Heart For Sale

"Excuse me good sir," the man in the top hat looked down at the young man pleading. The boy had a clean face despite wearing clothes that had dried blood and dirt on them. His shoes were worn out, as if he'd made them go through difficult trials in many different places. The boy was cupping his hands together; it looked like he was trying to protect something. His baby blue eyes shone brighter and brighter the more he brought his hands closer to the man in the top hat. The man leaned closer to take a look at what he was holding on to so dearly, but he didn't go too close, lest the grime on his clothes climbs on top of his extravagant emerald green suit.

The young man was holding a big red gem in his hands. It shone brighter than the sun itself. It was as red as the young man's hair. And it looked like it was…. moving? No, an inanimate object could not move, the older man thought as he narrowed his own dark eyes. The more he looked, the more he thought it was distasteful. The ruby had small scratches on it, even a few cracks here and there. It was beautiful, yes, but it looked a bit embarrassing to hold on to. But the boy looked proud, he looked at the man and back at his precious ruby. "Hold it for me will you?" The boy eagerly asked. The man in the top hat shook his head, saying it was not the type of gem he would like to carry around. The boy frowned and took out a small carving knife. He struggled to take out a small, cracked part of the ruby. When he was done, he gave the small piece to the man and waved him off, saying he had more 'clients' to take care of now.

As the days went by, the young man gave a small piece to everyone who stopped near him, but they never stayed, no. They always took a small piece (the young boy insisted they do even when they denied) and left, forgetting the boy with red hair, as red as blood, as red as his big broken gem.

The young man never gave up. He always gave a small piece of his big ruby. And when they left, forgetting him and his soft blue eyes that desired love, he would clutch his chest, hoping to one day be noticed. Hoping to one day fix his broken ruby, and his broken heart.