The Fire that Fell In Love with a Droplet

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The flame was independent and strong. Never did it think there was a need to slow down for any other, even as it left a trail of ash behind it. All the creatures of the earth feared the flame for its wild and destructive power.

But one day the flame came across a droplet of water. It was the most beautiful thing the flame had seen. It was delicate though, and if the flame approached then surely the droplet would disappear.

So the flame waited. It watched the droplet and stood still until it had burnt most of the fuel around it. And so the flame shrunk and shrunk, getting colder and colder. All the while though the flame and droplet grew to know each other better. The flame, as the droplet learned, hated being feared. Most knew nothing about fire and how to treat it, so when the flame would visit them they would chase it away leading to even more destruction or attack it leaving them with deep scars.

The droplet moved much slower through life. Usually only when pushed by the wind would it move. From time to time it would meet with other droplets and be caught up in a faster way of life, but it ultimately liked to take life slowly, floating with the breeze.

They lived much different lives, but as they got to know each other the flame and the droplet couldn't help but fall in love. Eventually the flame was as small as the droplet it had courted. They were now so close, yet still they could not touch or they would both certainly die. The flame had grown so small that it was now on the verge of death itself.

The flame was content to spend its last moments close to the one it loved, but the droplet, seeing the dying flame before it, flung toward it in one last loving embrace. The two erupted into steam that sparkled in the sunlight.