Handcuffs

Aug 21 2022 | Sunday

Hello, beloved reader.

We think we are so smart, don't we? That's probably why as soon as we appear even a tiny bit smug, life throws at us something that brings us out of the danger of becoming complacent. It reminds us that we still have a lot to learn, and we still have a long way to go.

O. Henry never fails to amaze me with his stories, but this time, with his short story 'Hearts and Hands,' he outsmarted me so subtly that it made me feel stupid for having missed something so subtle and yet so substantial about the story. Although it made me feel stupid, I'm glad that I read it because it reminded me that things are not always what they seem to be, and that we should look beyond appearances.

Before I could dwell on being stupid, the realisation hit me that at the heart of it, it's a story about kindness, and that not only softened my heart, but also softened the sting of feeling stupid.
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Thank you for reading.​
Sahar Afreen

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