One Bad Apple #14

One Bad Apple — a scene tinged with tension beneath a surface of beauty. In a sun-drenched orchard, rows of apple trees stretch into the distance, their branches heavy with ripe, gleaming fruit. The air smells sweet—earthy and golden—and the leaves rustle softly in the late afternoon breeze. At first glance, it's a picture of harmony and abundance. But then, among a perfectly arranged basket of freshly picked apples resting on a wooden crate, there’s one that draws the eye. Its skin is mottled and bruised, a dark rot spreading subtly across one side. It doesn’t belong—but it’s there, quietly ruining the illusion of perfection. The other apples press against it unknowingly, unaware that its decay will soon reach them too. A nearby picker, a young woman in a straw hat, pauses as she notices the blemished fruit. Her fingers hover over it, uncertain. Does she toss it? Ignore it? Or has it already done its damage? The orchard remains calm, beautiful even—but now there's a shadow in the story. One bad apple—not just a fruit, but a warning, quietly nestled where no one expects it. Bud Haslett: FOMO-FUD April 2025 Image from NightCafe - Flux / Preset: Neo Impressionist Words from ChatGPT-4.0