He quietly asks

''here- hold this''

 

he offers it to her

she holds out

her hand

 

''keep your fingers together''

he smiles

she sighs

 

holding her fingers apart

''try and grasp it''

 

he watches her

looking at him

she forgets her hand

 

it drops to the floor

he picks it up

and, again smiling,

 

he repeats

the votive offering-

 

words and foto T carroll

re-edit