The story behind Candle

How Candle was born

By Lukas Gergel

Candle began with a family friend who had lost her husband, and my wish to make something she could turn to each evening.

She was left to manage a large house, care for her children, settle her husband’s estate and keep going to work. Alongside the grief, there was so much that still needed doing.

She tried to get through it by throwing herself into work. I was worried about her. I wanted her to have a little time for her own feelings, too.

I wondered if I could make something she would always have close at hand, on her phone. Somewhere she could put those feelings into words and light a candle for her husband.

That idea became Candle.

A few words each evening

Every evening, she found a moment to write down how she felt. Writing gave her some relief. Then she lit a virtual candle.

For the next 24 hours, the candle burned with a photograph of her husband behind it. The candle kept burning after her moment of writing was over.

The writing became something like a personal diary. The candle gave that moment a visible form, with his photograph there beside the flame.

That daily ritual helped her through a difficult time. She had a few moments each evening for her feelings and for remembering him, even with everything else she was carrying.

A small place to return to

I built Candle because I wanted to offer her something she could return to. A place on her phone to write what she felt, light a candle and spend a little time with the memory of her husband.

If you would like to try a candle of your own, you can find Candle on the App Store.