Bren's mind knew Violet was dead, but his heart refused to believe this beautiful and vibrant woman was gone in the blink of an eye. On a sob, he pulled her into an embrace, cradling her against his heart—the inner heart he had only just discovered. For a long time he sobbed and whispered her name, gently kissing her face. "I love you so much, Violet."
Finally, glancing up, he stared at the Spirit Tree. The tree Violet had believed in so much that she had lost her life in the search for it. Lowering his head and grazing her lifeless lips, he whispered, "I'll carry you the rest of the way, my love."
He lifted Violet into his arms and slowly walked toward the misshapen remains of the tree. When he was before its sun bleached branches, he lowered himself to his knees between the roots and offered Violet to the tree. Barely able to speak he said, "She belongs to you now. She believed in your power to save the earth so much that she was willing to risk her life. If it's still possible in her death, I ask you to fulfill her belief. Save the earth." His voice broke on a sob and he hung his head. After a time, a breeze ruffled his hair and faintly he heard the voice of an old woman say, "It was never Violet who would save the earth, it was you. Violet was the means to bring you here. Touch the tree."
Bren lifted his head and stared at a parched and lifeless root. Violet's death was making him hear things. He continued staring at the root and finally, in an act of faith that he had really heard the voice, reached and touched the dead wood.
The contact shot a jolt of electricity throughout his body so powerful he stiffened and was unable to speak or move, with Violet locked in his arms.
Staring at the root below his fingers he watched with incredulity as the parched surface began to change. The dry bark slowly darkened, spreading outward and upward. Still paralyzed and only able to move his eyes, he shifted his gaze to Violet. His tears dripped onto her face.
Suddenly, the electrical force keeping him prisoner ceased and he fell to the ground with Violet beside him. How long he lay dazed he didn't know, but when he finally forced his eyes open, the Spirit Tree, only a pathetic skeleton before, now stood as testament to a miracle. It was tall with gnarled branches bespeaking eons of existence that stretched upward to the heavens, outward to humanity, and downward to the earth. And with everything in him, Bren knew those eons had been translated into wisdom. Leaves of deep green adorned the branches and sounded like music as they fluttered in a breeze.
For a long time Bren stared at the magnificence above him thanking Providence for something he couldn't understand, but he knew had saved the earth. Finally, he closed his eyes and begged the same Providence that had just given life, to take his so he could once again be with Violet.