Ripe For Picking

His amber skin was glistening with sweat under the bright beams of the golden sun. His chest rose and fell rhythmically as he slept. The exhaustion was visible in the position he laid. Arms sprawled above his head as if he just collapsed. And his head was tilted, laying awkwardly against the root of the pear tree.

He looked dead.

Lily was afraid that he might be dead. She stood on her porch with her hand thumbing the necklace her husband gave her. She did not know who the man under her pear tree was. She had simply come outside to enjoy a cup of lemon chamomile tea and saw him lying there.

The cup of tea now sat on the dark oak railing of her porch and was no longer steaming. Lily was watching the man for some time. Waiting for him to awaken and go about his business. But the man did not.

Her husband would not be home until evening and would not be happy to see another man there. Her husband Tom was a very envious man with a short temper. She knew that no matter the explanation she gave him for this mysterious man being there. No matter how much she explains to her husband that this man appeared out of nowhere. That she would be at fault still.

So without another thought, Lily stepped off her porch and walked to the man. Her cotton white dress grazed the grass and daisies as she approached him. Any other time Lily would lift her dress so that it would not dirty, but her mind was focused on the man.

The closer she got, the more she realized that this man was gorgeous. His body was defined and muscular. His face was angelic while he slept. His cheeks were red from the heat and his pink lips were parted in a sigh. He looked peaceful.

Lily almost didn't want to wake him.

"Lily..."

Lily gasped and stopped in her tracks. The man had said her name. But how could he have known? She was now racing her mind to figure out where she had seen him before. But she was unable to remember him.

Lily spoke to no one and the few people she did encounter she remembered. This man was not someone she had ever seen but he somehow knew her.

Lily stood silently contemplating what to do next. She could call the police and have them deal with him, but she was too curious how he knew her. And more importantly why he was there.

The wind seemed to be still when she decided what she was going to do. It was an eerie feeling. As if nature was against her decision. A sudden rush of adrenaline sent her racing across the prickly grass and back inside. Once inside, she filled a tall clear glass with water from her kitchen faucet, anxiously peering out the window above the sink while it filled. The man was in the same position.

When the glass of water was full, she quickly walked outside and back to the man. Lily was so eager that she could not keep the water in the glass. It sloshed inside the cup and splashed on her dress. Tom would be upset if he saw her like this. She laughed loudly at the thought of her husband fussing at her about the grass stains and water all over the dress.

What she was doing excited her. The small act of rebellion. Lily always obeyed Tom. She cleaned the house spotless and never left the house when he was working. She pleased him whenever he needed to be pleased. She kissed the ground he walked on. Tom liked to be worshipped. He wanted things his way. Lily was tired of it.

Lily fell to her knees beside the man and brought the cup to his lips. What was left of the water he drank and almost magically, he seemed to recover. She was admiring his face when his eyelids fluttered open.

"Lily?..." He whispered. His eyes squinted to see her through the sunlight.

That voice. She knew that voice.

"Gabriel?" She said doubtfully.

Gabriel was her old lover from high school. Their relationship didn't last long but it was special. Gabriel treated her like a person. She felt seen by him. Tom did the same for her at the beginning but now, she might as well be a stranger.

"What on earth are you doing here?" She laughed. Gabriel was supposed to be studying to become a medical student down south. The last time she saw him was when they said goodbye. But that was a year ago. How he ended up in her front yard was a mystery to her.

"I've been looking all over for you," Gabriel said smiling "I almost gave up but then I saw this tree and I just wanted one pear cuz' it's so hot"

"Well, lucky you did." She plays with her fingers nervously "you wouldn't have found me."

"I thought you didn't like pears," Gabriel said

The way he said it felt like an accusation. Something that Lily is more than familiar with.

"My husband insisted on it," Lily stood up, dusting her dress off " He loves pears."

Suddenly, she felt foolish behaving the way she has. Looking at another man when she knows Tom would have a fit. She felt ashamed.

"Oh..." Gabriel said sitting up and looking at the ground.

"It's not an important detail about me, but if you knew that when you saw this tree then you probably should have never thought to go near it."

Gabriel gave her a big smile and brushed what she said off.

"Nah, probably should have knocked and asked for a glass of water." He teased

Lily blushed trying to hide her amusement but she was sure Gabriel saw. He stood up and staggered but Lily stepped forward to steady him.

"Remember what I asked before you left?" Gabriel asked. He paced each word as if he was afraid the question would scare her.

"No," Lily replied giving him a sad smile

"Runaway with me?" Gabriel said and the words sent a rush of excitement through her.

Lily had not seen this man in a year. She was married and planning to have kids with Tom. A quiet life in the country side just like her mother and father. She didn't need to work because Tom did that for her. Lily had no reason to leave the house and visit anything. She was the perfect housewife for her husband.

She was ready to throw that all away for Gabriel.