# Beauty

By [Saint Tom](https://paragraph.com/@sainttom) · 2024-04-03

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**Beauty.**

High maintenance. Low output

There is a vivid, colourful print

on a glossy aluminum shell.

Cool to the touch.

Dozens of clear drops over the surface.

You open the can slowly.

With excitement.

A click and a whisper of bubbles,

like a beautiful promise.

The scent arising is heavenly flowers.

Bringing dreams,

memories of dreams from some time ago.

You get a taste of it eagerly.

It is exactly what you hoped for.

And even better.

A thrill

and a kick of sugar

And popping bubbles

Melting away at your tongue.

You‘ve found,

what you have been longing for.

You are at peace.

At last.

You’re sure of it.

You hold the drink carefully,

Almost caress it

with both hands for a long while.

Observing its artificial beauty.

Barely able to believe your luck.

Time goes by.

Five minutes.

Ten.

Twenty.

You notice,

somehow, all of a sudden,

that the bubbles stopped whispering

soothingly into your ear.

You right hand holding a can

is feeling moist,

uncomfortably warm,

sticky.

Your thoughts follow suit.

Disappointment starts creeping in.

Do you need to know what is happening?

After a reasonable consideration

you take another sip:

Plain.

Cloyingly sweet.

Unassuming.

Those will be the words on you mind from now on.

Unless…

Your stomach grumbles,

Aches in a hopeful cry of disapproval.

Is time for another?

Oct 4 2023.

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*Originally published on [Saint Tom](https://paragraph.com/@sainttom/beauty)*