The streets were bare and the moon was out. Stars shined in the blackness of night, and the little girl held a candle. A dull candle, with no fire giving it burning life. Her hands trembling in the cold, every breath she inhaled a wave of ice. Her lungs straining to keep up the rhythm. In, out. In, out. Her hands shaking, her body trembling with fear of the great darkness. Memories of the warmth she once felt tore her heart. A bright fire once flickered on the wick of the candle, but the flame vanished in the wind. The howling wind that came that night ripped the life from the candle. And left the little girl to shiver in the cold, all alone. Her eyes pleaded to all that walked by for a flame. The warmth they felt stirred jealousy in her heart as she thought of the fireless candle. A candle was all she had. And without warmth, soon enough she would freeze. Her eyes already drifting shut, her grip on the candle weakening, her heartbeat growing slower. And people would shuffle past her and gasp, but continue on. Nobody would help the poor little child that was dying in the cold. For all she had was a candle. And what's a candle without a flame?