The little match girl

Once upon a time, on a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve, a poor little girl wandered the streets, her bare feet numb with cold and hunger. She tried to sell matches, but no one stopped to buy. Shivering, she found a quiet corner and huddled against the biting wind.

With trembling hands, she lit one match. In its flickering glow, she saw a warm stove and a table laden with delicious food. But as quickly as it appeared, the vision vanished when the match burned out.

Desperate for warmth, she struck another match. This time, she saw a Christmas tree adorned with candles, its branches heavy with ornaments. The little girl reached out to touch it, but the match burned her fingers and went out, leaving only darkness.

With each match she lit, she saw fleeting glimpses of happiness: a loving family, a cozy bed, a bountiful feast. But the cold always returned, crueler than before.

In her final moments, she struck the last match. This time, she saw a vision unlike any other: her beloved grandmother, her face radiant with love and compassion. The little girl reached out, yearning to be held in her grandmother’s embrace.

As the match burned down, the darkness closed in once more. But this time, the little girl felt no pain. For in her grandmother’s arms, she found the warmth and love she had longed for.

The next morning, passersby found the little match girl, her frozen body nestled in the snow. But her face wore a peaceful smile, for she had found solace in the midst of despair.

And so, the little match girl’s spirit soared high above the rooftops, where she would never be cold or hungry again.