Melissa Allor

Nonfiction | Short Story | Relationships | Paid Content

According to the Journal of Food Engineering, “Peach fruit quality is adversely affected by bruise damage. In order to reverse this damage, it is necessary to know the influence of fruit properties on bruise susceptibility.” Bruise susceptibility was a concept I was just beginning to understand. 

How do I look? I asked him. I spent an hour getting ready for our night out. It wasn’t often that we got the chance to get out and so I took my time. I prepped my hair and carefully applied the right shade of gloss to my lips. My long, brown hair hung down in waves brushing the tips of my shoulders. I was standing on the stairs, working my way down. He stood at the bottom, I can’t remember for certain, but I got the impression that he was tapping his foot impatiently. I looked at him expectantly, but the slow eye roll, and the quick imprint of disgust that crossed his face were the only answer I would receive. He ignored me, walking ahead of me. I was left, confused, trailing behind, staring at the back of him.