Lifetakes: Five Candles

BLUE CORE Sometimes the flames lean a little but most of the time they burn upward each one leaving its own small trail of smoke and burning down the white stick little by little. The blue core enthralls me — the source of each flame that continues to glow even as the wax drips and the candle disappears

I watch closely — every move every tremble of the lip every twitch of the shoulder.

Inside my heart sobs and tells me to run fast.

The candelabra has five branches. A design of intricate detail carefully polished to a pristine shine. Perfect.