looked at the sun - it was slowly going lower, meaning it was already afternoon.

- Alright, I'm going. She'll be here soon - Kjell said to plants and stood up. He then trekked a bit further into the meadow. After he got to his spot, he fixed his hair for the last time and then morphed into a pear tree.

He patiently waited for her to come. His heart rejoiced, when he saw her walking towards him. Still beautiful as always - short, almost boyish dark purple hair, mesmerizing ocean blue eyes. She was wearing her usual clothes - her white beanie in black stripes, checkered shirt, jeans with holes and white sneakers.

But soon Kjell could sense that something was definitely wrong. She wasn't walking vigorously, instead she was shuffling her legs, her face was tearstained, she was looking down. In her hand she was holding a thick rope and not "Forefathers' Eve" book.

He got very nervous, all of her behavior and that rope were unequivocal signs. But maybe he was overreacting, he decided to wait and see where it'll go.

***

Lilja knew the struggle is meaningless. She decided she'll leave this world with help of her favorite tree - as strange as that may sound.

She randomly stumbled upon it, when she was playing hooky one day. What fascinated her the most, was the fact that its bark was warm, just like human skin.

It became her favorite place to think, read and even sleep. The more often she was there, the more weird things she could notice. When it was too hot or raining, branches of the pear tree seemed to move in such way, that their leaves could protect her. Or whenever she was huddling against it, she could've sworn she felt something moving inside it. Even pears where falling down, whenever she mentioned she was hungry. It looked like the tree had its own mind and was taking care of her.

Of course she brushed it off as her wild imagination. Having serious problems in her house, she often escaped into her imaginary world, to forget about her problems, even for a few minutes. She believed that caring tree was a part of it.

She sniffled quietly and put her hand on the pear tree's bark. She smiled and began to prepare the rope. All while she was talking to the tree:

- Hi old friend. I can't live like this anymore. They don't know about dark clouds in my head. How would they? They spent all their time working or taking care of my little sister, they forgot about me. I've been feeling like this for quite a long time. To be more precise, since the day they didn't make it to my game, but of course they found time for my sister's play. I began to see all that hypocrisy, evil and filthiness which rule this world. I don't want to be a part of it anymore. And with your help, I'll make it happen. You were the only one to chase the clouds away, even if that didn't last for long. Thank you for being my friend.

She finished her monologue and loop as well. She climbed up the tree and tied the end of the rope to a branch she was standing on. She put the loop around her neck. She looked down at the ground and having taken a deep breath, jumped...

But she didn't die. Her heart began to speed up, when she saw that she was currently sitting on the gigantic hand and that the end of the rope was tied around its wrist.

Lilja hesitantly looked up. She froze, seeing an enormous face, in her fear she didn't notice the worry in those purple eyes. She finally overcame shock and yelled:

- AHHH! A monster! Help!

Kjell got hurt by rude comment, but he couldn't blame her for it. Being as tall as an actual pear tree, he spread fear upon humankind. But he didn't give up, he had to show her he means no harm.

He carefully pressed his finger against girl's lips, causing her yell to turn into a muffle.

- I know you're scared and don't know what is going on, but I can explain! I'll remove my finger, but you can't scream, okay? - he said. Human looked at him fearfully, but after a short while she nodded.

Kjell did as he promised. Soon, he got lost in her presence. The human girl he was adoring for so long was so close to him, on his hand. It was a dream come true!

But panicked questions snapped him out of daydreaming:

- Who are you?! What do you want from me?! Why did your eyes turn pink?!

Dendress smiled softly.

- Ummm, so hi, my name is Kjell and I'm a Dendress - giant with the power to turn into a tree. I just wanted to save you, nothing more. My eyes change color depending on emotions I feel. Pink means... Nevermind - he answered her all questions and became embarrassed. Girl on the other hand became agitated.

- I'm sure you didn't let me die, because you want to eat me, am I right?! - she accused him. He intensively shook his head.

- No! I would never do such thing! I didn't want you to die! You're so young, you have so much to see yet! - giant said.

- Not true! Life is meaningless and hard! I can't take it anymore! There's no one who cares about me, who acknowledge my existence! - she cried, tears were running down her cheeks.

- I do care. I've always cared. I was coming here everyday just to see you. To keep you company. To hear how you're reading that whole "Forefathers'Eve" book - Kjell replied. Hearing this, Lilja hid her face in her beanie.

- So you've heard my voice impressions? What a shame! - she whined.

- No, don't be embarrassed. I love how you were changing your voice to match the characters, it made your reading way more interesting - giant said.

- And I've always been there for you. And I heard your monologue earlier. You're not alone. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here - he added.

Lilja wiped her tears away and sniffled.

- We're strangers. What makes you to care for me? - she couldn't understand.

- You're a very interesting human. I've been longing to meet you the first time you touched me. But I was afraid of your reaction and that you'll tell about me another humans - he confessed.

Human girl blushed profusely.

- I'm not special. I don't know why would you waste your time on me - she mumbled.

- You're wrong. You're not like the others. You prefer books instead of phone, you care for nature, you're amazingly beautiful. You are special and if people don't see it, it's their loss - he replied and untied the loop from her neck. She chuckled softly.

- I needed that, thank you Kjell. And sorry for calling you a monster - she said.

- So... Am I gonna get your name or... - Dendress said. She facepalmed herself.

- How stupid of me! I'm Lilja - she introduced herself.

- Nice to meet you - Kjell replied.

- The feeling is mutual - she said, believing everything is going to be alright, rejoicing she had someone listening and caring all this time, even though she hadn't been aware of that before.