It’s hard to blow out all the candles. My way from birth till now has been lit by these peoples flames that bite; messy and unkept wax. The light excretes a tear, then freezes when it runs cold and solidifies as a heart on its sleeve. A tear kept in place, to let everyone know, who hadn’t known. Memorabilia, if you will. My elders tears hold me for ransom long beyond what’s been paid due. Debt that has a price but no end in time. I watch my family of candles melt around me, pooling into each other only to harden and fossilize their tears.