After an excruciating morning of staring at a screen all day, seeing only black screens of what used to be my friends, there is only one thing on my mind: kettle corn. Once I see the chat box glow up with emotionless goodbyes, it is my cue to press the red button and make my favorite snack to reward myself for surviving another mundane day. As I drop the pearly yellow kernels into the kettle pot, a satisfying “POP!” rings my ear. Instantly, my mood changes, as I see the hard kernels turn into a delicate and fluffy texture.

Twelve minutes of patience and sweat and the aroma of popcorn begins to waft around my house. The hypnotizing smell of sugar-coated popcorn makes me forget the challenging day I’ve had online. I hear the footsteps of my sibling, lining up to have a heaping bowl, later coming back for seconds. I will forever be faithful to kettle corn, never consuming its inferior counterparts such as sickly sweet caramel. The crunch on the popcorn with the sweet crust and hint of salt gives you that perfect combination of sweet and salty, making you savor each bite. As I finish my bowl, serotonin fills my body, and I patiently wait for the next time I cook kettle corn.