The little match girl

The little match girl is not what you typically choose as a bedtime story. The ending can be heart wrenching depending on the emotional and mind state you currently are. I like to frame it in a different direction regardless of the ending. I even give the girl a name because to me this story is about Hope and Faith. In all honesty it depends on the day and the season when I change the character’s name reflecting what I need the most in the specific moment. Here is my retelling: 

Hope knows what is to endure the cold winters with nothing in her belly and only the adrenaline in heart pumping heat through her body. She also knows when the lack of water and the blazing heat makes her body spasm, she cannot really seem to be grateful for either of the seasons when she is trying her best to make a sale. Today it seems colder than usual and maybe is because the people she wishes to make a sale to; are rushing to the warmth of their homes. It is New Year’s after all.

She wanders the streets for a few more hours and in her core she knows the disappointment her father will have when she comes back with no coins for the matches. She lays her back on the cold brick wall and closes her eyes for just a moment. For a moment she wishes to forget her responsibilities, she wishes to forget she is poor and hungry.

She finally opens her eyes and looks up to the sky, clenching to her matches as she makes her wish again. She would trade anything to just be happy, safe, and warm.

A light from the window next to her flashes and forces her to turn to see the scene inside the house. The smiles of the unknown family make her eyes water, and the light suddenly vanishes. Her trembling hands grab one match from her basket and she lights it. The family appears again and her tears travel to her smiling lips. The scene suddenly changes and the presents under the Christmas tree seem to take all of her focus. The endless colors and sizes of the presents make her imagination run wild. She cannot even fathom what they were under, the perfect wrapping covering them. The scene vanished again, just like before, and with more precision she lit the next match. The presents appeared again. How much she wishes she could open just one. She wouldn’t care to keep the present, she just wants to feel the rush of opening the gift. She wants to be surprised; she wants her heart to flip out of amusement for once.

The scene, as if it could read her needs, changes in a blink of an eye. The mashed potatoes, the juicy turkey, the chocolate pie and the orange juice appear before her eyes. Her mouth waters. If she had to pick just one item from the feast, it would be the pie. The grumbling of her stomach makes her retreat. She sighs and is thankful for what she just saw because even if is not a reality for her is a reality for others. She just hopes the ones that are experiencing those delights are as grateful as she would be if she had them. 

She looks down at the basket and decides to light another match. This match will be just for her, just for her hopes and dreams. As she lights it, a wrinkled hand appears before her. She is not frightened about this; her gaze lifts to see the owner of the hand and her eyes glisten in pure joy. Her grandmother and Hope’s mother appear. She never met her mother before but she knows is her mother. Hope’s lips part and with them the little cloud of cold air escape them. Her family disappears along with the flame of the match. She shakes her little head and realizes her family is all she is ever wanted. She wants to be with them. They are her wishes. They are the ones that make her laugh, feel safe and happy.

Breathing the cold air, she takes all the matches and lights them. Her family appears again and before the scene can vanish away from her, she takes her grandmother’s hand because she wants to disappear with them.

The joy fills her little body as she walks hand in hand with her family. She feels light and happy. She notices the people walking around them are acting as if they can’t see her or her family. The shock in their faces makes her hesitate, she wanders what they are looking at. She looks in their direction and understands. They are looking at her old body. She sighs and only hopes they could see her now. She is happy, warm and safe. She looks at each person looking down at her body and makes two last wishes. She wishes them to have hope for a brighter tomorrow, even if they face the most difficult circumstances. She wishes them to have faith even when something doesn’t go as planned or as they thought it should be. She knows something better and more beautiful is ahead and the only thing they have to do is wish.

Even on my darkest days, I try to remember to be grateful for what I have. And I wish to never lose hope and faith.