fire speech
Out there in the woods, the fire leapt from tree to tree, but it leapt so fiercely, and quickly that it only burnt one side of each. Soon after it retraces its steps, burning the backsides. Then it laid down to rest. Ellen tended to it, feeding it small twigs, until there was nothing left to eat.
"You've had it all."
"I have?"
"Yes."
"Well, it was a good life." The more ash it produced the more ink Ellen made of it, always giving it to those who need it rather than herself.
"Do you have any regrets?"
"I have many."
"You can tell me if you like."
"Are you sure?" She nodded to the embers. Her favourite part of a fire was always near the end. "I regret not having the chance to burn longer than I will. But I also regret having ever consumed anything. I feel a sadness for all of those things I've had."
"You have to choose. You cannot regret both." And with a poker in hand, she stirred the bottom of the fire about.
"I cannot choose."
"Then you'll die harbouring regrets."
"Yes, and I regret that I must do so." Ellen turned to a bucket of water, and picked it up.
"Good-bye," she said.
"You've had it all."
"I have?"
"Yes."
"Well, it was a good life." The more ash it produced the more ink Ellen made of it, always giving it to those who need it rather than herself.
"Do you have any regrets?"
"I have many."
"You can tell me if you like."
"Are you sure?" She nodded to the embers. Her favourite part of a fire was always near the end. "I regret not having the chance to burn longer than I will. But I also regret having ever consumed anything. I feel a sadness for all of those things I've had."
"You have to choose. You cannot regret both." And with a poker in hand, she stirred the bottom of the fire about.
"I cannot choose."
"Then you'll die harbouring regrets."
"Yes, and I regret that I must do so." Ellen turned to a bucket of water, and picked it up.
"Good-bye," she said.