I poured out my heart and soul to you but was I altogether blind?
Because, suddenly, you changed your mind.
I had the letter ready for the first date,
with all the things listed in it that I admired about you and I felt great.
But, hours before midnight, you made it
known,
that you just wanted to be left alone.
So, day one of 2026,
I let the flaming lighter do his tricks.
There rest the ashes of the letter you’ll never read,
and I’ll be left searching for yet another lead.
About the Creator
Rowan Finley
Father. Academic Advisor. Musician. Writer. My real name is Jesse Balogh.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (4)
I am getting Snape and Lilly vibes from Harry Potter with this piece.... let the fire consume and liberate.
Fire is a great eraser, and it looks pretty while it works as an added bonus. 🔥
The contrast between the anticipation and the ashes is really striking. Describing the lighter doing 'his tricks' was a brilliant touch; it makes the fire feel like a friend helping you clear the slate. 🔥
This is tender and raw in that quiet-after-the-burn way. Especially that image of the lighter doing its work. Here’s to a gentler beginning in the new year—fresh pages and the right people reading the words meant for them. ✨