The Little Match Girl
Once upon a time, on a cold and snowy New Year’s Eve, a little girl named Elsa wandered the streets, trying to sell matches. She had no hat or gloves, and her shoes were worn out. Her thin clothes offered no protection against the biting winter wind.
Elsa’s family was poor, and they could not afford to keep her warm or well-fed. Her father had passed away, and her mother struggled to make ends meet. Elsa was forced to go out into the cold streets to sell matches in hopes of earning a few coins for her family.
As Elsa walked, she saw families and couples huddled together in the warmth of their homes, enjoying their New Year’s Eve celebrations. She felt a pang of loneliness and despair in her heart, knowing that she would never experience such warmth and happiness.
Desperate to escape the cold, Elsa sat down in a corner, sheltered from the wind. She huddled her legs close to her chest and pulled out a bundle of matches she had been carrying with her. She lit one, hoping to warm her fingers, and was mesmerized by the tiny flame that danced in front of her.
In that moment, Elsa forgot about her hunger and cold. She lit another match and another, watching the flames as they flickered and danced in the dark. Each match brought a burst of warmth and light that chased away the darkness and brought her comfort.
As Elsa sat there, lost in her own world, she saw a vision in the flames. She saw a warm and cozy room with a large fireplace, and a family sitting around a table, feasting on delicious food. She felt the warmth of the fire and the love of the family, and for a brief moment, she forgot about her troubles.
But as the matches burned out, the vision faded, and Elsa was once again cold and alone. She remembered her family, waiting for her to bring back some money, and she knew that she had to keep trying to sell the matches.
She lit another match, hoping to see the vision again, but the flame went out too soon. She lit another, and another, but the vision never returned.
As the clock struck midnight, Elsa lit her final match. In the bright light, she saw the vision once more, but this time it was different. She saw her beloved father, smiling down at her from the warmth of the fireplace. He reached out his arms to her, and Elsa felt a wave of love and warmth wash over her.
But as the match burned out, Elsa was left in the darkness once again. She felt a sharp pain in her chest and knew that it was time for her to go. With her last breath, Elsa closed her eyes and let herself drift away, finally at peace.
The next morning, the people in the streets found Elsa’s body, frozen and lifeless. They felt a pang of sorrow and pity for the little match girl who had died alone on New Year’s Eve. But they did not know that Elsa had found her way to the warmth and love she had always longed for, in the Paradise of Children, where she could forever bask in the light and joy of the little flames that had brought her comfort and hope.