Accidental Aphrodisiac

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the living room in hues of amber and shadow. Laura sat on the edge of the couch, her fingers drumming a restless rhythm against her thigh. The house felt too quiet now, hollowed out by his long absence. Max had been gone for what felt like an eternity—a year abroad, studying art in Florence, chasing dreams she’d encouraged him to pursue. She’d told herself it was the right thing, that he needed to spread his wings, but the silence he left behind had been deafening.

She remembered the day he’d left, his backpack slung over one shoulder, the rest of his luggage already loaded in the taxi, his smile wide with excitement. “I’ll be back before you know it, Mom,” he’d said, hugging her tight. She’d held onto that moment, replaying it in her mind during the long nights when the emptiness of the house pressed in on her. They’d always been close, just the two of them against the world since his father walked out years ago. Max had been her anchor, her confidant, her reason to keep going. Without him, the days blurred together, each one stretching longer than the last.

The sound of the front door creaking open snapped her out of her thoughts. She straightened her blouse, smoothing out invisible wrinkles as Max stepped inside, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a small, intricately carved wooden box cradled in his other hand.

He was taller, broader, his shoulders filling out the lean frame he had had when he left. There was a new confidence in the way he carried himself, a swagger that hadn’t been there before. It made her heart skip a beat, though she couldn’t quite place why. Her son. Her grown son. The boy who used to climb into her lap after nightmares was now a man who filled the doorway with his presence.

The moment the door creaked open, Laura was on her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. Max stood there, taller, broader, his presence filling the space like a storm rolling in. She didn’t think, didn’t hesitate—she rushed to him, arms outstretched, and he dropped his duffel bag with a thud, catching her in a tight embrace.

“Max,” she breathed, her voice trembling as she buried her face in his shoulder. He smelled different—foreign, like spices and sun-warmed earth—but beneath it all, he still smelled like him. Her son. Her boy. “God, I missed you.”

His arms tightened around her, lifting her off the ground for a brief moment before setting her back down. “Missed you too, Mom.” His voice was deeper now, richer, but the warmth in it was the same. “Every damn day.”

She pulled back just enough to look at him, her hands cupping his face. “Look at you. You’re… different. Stronger. More confident. Tell me everything. What was it like? Did you love it?”

He grinned, that familiar lopsided smile that made her heart ache. “It was incredible. Florence was… God, Mom, the art, the food, the people. I’ll tell you all about it later. But Marrakech—” His eyes lit up, and he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, intricately carved wooden box. “I got this for you. Something special.”

Laura’s gaze dropped to the box, her fingers tracing the swirling patterns that seemed to shimmer even in the dim light of the room. “What is it?”

“Some kind of rare delicacy. The merchant said it’s supposed to cleanse you or bring enlightenment. My translation app couldn’t quite catch everything, but…” He shrugged, his grin turning mischievous.

Laura chuckled, leaning forward to inspect the box. “Enlightenment, huh? Sounds like a tall order for a little box.”

Max shrugged, leaning back against the counter. “Yeah, I didn’t buy into it either. But everyone who saw me with it said I was going to enjoy it. Supposedly, it’s delicious. Thought it might be fun to try it together.”

Her eyebrows shot up, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “You want us to try it? Together? It’s not some weird drug is it?”

“Why not?” He set the box on the coffee table, his fingers lingering on the lid. “What’s the worse that could happen? And I’m pretty sure it’s not drugs, they wouldn’t just sell it out in the open market if it was.