The crowd began to gather at dusk. On the far end of the city park. The local community had been doing this, once a week, for over a year now. Ever Friday evening, various individuals and families would show up, quietly holding lit candles to remind them of someone they had lost to inner city violence so widespread on the city streets today.
This evening was no different and as it became darker the crowd grew larger, each person carrying a lit candle. There was a small stage with a platform set up in the back. One by one they’d walk up to the stage, turn and face the crowd, reverently mention the name of his or her “lost” relative or friend, turn and place their candle on the platform with the other candles and then leave the stage to make room for the next person.
As the sky darkened overhead, the amber glow from the stage increased. Those in the large crowd still holding candles waited patiently for their turn, while the ones who had placed their candles on the platform stood nearby towards the back, heads bowed.
At the very edge of the crowd there appeared a single candle glow, much brighter than the others, and all those standing and waiting, turned to view this candle being held by a young girl, weaving very slowly between the people in the crowd. They began to part, clearing a pathway for her as she made her way, candle held in both hands, to the the front of the stage.
She was given a helping hand up onto the stage steps and then she walked to the center and turned to face the gathered crowd. She spoke not a word just lifted the candle high in front of her. An adult walked over to her and said, “Would you like to say who this candle is for my child?”
She nodded, still holding the candle strongly out in front of her. The candle glowed more brightly than ever. Softly but clearly she spoke.
“I live around the corner, in a small house. It is just my mother and myself. My mother works long hours so I spend a lot of time alone. When you started your candle light tribute a year ago I began to watch and I’d come and listen to each person speak of those they had lost. And then the other day I realized someone had been forgotten so I am here tonight for that one.”
She paused at this point, still looking out at the silent and spell bound audience. They, enchanted by this young girl standing there so solemn, her candle flickering slightly in the evening breeze.
The adult leaned over again and asked her, “And who might this candle be for my child?”
The little girl’s answer was quietly spoken yet heard all the way to the back of the gathering.
“I hold this candle for the one no one remembered. The one who had no one who cared. Who came and went alone in life. For this person then do I hold the candle.
So none be forgotten, this candle is for that one.”
~
Millions of children, in the United States alone runaway each year. Many are never found. Many many more millions of children around the planet are homeless and all too often also end up being alone. It is a sadness beyond belief that on our (civilized?) planet today so many children suffer and die needlessly and alone.
~
Penny L Howe, 2013
The Why About This 
Your words never fail to bring forth strong emotions and visions, your gift for the written word so evident. This is a truly heartfelt story of fiction you told but sadly a reality of life, so easy for so many to be forgotten. Beautiful yet so sad.
Thank you. Yes, something incomprehensible that’s always bothered me! And always will. Thank you LuAnn 🙂
A really moving post Penny. We all need to keep the lost and lonely uppermost in our minds. You made a wonderful contribution to that. I hope that you have a good week ahead. Love to you xx
Thank you Ruth. One of those things that have bothered me pretty much my whole life. The absolute senselessness of unloved and children alone. Much love to you also, and the same for an excellent week to come, my friend. xx
Penny such a lovely piece cnt help but think of my days in a children’s home … we children had lots of candles burning for us…brings tears to my eyes !!
Very greatful for people out there who remember one another !!
Even as a child I never understood how people can forget others and their needs. My only wish – to help those (that I can) make good memories and dwell less on their bad ones.
And you do just that with your blog ….im incredibly greatful to be one of the lucky ones to be on your site …
you very inspiring and loving ..just what i need lol,especially when i haven’t slept and its 5:30 ..very edgy and emotional !
Thanks again penny
xxlisa
Go to bed now, I’ll hum you a lullaby of sweet dreams filled with gentle loving thoughts, my friend! 🙂
….. tears are flowing ,im sick of going through my pieces wanna be normal whatever that is…tired of trying to act normal when i feel crap it all seems hard ???
Thx penny gonna try lay and listen to your lullaby
I hope it was heard, dear friend! xo
Beautifully written and deeply heart felt in every word my dear Penny xxx
Thank you Roxi, nice to see you back again! xo
Beautiful Penny. Let us remember them all. And – may God be with them.
xx 🙂 🙂 xx
thank you, yes RoSy yes indeed. xx
Very emotional piece Penny ~ ending was so incredibly tear provoking…. beautiful my dear friend – your heart is huge!! x Love to you always, Robyn
Thank you Robyn, if only it weren’t so painfully true (my fiction piece). You are much loved, xo
I know – breaks my heart. Your piece brings light and awareness though – which to me seems the greatest gift toward healing. x
thank you. x
So touching… nice post… 🙂
Thank you Bams, very much! 🙂
AnElephantCant make a funny today.
Your words are as elegantly produced as ever,and reach deep into the soul.
A work of art.
Thank you.
So touching 🙂
Thank you my friend! xx
This brought tears to my eyes. So evocative and sensitive.
Thank you Carolyn.
A very nice story, and with a delightful edge…
Andro
When fiction is based on truth it isn’t very difficult to produce the edge. Thank you, Andro.
Really, really powerful. Thank you.
Thank you.
Absolutely beautiful and touching. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you.
moving and soulful
thank you Padmini.
This is so good… one forgets how lucky we were to grow up happy and with parents who provided for our every need…
Thank you bulldog. We do, don’t we!
Sadly there is always one….
Yes.
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™.
there are raw emotions in here…splendid 😉
Thank you, yes there are.
This one is so touching. * misty eyed*
thank you.
Pingback: A Candle For One | Alastair's Blog
I have a lump in my throat from that. A truly beautiful piece Penny. I’m going to “Press” this. It deserves to be read by many
Thank you Alastair, very much! 🙂
🙂
Oh Penny, you made me cry……just beautiful and sad too…..
Thank you Invonne, it is sad.