The Teller of Small Fortunes

by Julie Leong

Familiarity could look very much like love from a certain angle, if one didn’t look too hard.

“All cats are slightly magical, don’t you know? It’s why they’re so smug all the time.

Aye, our lives are short and shaped by circumstance, and maybe we can’t control most of what’s to come. But we can control how we feel. We can savor the sweetness of a blackberry scone, and the company of our friends, and the warmth of the summer wind at night, and be grateful for it. We can be nothing, and choose to be miserable about it, like you—or we can be nothing, but choose to be happy, and let that be purpose enough. Which sounds more worthwhile to you?”

“I am sad that you have lost so much,” said the old man, empty hand falling back against his side. “I hope you find new joys to take their place.”

There’s no such thing as greater good—there’s just good, and the more of it we can do, the better.”