i wonder...

... how many ants i've eaten accidently.

they always seem to be floating around in the soup.

sometimes in the cereal.

sometimes it looks like it could be an ant, but its really just a piece of meat that looks like an ant.

on a side note, has anyone noticed how ants seem to be getting smaller and smaller?

i mean, right now, the common domestic house ant (made that species up. could you tell?) is downright miniscule compared to the ones i remember seeing not 10 years ago.

same for mosquitoes. they are tiny now.

mosquitoes also seem to be taking smaller bites.

instead of the Super Big Gulps of yesteryears, today it seems they're more into single shot cappucinos.

ah, evolution, you happen right in front of our eyes.

don't tell the conservative Christian community though. eye-roling is really unbecoming.

one stitch on my face...

...for every year i've been alive.

flame

'excuse me! can you help me, please! i seem to be almost put out!'

'what? who said that?'

'i did! i'm down here! the little flame in the fireplace!'

'oh. hello, little flame. that's an awfully small peace of wood you're sitting on.'

'nngggh! please, miss! could you bring me another? i fear i'm losing my grip and will fall at any moment!'

'i don't know. i was told never to play with fire.'

'please! i'll do you no harm! i just need a little more wood so that i may sit comfortably for a little while longer!'

'oh? and why is it that you would need to be around a little longer?'

'i was started by a girl who needed some warmth! but she is gone for the moment. still, i'd like to be here when she returns! she might still need me! it is a terrible thing to be cold.'

'could she not make another flame if she needed it?'

'... yes. she could... but... but will it know to warm her face the way she likes? and to be gentle with her hands? they are so smooth and delicate. any flame who did not know better would surely burn them. please! you must not let that happen! this piece of wood will soon burn out and me with it! will you not throw in just one more? just one big enough for the girl to return?'

'what if the wood she used was meant to be that small? perhaps she had known she would not return? what if she came back already warm, would you not feel saddened that she no longer needed you?'

'... that would be cruel if it were true.'

'on the contrary, if she returned to see you still burning, would she not feel ashamed of herself for having let you burn in vain?'

'are you... asking me to burn out?'

'i'm asking you to remain in her memory the way she would want you to.'



'...will she be warm?'

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inspired by Calcifer, Howl's Moving Castle