The boy tightened the only thing he was wearing that might warm him up -- the new coat he had got that morning from an old man living under the same bridge. Nothing fancy but at least he had something. Even that was hardly enough to ward off the harsh wind coming down the chimney. Timmy also prayed that snow would not fall that night. Otherwise...
Attempting to curl up Timmy tried not to think about how bad the situation could be were there snow as well. He pressed harder against the wall. Unlucky for him, the fire seemed not to have been lit in the grate for a while. There was no warmth remaining within the bricks of the wall. He was beginning to shiver.
Timmy squeezed his eyes shut but a tear slipped from beneath his lashes. Another biting blast of wind struck him, making him tremble even more. Choking sobs escaped his blue lips as memories of sitting in front of a warm fire in the common room at his orphanage flashed in front of his eyes. He had never been very happy there -- not with all the strict rules and a very harsh master -- but at least he had never been hungry or suffered from the cold weather too much. Timmy never wanted more than that or wished that he still had the parents he had never known. Being in the orphanage was luxury enough. He was fed and warm, it was all he'd ever known.
A long breath was taken in in an effort to clear his lungs, and a shaky puff was let out. Timmy opened his eyes but that was of no use. Dark was all he could see. Timmy had never minded dark, having always slept in it. But this time in the midst of the deadly chill night, dark only added to his misery. He could not help but weep in despair.
***
Humming -- at first soft but getting louder all the time -- were heard over Timmy's head. Timmy opened his eyes and gazed up. His mouth fell open as he caught sight of something above him. At first he thought he was dreaming but he finally realized that he was not, judging from the coldness that still bit at him.
It might still be freezing but it was not dark anymore -- for thousands and thousands of fireflies were fluttering over his head! Not only that, but they were also singing beautiful songs. Christmas carols, thought Timmy.
Timmy straightened up, utterly bewildered by what he was seeing. Where did all these creatures come from? It was impossible for them to be there -- it was too cold for them!
Then Timmy felt a change in the temperature. It gradually grew warmer until Timmy decided to take off his coat. He was still looking up, bliss adorning his features, which seemed to glisten in the darkness with a thin sheen of sweat. A burst of laughter escaped his lips at the beautiful patterns those fireflies were making with their dance. In the end Timmy joined them in their chorus, singing and clapping his hands joyfully.
Timmy could still feel the pain in his ankle but he barely heeded it. Â It might diminish later but he didn't care. It didn't matter anymore.
The End
