"My Candle" by Sajia Sanger Oct.-Dec. 1998 Lemar-Aftaab I sit in the darkness with a candle not lit. I feel there are some matches near where I sit. I look for them eagerly with hope that I am right. I wish that I could find them and fill the room with light. I search for the matches on hands and knees. I they must be somewhere, I beg "oh, please". Then, just as I am about to give up all hope. I find a box of matches next to some rope. I strike a match and my candle is burning. I watch the flame -- dancing and turning. I feel relieved and I have no more fear. The lonliness and darkness are no longer here. I see so clearly and room is so bright. I feel love and affection and sheer delight. How beautiful this place is I can never explain. It takes away all of my sorrow and pain. I look at the matches but there are no more. Just the empty box that I had tossed on the floor. I start to think of what can occur. My candle might turn off and become a blur. I can't let that happen to my little flame. I can't let it go back to being the same. I feel a breeze coming in from the side. I quickly move over so my candle can hide. but with my luck, which is always a joke. The wind from my movement turns the fire to smoke. I am back in my dark and lonely place. I feel twice the pain as tears run down my face. I can't believe this mistake I've made. The memories of the colors shall never fade. I long to see the light for just one more minute. To feel the love and the warmth that comes from it. But I know that it is all just hopeless. My candle shall stay forever lifeless. I try to forget about the candle. Knowing that it is too much for me to handle. I feel so tired, weak, and defeated. I lay down as the memories are repeated. There I find the rope once agian. But wait-- what's this-- there's a loop at one end. Copyright © 1998 Aftaabzad Publications. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed in any form without permission.