Apple of Eden

         Helen closed her eyes and brought the fruit to her lips.  She breathed in, savoring the subtle scents that teased her, coated her tongue with almost flavor, and made her mouth water.  She let her teeth sink – oh so slowly – through the peel to the center of the soft fruit cupped in her hands.  The peel resisted for a moment, and Helen tasted the subtle yet sugary tang of the fruit’s skin.  Then the peel gave way and a burst of juice filled her mouth.  It also had understated sourness, but was sweeter and more exotic than the velvety skin.  Helen had never tasted anything so intoxicating.  It reminded her of peach nectar and raspberry honey; and it brought back memories of the time she had poured fresh spring water into a bowl of uncut lemons before drinking it.  The sticky sweet juices clutched at the corners of her mouth, just like that bitter fresh lemon water had so many months ago.

         The juices on her chin mixed with her sweat, and her mouth tingled as she tongued at the already dried sugars.  Helen leaned against the tree and took another bite.  The smell and taste, both so wrapped in each other, overrode her senses.  For a moment she was transported back to home and hearth, to lemon sponge cakes and iced orange blossom tea.  Eyes still closed, she gave a small suck, greedily swallowing the few drops of thick juice that flowed into her mouth.  Her lashes fluttered as she sank to the ground, eyes almost opening as her limbs relaxed.  For a moment, her entire existence pinpointed in the incredibly exotic tang that made her face ache.  Fear, exhaustion, and hope; all were washed away into a blissful dream of melted raspberry popsicles and lemon water.  Helen opened her eyes and looked toward the sky.  She lifted her hands, already craving another bite of the succulent fruit, but to her astonishment she had already finished it.

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