Cherry Eyes. Winning Story.
Hummingbird Emerging Writer Contest 4 Winning Story. Cherry Eyes by Marijana Mrvos
"Try that one on the left; it's a juicy bunch." Annie guided her husband from the ground. If she wasn't in the final stretch of her pregnancy, she would have climbed herself. The old cherry tree was at its peak that year, its branches weighed down by plump, red fruit.
Annie sat in a rocking chair on a porch and picked one juicy fruit after another. With each fruit, a wave of different emotions and images occupied her body and mind. Long summer days at her grandparents' farm filled with joy and playfulness. A deep, dark sky full of stars and the giggles of her friends. The warm and hard hands of her grandfather, who smelled of hay. Delicious cherry pies cooling before supper. First lipstick and kiss. Late-night swims in the lake. Every year, that old tree and its fruits were a beacon of summer and leisure for Annie.
Annie was far away when her husband tapped her on the shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw his deep cherry eyes, which she had fallen for.
"Annie, are you O.K? I called several times, but you did not respond."
"I am O.K. The first pick of cherries always brings old memories."
"The cherries are fantastic. Let's make some liqueur."
"Good idea, but do we have schnapps?"
"I think we do." He leaned in to kiss her lips, which were smudged with cherries when her water broke.
"Nick, my water broke. The liqueur will have to wait."
Several hours later, Annie held a baby girl in her arms, and the first time she looked at her, she fell in love with her deep, dark cherry eyes.
Editor’s Note
Cherry Eyes is the winning story of the Hummingbird Emerging Writer Contest 4. The story was selected by Hummingbird as one of two semi-finalists stories among those submitted for Contest 4. Cherry Eyes received the most votes from Hummingbird Readers. The story was appreciated most for the warmth and love conveyed.
Thank you to our readers for voting and for your continued support of emerging writers.
And, heartiest congratulations from all of us at Hummingbird to Marijana Mrvos. As winner, Hummingbird will be publishing another original story from Marijana in the near future.