Burned | Teen Ink

Burned

May 9, 2011
By austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy


I sit, huddled with all the other candles on the shelf in darkness. Some weep softly, crying invisible wax tears. All of us know that each pounding footstep could be the bringer of our doom.

I was given as a gift to the family a few months ago by an elderly aunt. I can remember her picking me off the shelf, a knowing look on her weathered, wizened face.

“Oh, you’ll do,” she said in a wavering voice, as old as the Earth herself. “My Maggie loves the summer.”

I am surprised that I have not been Burned yet.

Each time the door opens, a quick flash of blinding golden light proves that I am much different from the other candles in the closet. I have a delicate glass shell, stained with the purest blues and greens, colors of the ocean glinting in the bright sunlight. My scent is a gentle reminder of summer, of fields strewn with wildflowers and rivers trickling lazily over thick stones and logs.

Perhaps that is the reason the other candles that are so generic and ordinary, filled with petty scorn for my differences, shun me. I am aware of my uniqueness and beauty, yet they resent me for it. I can feel their hateful glares on my shell, burning gaping holes even in the dark.

Shuddering, I shut my eyes. The loneliness is almost too much to bear. I wish I was gone from this miserable place, where sneers and smirks are all I am given. I would rather be Burned and gone than stay on this malicious closet shelf one more day.

I hear a muted footstep and my eyes fly open. And then, the flash of golden light tells me the closet door is opening. A golden shower of light falls upon us, nearly blinding me with its brilliance.

A woman’s silhouette appears in the hazy brightness and her hand reaches up slowly.

“Hmm. Which of you should I Burn?” she mutters, talking more to herself than to any of us. She hums absentmindedly, the tune full of the rich sweetness of spring on the cusp of summer.

A ripple of fear runs through the candles and their whispers become a frenzied stream of cries and shouts. No one knows what happens to a candle after it has been Burned. And yet, I am suddenly thirsting to find out. Pick me! I cry silently. Burn me!

Oblivious to the panic, the woman moves her hand slowly from side to side like a tree swaying in the warm breeze.

She reaches up, her hand coming directly at me. Leaping and soaring like a bird in the breeze, my heart suddenly plunges as she gently takes the candle to my left.

“What about you?” she murmurs, bringing the quaking candle to her nose and inhaling deeply.

She shakes her head and a slight crease appears between her delicate eyebrows.

“No.” She puts the candle back, and after a moment’s hesitation, picks me up.

Her hand is cool like a water lily petal in the shade, and I am cradled in her as she inhales. Her face flows into a smile, a glorious sunrise breaking upon the horizon.

“This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.” Checking the tiny gift tag attached to my neck, Maggie shakes her head and smiles. “Thank you, Aunt Martha. You always did know that I love summer best.”

She brings me into the golden light. Colors surround me, colors I haven’t seen in what feels like forever. Taking me to a low table, she sets me down gently and takes a lighter out of her pocket.

“Perfect,” she says softly to herself. “What a gorgeous case.”

My pulse is quick. Everything seems full of life as the flaring strip of orange bursts into being. Maggie brings the lighter towards me, the glowing flame radiating heat. She puts the flame to me, and I feel warmth rush through me. A summer field filled with flowers escapes into the air as my scent grows. I sigh, completely content.

For the first time in my life, I am free.


The author's comments:
Yes, it is written from a candle's perspective. It was for a creative writing class - enjoy!

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This article has 27 comments.


on Jul. 17 2012 at 4:47 pm
WSwilliams GOLD, Toronto, Ontario, Other
12 articles 3 photos 95 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you keep writing, you will pick up structure. You will pick up form

- Richard Matheson

Oh yeah. Please stop by my forum "The Writer's Spot" if you want anything looked at in the future. i'm always available.

on Jul. 17 2012 at 4:39 pm
WSwilliams GOLD, Toronto, Ontario, Other
12 articles 3 photos 95 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you keep writing, you will pick up structure. You will pick up form

- Richard Matheson

It amazing how you tell a story from an object's point of view. Since you write some poetry, i assume you used some personification. Try being a bit more descriptive (like using colours). This will give you strong imagery - trust me.

on Dec. 8 2011 at 7:20 am
Meaghan_Elise BRONZE, Franklin, New Hampshire
1 article 74 photos 139 comments

Favorite Quote:
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything..

Your writing is absolutely flawless<3 You're a very talented writer, I love your creative ideas and alluring details, keep writing!:D

austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 29 2011 at 11:24 am
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thank you!

austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 29 2011 at 11:24 am
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the feedback!

on Jul. 28 2011 at 12:01 am
ohmakemeover BRONZE, Centerville, Minnesota
3 articles 0 photos 98 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth."- Margaret Atwood

Haha, wow!  Your work continues to surprise me, in a good way!  Your point of views are so inventive.  Good work!

on Jul. 18 2011 at 11:30 am
Internal-Love PLATINUM, Queens, New York
33 articles 3 photos 310 comments

Favorite Quote:
Nothing's black or white, its all just a shade of gray---

















TI "Live your Life" ft Rihanna

You had better get an A+ on this :) 

Its so original, i dont think i would've ever thought of it. 

And the way you write it, from a candle's perspective (a candle I've come to like) really proves that sometimes the inanimate objects have the biggest stories to tell


on Jul. 7 2011 at 2:54 pm
Zinaidia SILVER, Moreno Valley, California
8 articles 3 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
\\\"Whatever you are, be a good one.\\\"

Very creative story, and with plenty of description. Again, there is alot of emotion. Great story!

austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 1 2011 at 3:46 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thanks, it was one of my more creative moments :)

austenite GOLD said...
on Jul. 1 2011 at 3:45 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thanks very much!

on Jun. 29 2011 at 12:01 pm
Eno_Bladez GOLD, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
16 articles 1 photo 81 comments

Favorite Quote:
it'll be okay, if it's not okay it's not over.

i love how this is from the candles pint of veiw.

on Jun. 28 2011 at 7:21 pm
JustAnotherOwl SILVER, Unknown, New York
6 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
"See, we don't really care who you are;
Everyone is capable of looking up and wishing on a star.
So catch it, so contagious, this day-dreamer's disease,
And hope can be your sword, slaying darkness with belief."

"Sanctuary"- Paradise Fears

This was really great and very creative! (: The details were good.

austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 24 2011 at 9:01 am
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thank you very much! :) I read your story and you are a talented writer as well :)

on Jun. 23 2011 at 10:04 pm
TwasBrilling BRONZE, Staunton, Va, Virginia
4 articles 0 photos 79 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk" -H.W. Hegel

"Words are our most inexhaustable source of magic' -Albus Dumbledore

I LOVE this!! It was sooo creative to write something in the perspective of a candle. You are an extremely talented writer!

austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 23 2011 at 1:59 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thank you very much for reading and commenting! :)

austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 23 2011 at 1:59 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Thank you for reading! :)

austenite GOLD said...
on Jun. 23 2011 at 1:58 pm
austenite GOLD, River Falls, Wisconsin
13 articles 0 photos 177 comments

Favorite Quote:
...one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love....I love...I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on. -Mr. Darcy

Haha thanks very much for your comment and for reading! :)

on Jun. 22 2011 at 7:34 pm
CarrieAnn13 GOLD, Goodsoil, Other
12 articles 10 photos 1646 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." --Douglas Adams

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." --Marcus Aurelius

This was a very creative short story!  I love the descriptions you give too.  The perspective is very unique; good job!

on Jun. 17 2011 at 12:30 pm
JoPepper PLATINUM, Annandale, Virginia
35 articles 0 photos 782 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Freedom is the ability to not care what the other person thinks."

"Not all those who wander are lost" --JRR Tolkien

"When you are listening to music it is better to cover your eyes than your ears." --Jose' Bergamin

Anytime!  Thanks! :)

on Jun. 16 2011 at 8:59 pm
NinjaGirl BRONZE, Valley City, North Dakota
1 article 0 photos 202 comments

Favorite Quote:
The only thing holding us back in life is our desire to stay where we are and not venture further.
~Some random person on the Internet :P

Very original and full od details! I love it!