I found you in a candy store.

Alluring treat, all plastic pink and gasping blue,

Mouth watering, heart racing

I plopped you in my mouth.

You settled on my tongue like a cotton candy cloud

You were the sweetest thing I'd ever tasted

Dripping honey, soft and subtle

Shyly floating along the edges of my gums

Grazing my lips

But how strange. Peculiar how suddenly

You became acid rain.

Maybe it would end soon,

This sharp displeasure, the green eyed grin

It would be over any moment

Just a phase. A layer.

And if I licked and lapped and melted down

It would give way to that silky saccharine once more...

I couldn't keep you in my mouth any longer.

The sting brought tears to my eyes

I pursed my lips

I spit you out.

Everything tasted sour.

Your name had become too much

Of a sour thing

It ripped open my taste buds

It made my tongue bleed cherry red

It twisted my lips into disgust.

Years have passed.

I taste nothing.

I remind myself to avoid candy stores,

Because I remember

How you were sweet, sour,

Gone.