Mature Slits -

He led her closer, showing her how the slits allowed the internal tissues of the tree to exchange gases with the atmosphere. Without these "scars" of maturity, the tree would suffocate within its own growth.

Sarah looked at the grove differently then. She no longer saw damaged bark, but a forest of elders, breathing deeply through the marks of their own history. mature slits

"In the botanical world," Elias whispered, "the most beautiful specimens are the ones that aren't afraid to let their old skin break to accommodate their new strength. Those slits are proof that the tree has grown too big for its former self. It’s not falling apart; it’s finally opening up." He led her closer, showing her how the