In this forest of steel and concrete,
people who put down roots here struggle to climb upward, like trees striving toward the sunlight.
The sturdy trees grow ever higher,
sheltering the fallen seeds as they sprout and grow.
They look lush and leafy,
but as they grow, storms and countless other forces drain them of their nourishment,
turning them into hollow trees that cannot grow on their own.
Is a hollow tree still a tree, or is it a vine that needs support?
Note: This book was inspired by The Vegetarian by Korean author Han Kang,
and is intended only as a writing exercise.
Some scenes in the book are drawn from The Vegetarian and will be noted in the author's afterword.
This story is the product of the thoughts and questions I had after reading The Vegetarian. It is only the author's personal perspective.
Theme: Is a hollow tree a tree, or is it a complete tree? A tree is a tree.
