Today, I May Just Be a Pile of Ash, but Tomorrow...

At this moment, as I sit across from the emperor and unload the wearies of my world, the emperor looks at me with interest, smiles briefly before sipping his tea. I continue with my woes while the emperor begins looking down into his tea with interest. I stop to sip my own. The emperor takes this opportunity to speak. "Perhaps, today you are a pile of ash." he says without looking up from his tea. I give him a quizzical look and I look back down into my own tea. We are both quiet for a moment as he lets me ponder the thought. A pile of ash...
"What will you be tomorrow?" he inserts gently. "Tomorrow..." I repeat softly. Will I rise tomorrow with new ideals and intentions? Will I rise above the woes of my life? Will I be better than I was yesterday? Will I rise out of the ashes at all? Better yet, what will I choose?
I look up from my cup and the emperor nods.