Candlewick's Flame
Once upon a time, in the quiet town of Bellthorpe, there existed a shop known for its vast array of candles. It was a simple store, with mauve wooden walls, weathered by time and ivy creeping upon its façade, bestowing upon it a facade of antiquity and charm.
The proprietor of that little store, a kindly elderly man named Thomas, was renowned far and wide for the splendiferous candle he crafted - Candlewick. It was no ordinary candle, for the flame that danced merrily atop its wick was said to be an ethereal, guiding light, capable of illuminating the path of those lost, not just in physical realms, but within their souls.
In the heart of the town lived a young girl named Amelia. Raised by her grandmother since birth due to the untimely demise of her parents, Amelia developed a deep yearning to connect with her roots. She often found herself lost in her mother's diary, pouring through her mother's words and sketches, desperately trying to feel closer to the one she'd never met. One page of the diary mentioned Candlewick and its intriguing abilities, sparking Amelia's curiosity.
One stormy evening, she embarked on her quest and entered the candle shop with bated breath. Old Thomas welcomed her with a warm smile, his voice a gentle whisper, softened by age and warmth. Upon hearing her request, he simply nodded, sifting through his collection to retrieve a teal-coloured candle with a glassy sheen - a Candlewick.
Amelia paid him in coins saved from her odd jobs and grasped the Candlewick in her trembling hands. Thomas offered her a cryptic smile. 'Remember, dear. The candle does not show what you want to see. It reveals what you need to see.'
Upon returning home, she waited until the storm had retreated, and darkness encroached upon the night. She cleared her grandmother's oak desk and positioned the Candlewick carefully at its center. Picking up the antique silver matchbox, she produced a feeble flame which flickered momentarily, before touching the wick of the candle. It sprung to life, dancing and flickering, casting long, seemingly sentient shadows around the room.
For moments, nothing happened. But soon, the flame danced more fervently, emanating an unworldly light that wrapped around the room. The room shifted, rearranging itself. She found herself in an unfamiliar setting, a memory - her mother's memory.
She saw her mother, young and vibrant, laughing and painting on a canvas under the dappled light of a setting sun. Beside her, on the ground, was baby Amelia, her eyes twinkling with joy. Amelia's mother would periodically move away from her canvas to tickle her, causing Amelia to squeal with delight. It was a moment of pure joy and love.
The vision ended as quickly as it began, the light retracting, the room rearranging itself to its previous state. The flame flickered one last time before dying, leaving Amelia in darkness, teardrops glistening on her cheeks under the pale moonlight. She was not lost but found. She was found in her mother's loving memory, a part of her forever etched and immortalized time.
Days later, Amelia, in her mother's memory, painted that same scene with Candlewick's fragments incorporated into the strokes. Her art became famous, breathed new life into Bellthorpe, and every night she lit a new Candlewick, reliving her mother's memories, understanding that she had always been inside her mother's world - cherished and loved. Eventually, Amelia took over Thomas's shop and made Candlewicks, spreading its magic further, helping others find their paths as she did.
'Candlewick's Flame' was not just the tale of an ethereal candle and a girl's journey through her mother's memories. It was the story of healing, love and finding your identity in the most uncharted terrains.