23. Truth and peaches
Summer had held fond memories for her. Happier times with family and glorious weather led to the making of wondrous moments. They had possessed an orchard with an array of fruit, samplings for many a summer's and autumn's day. It proved a perfect hiding place for sisters wanting only to gossip. She had much preferred the lush softness of peaches while Yuris would more often opt for tart crispness of apples. If she had been wiser in her youth, she may have realized it for the definition of their personalities one of her advisors would later reflect upon. The orchard had seen many conversations on politics, father, men, and more on a certain one.
She was likening her life to the fruit in hand, juice from the bitten flesh running down her ringers as tears were wont to along her cheeks. But as sweet and appealing as truth could be, there were times when it seemed impossible to swallow.