Hestia breathed in the cold winter air as snow fell to the ground, creating slush as many people stomped on it, turning the snow into a muddy gray color. She wrapped the cloak around her body tighter as she walked in the slums. She wondered how many people had gone through the street she was going through now. All she knew was that those people were going about their day, going home to their families or heading off to work. She spotted something from out of the corner of her eye and stopped dead in her tracks, turning her head to look. In the alleyway, a girl clothed in rags had lit a match, trying to keep herself warm. Feeling her heart begin to ache for the poor girl, she went over to her and knelt down beside her. “Good day,” she greeted. The girl turned her head and squinted at her. “…Grandma? Is that you?” she asked, her voice fading. Another stab of pain shot through her heart at the words. “I’m sorry, I’m not your grandmother,” she said, “But I’m sure she’s alright, wherever she is. Now tell me, why are you out here?” The girl shifted and used her bare feet to move a basket towards the goddess. She looked inside to find the basket full of unlit matches. “Daddy wanted me to sell these,” she whispered, “And I’m not supposed to come back until they all sold.” The girl started to cry. “Grandma, what am I going to do? I can’t sell them, the people won’t listen.” Without thinking, Hestia pulled her cloak off and wrapped the girl around with it. She blinked and sniffled as the tears fell down her face. “Grandma?” “Shh, it’s okay, little one,” she murmured soothingly, “Put this cloak on you, it will help you keep warm.” “O-Okay.” The little girl did as she was told, feeling a little bit better with the heavy brown cloak on. “There we go, there we go. Feeling better?” She flashed a warm smile as the girl nodded. “I’m glad. How about this, I’ll help you sell the matches while we go over to where my familia live. Would that be alright?” “Really?! Oh Grandma!” She hugged the tiny goddess, who eagerly hugged her back. “Come, come. Let’s go sell these matches.” She helped the girl onto her feet and picked up the basket on the ground. “Stick close to me, child.” “Okay!” They went out of the alleyway and into the busy street. “Matches! Matches for sale!” “Please come and buy our matches! Good for lighting fires!” The two of them continued to cry out “Matches for sale!” as they walked through the street. Hestia guided the little girl to where she stayed at, an orphanage. “Here we are. Come in, come in.” The girl stood in awe as she entered the orphanage. She’d never been in such a big place before, the goddess could see it on her face. “The others are waiting. Come, I have soup ready for you, my child.” She looked in alarm when the girl began to cry again. “Shh, it’s alright. I’m here, no need to cry.” “Did I die and go to heaven, Grandma?” she wept. Another stab to the heart. “No, of course not. Come, little one.” She guided the girl into the dining hall where other members of the orphanage were eating. Some looked up when Hestia entered the premises, one in particular coming towards the both of them. “’Nother orphan, Hestia?” the dwarf woman asked. She shook her head. “No, she has a father waiting for her. Can you get some soup for her? She’s cold.” The matron nodded and hurried over to the kitchen. She took the little girl by the hand and pulled her towards an empty seat. “Sit here,” she instructed. The girl did so, still sniffling while tears rolled down her cheek. A short while later, hot soup and some bread was placed before her, along with a glass of milk. “Thank you, Nalsora.” The dwarf woman shrugged it off. “Girl looked like she needed some meat on her bones.” They both glanced over to the girl who was eating happily, despite the tear tracks still on her face. “Glad you got her out of the cold. You think she’ll be alright going home alone?” “I can take her home if she wants me to.” The girl looked up and shook her head. “I can go home alone. I know where it is.” “Are you sure? I can bring you to your father, you know.” She nodded as she took a bite out of her bread. “Mhm. I’ll be fine.” Hestia couldn’t help but feel worried for the poor girl. She looked down at the basket in her hand. “How much are these matches, child?” The spoon was halfway to the girl’s mouth when she froze before setting the spoon back in the bowl. “I dunno, I just take what people give me…” The goddess glanced over to the matron. “Nalsora?” “I’m on it.” The matron hurried out of the room and left the two of them with the other members of the orphanage. Some were already leaving the room while others started entering it. “Am I in trouble?” The goddess of the hearth quickly shook her head. “Oh no, not at all. I’m going to help you.” “H-Huh?” Nalsora came back with a large bag filled with valis. She handed it over to the goddess who looked at her with a winning smile. “I hope this amount will be enough for you. I’ll be buying all your matches.” The spoon clattered to the floor as the girl gaped at her. It didn’t take long before she hopped out of her seat and hugged the goddess. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you!” she said, beginning to cry again. She gently patted the girl on the head, who was taller than her by a few good inches. “Shh, it’s alright. Everything will be alright. You should finish eating, take as long as you need.” The girl nodded happily and went back to her seat, eating her food with gusto. Once she was done, she got up and took the money that was given to her. “I guess I should give you your cloak back, huh?” she said, “I know now…you’re not my grandma. But can I call you Grandma?” She smiled at the girl. “Call me whatever you want, my child. And keep the cloak, it will keep you warm.” She quickly shook her head. “No! It’s yours, I can’t take it.” Before Hestia could protest she wiggled out of the cloak and handed it back to her. “Child, it’s alright. Honest-“ “Please take it back. I don’t want my daddy to know.” A look of worry spread across her face as she slowly took the cloak and put it back on. “Will you be alright on your own?” The girl nodded. “Uh huh. Thank you for buying my matches, Grandma!” She let out a giggle as she hurried to the door, opening it and letting the winter air and snow in. The two of them waved goodbye to each other before the door closed. Hestia stood there in silence before sighing. “I hope she’ll be alright…”
