Heads and Hearts

Brendan D'Abreo

Summary

In mediaeval times, a king and queen, pray, separately, to their favourite goddess for a daughter with a soul. Their son is kind and popular, unlike the daughter, whose manner is haughty and unpleasant. The Irresistible Force Fate, is impressed by the depth of feeling in the royal couple's prayers and protects the request until it reaches the goddess. She looks into their hearts and sees Sincerity smiling back. A daughter is born, loved by all for her good nature, kindness and seeing good in everyone.

The child grows and, with Fate's help, meets Ben, the head gardener's son. A powerful bond forms, and they become inseparable.

With adulthood comes angst. The Dark Forces increase their mischief. Although she wants to believe that Ben loves her, the head wins more often than the heart. Eventually, she leaves Ben and agrees to marry a kind prince for reasons of political alliance.

At the wedding, Ben appears at the back of the chapel pleading for her to reconsider, but Paranoia and Self-doubt are too strong, and she shakes her head. Ben disappears.

Fate's sister Love asks Father Time to intervene. Time takes a step back and the scene replays. This time, Fate and Love intervene, and the outcome changes enough for the princess to know where Ben will be. She runs to the garden where they first met to find him lying there, dead, holding the poem that first brought them together. Her eyes fill with tears. Some fall on Ben.

Available since: 10/09/2026.

Print length: 184 pages.

Contemporary Fiction

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