There once was a happy little-carrot who dreamed of being corn. He had always admired the way his classmate soggy-corn looked, as he indulged in what he considered a beautiful, and perfect mix of yellows and greens. And, once he’d learned about corn having another form when heated, his obsession had only grown ever since; for the happy little-carrot could not fathom how the one he admired the most did not turn into complete goo when put into a microwave.

It was the day of their graduation party.

Soggy-corn and little-carrot, along with their other limp comrades, were finally allowed to go outside and into a world that was not filled with darkness and the smell of cardboard boxes.

They looked up to the sky and gasped. Little-carrot’s skin tingled at the sight of a million suns blazing above their tiny bodies. Soggy-corn’s skin was a tad more moist than usual, and as little-carrot got a glimpse of his toned body, he realised that they were both crying of joy at the idea of finally being free.

And then, something unexpected happened, for the first time in years, soggy-corn spoke to little-carrot in voice that sounded weaker than before. “There’s something I haven’t been honest about with you,” he said.

“W-what is it?” Little-carrot asked him, his tiny vegetable heart beating faster, as the green leaves above his head quivered.

“I… I know how much you admired my kind and our ability to transform since the beginning of our relationship. However, you must know, that our final form comes at a price.”

“A… A price?” Little-carrot froze, “what kind of price? What are you talking about, my love? Weren’t we going to graduate together and then live out our dreams, leaf-against-leaf, forever?” His voice shook as he continued to speak and said, “I-I don’t understand, what could possibly be—”

But little-carrot’s phrase was interrupted by a giant that approached them. “Hey mommy!” It screamed, “I want that one!”

“The price,” Soggy-corn said as the mother of giant picked him up, “is death.”

Little-carrot wanted to yell and ask for his return. He tried to budge, but his body would not move, and he wished to have arms. He wished to turn back time. He wished he had spent his years with his lover figuring out an escape plan, instead of waiting to meet his doom by his side.

“Goodbye, little-carrot,” Soggy-corn cried, “I’ll never forget you.”

The store went dark.

Bodies of the giants flooded out of the aisles.

Little-carrot was left alone, as he wept over the loss of his one and only, in front of a stand filled with plastic packages that read: POPCORN.