Review: Hearts by Anyta Sunday

Title: Hearts

Author: Anyta Sunday

Pages/Word Count: 29 Pages

At a Glance: Another beautifully poignant short story from this master storyteller – bittersweet, hopeful and satisfying.

Reviewed By: Sadonna

Blurb: What if your fate is to lose the one you love and be doomed to live in a city of lost hearts?

Is it possible two dead hearts can see life again?

Review: I feel like each time I pick up an Anyta Sunday story I get something fresh and beautiful and moving. Once again, this story is no exception.

This is the story of Daniel, who is living with a broken heart since his lover of a decade, Sam, left him. He can barely keep on living, and he continues to torture himself with trying to figure out what he did wrong and how he wasn’t enough for Sam.

Then, Toby and Kyle move into the house next door. They avoid Daniel after he warns them away. He tells them they live in a city of broken hearts and that they should move on now to save themselves from the coming heartache. Soon enough, the inevitable happens and Toby is left alone and brokenhearted.

Then something changes. Toby and Daniel begin spending time together. They still miss Sam and Kyle, but they seem to be making some adjustments with each other at least. They tentatively begin helping one another with some of the things that have been left to slide – the garden, cooking, spending time outside with yard and house upkeep. Toby is still a bit hostile about Kyle’s leaving, and he still can’t figure out why he’s been left alone, which leads to some tough moments for Daniel as well.

As time passes, and Toby and Daniel begin to do more outside of their homes, they begin to explore the city and see things through new eyes. Maybe the city is not the problem after all, and the hearts are not really so dead here.

I really recommend this lovely story of love and loss, second chances and perhaps new beginnings – very touching and at times melancholy, but ultimately hopeful as well.