Beyond the streams that crosses the prairie of Dalia, and yonder over the glen of Edo is a small village like the others by the name of Musica. A small thriving village that has all of its villager content of their lives. The old people always fish by the lake and sell them at the market. The blacksmith handles all of the repairs in tools that the tailor and the builder use.

Amidst the small village is a fountain where the villagers toss a single copper coin and makes a wish. It has been said that the fountain grants a wish if you meet the necessary requirements. But there are also times that a wish can be granted just by tossing a coin.

Being a popular spot in the village, peddlers set up shop right next to it. Among such peddler is a young girl by the name of Laina. She is in no connection with the other peddlers. She appeared one day selling hearts in the town of Lenin. She wears an ashen colored blouse, and a yellow pinafore underneath her red cloak with yellow lining, and orange boots.

Unlike all the other peddlers that either have a table or a carpet to place their products, she uses a basket. Hearts of different sizes and vibrant spectrum of colors inside small transparent boxes that can fit on ones’ palm.

“Do you want to buy a heart?” Laina repeatedly ask with a smile on her face.

Like any other day, villagers are going through the motions, going to the market, buying bread from the bakery as well as farmers heading out to cultivate vegetation.

The girl’s quiet voice fell deaf to the hustle and bustle sound of the village going about their daily lives. Her gentle voice could not be match to a merchant’s call for buyers.

After a short while, Laina sat down by the fountain and looks at her reflection. The reflection of light shines on her face while the coins down the fountain shimmers placing a glint in her eyes. She looks up and seeing that it was almost mid-day she went across the street from the market and rested at an abandoned food stall.

From her basket she took out a loaf of bread and started eating it. Her eyes wander off to the people of the village, everyone seems happy yet she feels that something is missing.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

She went to the tailor’s shop to sell her hearts but she was kindly rejected, the same thing happened at the bakery as well as the library. Yet she never felt down, she still wears this kind smile on her face. To finish her day, she went to the blacksmith’s workshop to set stall there.

The blacksmith is inside his workshop talking to a customer. A man in black clothing is talking apologetically with the blacksmith, constantly scratching his head and having this worrisome look.

“Mr. Digor, thank you for the advice!” the man said

“Not at all Doctor. If there is anything else that I could help you with, please don’t hesitate to ask” The blacksmith replied with a big smile on face.

Digor notices Laina outside his shop sitting and day dreaming as she often does when she visits the workshop.

“Oh, she’s here. Well doctor, I will leave you to gather your things. There is something that I must do.”

The blacksmith left his workshop and went out to meet Laina. He smiled as he handed her a silver coin, he then went back to his workshop.

The man notices what just happened and ask the blacksmith about it. The blacksmith smiled and said

“A simple favor for a hardworking lass.”

Perplexed, the man left the workshop bidding his goodbye to the blacksmith. He notices that the girl has already left, he wanted to talk to her for a bit. He then makes his way to the other side of town where his horse-drawn carriage is waiting.

He took out his pocket watch and looks at it and a surprise face expression are written on his face. With his bag on his left hand he hastily walks. Upon turning over a corner he bumps onto Laina. She fell down and her hearts scatters.

“I’m sorry, are you hurt?” The doctor asked the girl collecting her stuff.

He helped her collect the scattered hearts and helps her up. Another worrisome look covers his face

“Would you like to buy a heart mister?” Laina said with her eyes lit up.

“Are you hurt? I’m sorry for running into you.” He said with an apologetic tone.

Laina shakes her head then looks up to man. Her dress is still covered in dirt from the encounter yet she didn’t mind.

“Would you like to buy a heart mister?” She asks again in the same pleasing tone.

Confuse, the man just accepted her offer.

“How much is it?” he asks.

“A genuine smile for a heart” she replied.

The man was surprise, he didn’t know what to do. He gave an awkward smile while trying to understand the situation. The girl smiled back at her and handed her one of the hearts in her basket. The man still confused, accepted it. While the man is still contemplating, Laina had already left and rode one of the carriages heading to another village.

When he came to himself, he was alone. He shook his head and placed the box inside his bag and then went his way towards his personal carriage.

“Is everything in order doctor?” The man driving the carriage asks.

“Yes Edmund, head straight to Lenin.”