WORDS the words slowly warped and shifted, danced on the page for a moment and joined the glow of the flames. the hissing of escaping gasses, combustion and the desire to be both the flames and the fuel. that perfect union between matter and energy. the lowest form of existence transforming to freest spirit. a small fleck of still glowing ash from the paper shot up 30 feet in the air and melted into the starless night sky. it went unnoticed by Daniel. only the actual burning mattered to him, the burning of his thoughts, that careful ballet of flame. ash and smoky grease in his hair and over his face were the only residue, the smell of a departed lover that would make him sick soon after the last flame had gasped, he sighed.