SEEN THROUGH A WINDOW

The fire in the grate is crackling and the room is warm; outside the window snow is gently falling and covering the street with its pure whiteness. I’m glad I’m not out there in the cold and instead can admire the view from the warmth of this room. A fragile girl in rags walks into my view of across the street and knocks on the door of the house opposite. It looks like she is trying to sell matches but is turned away. Shivering she slowly moves down the steps away from the door and to the side of the house; almost out of my range of sight. I move in my chair so as not to lose her, I’m captured by her innocence and want to know what she will do next. Part of me hopes she will knock on our door so I can invite her in and warm her by the fire.
She looks into the window of the house she has just visited, then away and crouches down in the street, right across from me. One of her matches is lit and she stares into the flame as though entranced by visions only she can see. I wish I could see what she does… I look about our front room at the large Christmas tree, decorated within an inch of its life, presents overflowing from beneath it and then back out the window at the tiny girl, she’s lit another match. I watch her as she stares into the flame letting it burn down to her tiny fingers, her blue lips moving as though in conversation.
I want to get up and go to her but I’m frozen like the snow outside on the street and can only sit and stare, wishing, hoping that she will knock on my door. Another match is lit, this time her movements are lethargic and she appears to be falling asleep outside in the cold. But it doesn’t stop her intently staring at the tiny flame which burns all the way to her fingers and seems to touch her just before she drops the charred remains on the ground.
Still staring out the window I stand ready to make for the door and go to her, but as I stand so does she and she walks around the side of the house and out of my line of sight. I sit back down again and wistfully stare out the window wondering how her Christmas will be.