In trying to burn you, it’s consuming itself.

Suddenly he reached out and pulled a half-burnt stick from the fire. 
He thrust it at me so that I flinched back.

“What are you doing?” I cried startled and angry. 

“Trying to show you something. The stick, it scared you. it may have even hurt you, if you hadn’t been so quick. But look - in trying to burn you, it’s consuming itself. That is what happens to a heart“..