mango

I sat there, letting the juice drip down my chin, my hands and face covered in bright orange liquid from the fresh mango I'd bought yesterday on the street- a half of a block from my apartment. The outside was sticky with the sweetness, when I peeled the green-orange-yellow dotted skin from the soft fruit beneath. I let the pulpy fiber strings get stuck in between my teeth, relishing the feeling, instead of fighting it like I did before. They are long and won't come out easily but I didn't care. The more I ate it, the more I enjoyed it. Remembering when my mother would cut up perfect looking mango, never as sweet as this- but she too enjoyed it. I think now I know why. I ate the whole mango, down to the core- yup- I ate it right up.