Withered Tree
A woman tries to make sense of her world as she struggles with unexplained events and gaps in her memory. Is she losing her mind? Or is there another explanation? A psychological thriller.
This story is presented in very short, straightforward sentences on par with our easiest stories, but the subject matter and certain story devices add slightly to the overall difficulty, meriting a rating of Intermediate. However, as always, our friendly notes will help you through the tricky parts. (14 episodes)
Episode 1
The narrator wonders what to do when a tree withers in her yard.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the ～ず negative, one on omitting the verb of saying or thinking after a quotation, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 4426 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 671 |
Episode 2
The narrator worries about unexplained events.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using この to mean "these past...(days, weeks, etc.)," one on a word that means "to tell oneself," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 1671 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 226 |
Pro
Episode 3
The narrator explains her routine as she begins her day.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a common pattern for saying you don't have the (free) time to do something, one on a pattern for saying you take something as an opportunity to do something else, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 856 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 122 |
Pro
Episode 4
The narrator describes more about her work and relationship.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word ほど, one on the word 合わせる, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 633 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 93 |
Pro
Episode 5
The narrator makes a discovery that could explain something she saw earlier.
Notes: This episode contains a note that looks at the はず that indicates the speaker's beliefs or expectations about the world, one that looks at the し that means "for this and other reasons," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 565 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 82 |
Pro
Episode 6
The narrator prepares a heartfelt dinner for her husband.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the ～ごと suffix, which means "per; each," one on pulling a word apart into two halves to insert も between them, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 491 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 77 |
Pro
Episode 7
The narrator grows concerned as the evening goes on.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word 嫌み (いやみ), one on the use of ため to mean "on account of; due to," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 454 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 64 |
Pro
Episode 8
As her mind races, the narrator continues to try to contact her husband.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word とりあえず, one on a word that means "to surge" with unstoppable power, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 418 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 58 |
Pro
Episode 9
The narrator gets a surprising message.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern that means "as (adjective) as possible," one on a pattern that means "it is written," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 393 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 59 |
Pro
Episode 10
The narrator relives a shocking moment.
Notes: This episode contains a note on indirect quotations in Japanese, one on a word that is often translated "blame," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 381 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 58 |
Pro
Episode 11
Memories of a fateful night come rushing back to the narrator.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the pattern わけではない, two that highlight は being used for contrastive purposes, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 343 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 57 |
Pro
Episode 12
The narrator and her husband share a toast.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word ほとんど, one on the suffix ～込む (こむ), and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 339 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 56 |
Pro
Episode 13
The narrator files a report.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a phrase that means "to well up," one on a phrase that means "to muddy one's words," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 326 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 47 |
Pro
Episode 14
In this chilling final episode, the narrator finds a place of peace.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using ～としたら to consider hypothetical scenarios, one about using the ～たち suffix with inanimate objects, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 287 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 44 |