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It was a cold winter night. Dressed in a clothed rag, you held onto the matches that were the source of your income. You walked around the streets with your bare foot that were slightly pale from the coldness of the snow. "Matches! Matches! Five for one dollar!" You scream, showing your matches to the people on the streets. You were desperate for money as money provided you with food but sadly, everyone ignored you, only looking or passing by you. Some even bumped into you intentionally, making you drop your matches on the snow.
You quickly gather them and ran away and hid between two houses. Snow starts to fall more and more. Your hands start to tremble, losing its reddish features. It was as if your blood stop flowing into them. You decided you would light up one of your match to provide you with warmth. You took a match and slide it on a rough surface. A yellow fire emits on the match's head, providing a little warmth. Your move it closer to your body, slowly taking in the warmth.
Suddenly, you were in a house filled with delicious aromas of delicacy. They attract you towards the dinner table. You sat yourself down and picked up a fork. You were about to dine in but it was gone. You blinked, your match has died out. You were desperate once more. If you were able to get a bite, maybe it would satisfy your stomach. You decided to light another match, sliding it on the same rough surface again. You were in the same house again but this time, you were filled with people who treated you family. "Sister, sister! Let's play hide and seek!"
The kids giggle, running to hide from you. You stood on a corner, counting one from ten. You turned around, you saw their little feet behind the curtains. You tiptoed towards them, moving the curtains to the side to reveal the kids. The giggle once more, dispersing themselves in different rooms. "Count again sister!" You hid again, counting from one to ten. When you turned around, everything was gone. Your eyes slowly dart towards the match that was fully used. The warmth slowly dissipates, leaving you in the cold again.
You thought for a little while. If you lit all your match, wouldn't the warmth go away? But then, if all the matches were away, how will you be able to earn income? But then, nobody would buy matches from a poor girl if they only shoved and pushed you. So you decided to take your chance to feel pure bliss again. Gathering the matches one by one, you tie them as a bundle as you rip a long strip from your ragged clothing. You impulsively slide the matches onto the rough surface. It slowly lights itself, making a fire.
"Darling!" Hands slowly cover your eyes. "Guess who?" He whispers in your ear, giving it a tingling sensation. You opened your mouth but the name stuck onto your throat, never coming out. "You're such a kill joy! But it's alright. I cooked your favorite!" He released his hands aways from your eyes, showing you the food on the table. He pushes onto the chair in front of the food. You stared at it for a minute without the means of picking the spoon up. "You want me to feed you?" Without hearing your reply, he took a spoonful before shoving it into your mouth.
"I knew you'd like it." He smiles, putting down the spoon onto the plate. Tears start to pour from your eyes, dripping onto your hands. "Why are you crying?" He wipes your tears away by kissing your eyes. "Come." He gestures his hands open for you to be in his embrace. He looked at you with his usual kind smile. "Kou..." With that, you jumped into his arms, feeling the warmth.
There in between two houses, a girl with tear stained cheeks lay dormant as she lets herself rest. On her hands lay the matches that had once been lit up just as like she was in heaven.
