Crack. Pop. Fizz

While sitting on the sofa, a young woman feels the dryness of her mouth while watching TV. It's an unpleasant sensation. Her tongue feels like sandpaper as it sticks uncomfortably against the roof of her mouth.

As she sits, she contemplates what to drink. She's thirsty and desperate, but she wants to choose the most refreshing beverage she can.

The thought of something cold and bubbly enters her mind as she stands and heads to the refrigerator. She knows she has water but she wants something sweet, so she looks carefully at the crowded insides of the fridge for options.

At first, she sees nothing to quench her thirst and looks back at the sink faucet despondently. But there, from the corner of her eye, a green can catches her attention.

It's a sprite.

With the eagerness of a desert traveler, she reaches for the can and places it on the countertop. The cold metal feels good against her warm skin and she imagines the relief her mouth is about to receive.

With careful determination, she opens the can and relishes in the crack and pop of the metal breaking and opening. She lifts the can to her parched lips and takes a sip. The cold liquid coats her dry mouth and slides down her throat. She lets out a satisfied sigh as the fizzy substance soothes the rough interior of her mouth.

After swallowing her first sip, she raises the can again and takes another hefty gulp, releasing yet another sigh when this mouthful slides down her throat too.

It takes five deep gulps before the liquid is gone and the can is empty. Her parched mouth is damp again and she returns to her place on the sofa satisfied.