Rot

I know the way things rot.

Brown and white slime on sugar snap peas,

black fuzz on applesauce uncovered and abandoned,

the expanding plastic of a milk jug kept in the fridge weeks past the best by date,

Diet Coke grows mold, floating like lilypads at the top of a fast food cup.

After a while, you learn not to open leftover containers.

The reusable must be disposable when it sits too long, as it often does.

I promised myself I would do better this time.

I was doing better this time,

but the rot always catches up.

All things must decay eventually.