Until the Flame Goes Out

It was a moonless night. The man flicked his lighter, and a small flame rose out of the darkness. His fingertips caught the light, and the tip of his cigarette began to glow red. Then, slowly, the face that had been hidden in the darkness emerged into view. It was visible for only a few seconds. Before long, the flame went out. All that remained was the smoldering red tip of the cigarette and a thin wisp of smoke curling upward. On a moonless night, the man’s face could no longer be seen.