I've thought of a bit of an ending, or at least one of the final strokes, for the Hearteyes book. When I talked to Faith, she used to say “keep the candle burning” a lot. I had a white, coconut scented candle which I would burn sometimes when I talked to her, in part because of that phrase.

Well, the idea would be to use a candle throughout the book to illustrate the conflict, and the price, of the relationship. When they first meet, the candle is brand new and gives off this wonderful aroma anytime its burned. As time goes on the candle gets smaller and rougher looking, but still smells wonderful. By the end, its a pale, misshapened shadow of its former self, giving off little light and no romantic scents.

I remember bits of moments when my candle was burning.

I remember when Patty came to Albany to help Faith move to St. Augustine, and they didn't seem to know what to expect from Paul. They honestly had me wondering if they would get out without a fight. That was a long night. I slept only little. And the candle burned throughout the night.

I remember the night Faith left to go back to Georgia. I lit the candle then (which was, by that time, much, much smaller than it had been, with deep runs and scars). I slept in my chair because there was nowhere else to sleep, and was surprised to find the next morning that the candle was still burning.

There are other moments, though there is no reason to mention them here. I just found the candle while digging through one of the few remaining boxes I have to unpack. I haven't thought, or cared, to see if it would still burn, but has given me a thought. If I use this idea in the book, the most logical moment to bring certain things to a close would be for THAT candle to be taken out and lit; a night, more than likely. It would burn faintly for a few moments, and then go out. Maybe it would then be replaced with another candle that someone had given him. And maybe this one wouldn't be lit. Or maybe he, the main character, would light a match to do so, but would shake it out just before touching the wick. That might be a graceful ending.

Well, its a thought, anyway.

:: sigh ::

Maybe I should get back to unpacking. There isn't much left, but its been sitting here for days. Wandering thoughts have been let loose and are satiated for now, so I'll wander on myself.

I think I've come home. So maybe I should finally make it look so.