The Bright Years

The oak tree by Lillan’s grave is a symbol that represents the inexorable passage of time and reflects the persistence of grief. The tree is present when Lillian is first buried, and every time Jet visits her mother until Ryan is buried beside her. When she first sees the tree, Jet sketches it, and realizes that by doing so, she is exploring her loss of Lillian: “On a dead tree, I sketch the living one. It’s only a baby. This paper could be its mom or sister or friend. I rip out the drawing and bury it and wonder if maybe I’m going a little crazy” (146). As she sketches the young oak tree, Jet realizes that the paper in her hands was also once a tree, now dead. The juxtaposition of a living subject on a dead medium elicits a vivid image of her relationship with Lillian, overwhelming Jet.

When Jet visits Lillian’s grave years later, the oak tree remains, though now bigger. Though the tree has grown over time, the pain Jet feels over Lillian’s absence does not shrink. With each passing milestone or conflict, Jet thinks of how Lillian may guide her. She seeks Lillian’s grave during crises, wishing her mother was still there: “I lie on my back beside Mom’s headstone in a sudden downpour.