With painstaking care, he flicks the lighter and a tiny sliver of flame spits out kissing the wick of the candle placed on the birthday cake. There are altogether 30 candles embedded in the creamy firmament top of the Black Forest cake he had purchased with his last twenty dollars from a neighbourhood confectionery.
There is no longer a cent left in the well-worn wallet in his hip pocket, and Tomorrow is on the threshold, with its gaping mouth staring at him. Tomorrow, with its uncertainty and uncertainness; hangs at the back of his mind, but Today is only what matters.
Today marks her thirtieth. The big 3-0, the curly 'three' juxtaposed next to the loop, a noose that is waiting to hang him when Tomorrow comes. But that does not matter Today.
He finishes lighting the 30 candles, his finger singed by the wavery flame of the lighter. But he feels no physical pain because Today is celebratory; Today is valedictory; Today is victorious.
30 candles in a mish-mash of different hues burning abright.
30 candles stand stoic saluting her birthday.
30 candles cutting a fiery cleave through the dimly-lit room.
His heart sings out a song of love to his Valentine, and harken!
The candle light does not shine forever. When the candles finally complete burning, darkness has totally annexed the room. Today has ended. Shrouded in complete darkness, he presses his lips to the photo of his Valentine and kisses her goodbye until the next autumn.
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