The Man and the Apple

A rabid commotion filled the solid white room. Doctors and nurses congratulated the new parents. Their long-awaited miracle had finally arrived.

If love at first sight truly existed, the man had fallen heart first for his Apple: The Apple of his eye.

Never had the man felt such a rush of jolted love. This love was like no other. The immense feeling of joy overwhelmed even non-relative bystanders. How could someone so small affect the man in such a way? It truly was inexplicable. The man had no words; just love.

Apple was placed safe in the man’s arms. Plush cheeks composed her brightly colored face. Tiny round toes kicked in release. Apple’s small delicate hands were almost porcelain-like in comparison to the man’s.

What a world he would bring to his Apple. At her feet he bestowed the silver spoon of success. The man dreamt of the days when he would witness Apple walk for the first time, say the one word every man awaits for his Apple to say, and in a couple of years send Apple off on a big yellow bus.

But for now, the man only held his Apple snuggly. Her scent was so divine. The man’s consistent beating heart sped rapidly at the cooing sounds of the newborn filling the once empty air. Perhaps the room really did get brighter, but the man could have sworn the room lit luminously the minute Apple met his eyes.

So Big. So Round. Their reddish-brown mixed organically with gray. With a full set of light brown hair, it was no surprise Apple’s beauty.

Quickly, Apple was taken from the man and wrapped in a blue and pink striped blanket. The man felt a tremendous void. He demanded his Apple to be returned. The doctors explained they had to care for her in another room. The man winced in jealously. No one should care for his Apple but him!

How the man yearned to hold Apple again. To whisper in her ear and make her laugh. To be the one to wrap her when she finds herself cold. To read her bedtime stories late at night.

But, the man never got that chance.

One day, the man was stripped raw from his Apple.

There was never a solid goodbye.

There was never a solid beginning.

There was never a solid anything. 

The man jerked and pleaded to see his Apple once again.

“Just one more time,” the man shouted with rage.

“Just one more time,” the man seared in pain.

His cries went unheard. The hole he found himself in was inescapable. No one could help the man. And yet, all the man thought about was her.

Apple is so special. Only the man could ever understand that. The man knew in his heart he would never see Apple walk, dance, tell a funny joke, or even cry from falling off her bike. The man knew he would not be there to catch her. Apple would never have anyone to teach her such a petty thing. Who would care for her the way he does? Would there ever be a man who would love her the same way? Could there be a man to cherish Apple? That man would be blessed to see Apple grow. To watch Apple as she explores the world. To attend Apple’s orchestra recitals. Would this man take such a privilege for granted?

To this other man, The Man thought, “You will get to give her away one day at the end of the long aisle.” The man pictured himself being able to give her that blessing, but knew it would never be him.

The man’s stomach churned with disgust. He felt disgusting. The man knew he had let his Apple down. She had always smiled at him so sweetly. It was genuine. The love they shared was untouchable.

Memories swam through the man’s mind like illustrious dreams. Such short-lived memories. As decades passed in the man’s dormant cell, his memories of Apple became more and more scarce.

How bright her reddish-brown eyes must be now. The man thought to himself. It was selfish of him to think; however, the man defiantly walked out of Apple’s life wishing she would only smile for him.

There would not be a man to fill his shoes.

There would not be a man to care for Apple at all.     

The day the man walked out he knew Apple would never smile the way she once did at him again. She would never give her heart. Apple would never love the way she could have loved the man.

There has ever only been one true love for the man.

And her name is:

Apple.