Once there was a house deep in the dark and eerie. In the house, there lived two young brothers, who loved each other so much. With them lived a witch, who fed them, and took care of them. The first brother never trusted the witch’s intention, which, the witch knew of.

The second brother, blinded by her love and care, believed everything she said. The first brother watched her closely and carefully with the eagle’s gaze, searching for what she wanted. But the witch was smart and cunning.

One night, the witch called for the second brother. Coughing blood and all weak, she asked him for a wish. She said, “Child, I am withering away into the night. My soul is screeching with cries of help. If, only I could find someone to give me what I ask.”

To which he replied, “I cry with your screeching soul, mother. And I wish to help you. Ask me what you want and I shall have it given to you.”

The deceitful witch took the boy’s warm hand into her cold and calloused hands and said, “I only ask for your loving and caring heart. Though you share it with your brother, I only ask for a piece every week.”

To which the brother nodded softly.

Recalling the first brother’s gaze on her plans, she requested one more thing from him, “But remember this, break your promise and I will perish into ashes never to see you again.”

And so, the brother agreed to give her his heart every week, a piece at a time.

When the second brother came to his room, the first brother noticed how gloomy, dull, and unhappy he looked. And so, he asked, “Are you alright, brother? Why are you so sad?”

The second replied, “I promised Mother Witch that I will give her my heart to make her soul lively again.” The second brother was confused and furious with such an absurd promise. He asked him, “So, did you say no? You have only one heart to beat.”

To which the brother replied, “How can I leave Mother Witch? I have promised her to give my heart away. Please, bear with me, brother.”

Shaken by his devotion, the first brother gave him a piece of his heart to see him happy again. Weeks went by and the witch continued taking a piece of the second brother’s heart; taking more than she had promised.

First, she took his sympathy, then his innocence, then his dreams, and then what was left of him, his hope and his will.

Every night, the second brother came to their room broken and every time the first brother offered him his heart. Every night, the first brother asked him the same question, “We don’t have to live like this anymore. We can live a magnificent life if only you will take my hand and walk with me. So, will you, brother?”

With fear, doubt, and all hope lost, the brother always replied, “I know no more of how to live my life. And I have lost my hope.”

Weeks went by, and the witch began healing. But the brothers were overworked, gloomy, and sad.

Worried and tired, the first brother wrote a note to his brother:

Dear brother,

“I can take no more of this witchcraft. I have lost all hope and love to live. Your love for Mother Witch is unbreakable. And so is mine for you. I care not for her but for you. And this has made me restless. A million times have I asked you to take my hand, but you always feared a ghost who had no heart. I gave you hope and more, yet you believed her more than me. Here’s the last piece of my heart. My love for you was blinded and so was yours for her. I wish to leave my soul of my worries and care.

Hope, you find what you are looking for.

Goodbye!”

And with the note, he gave away the last piece of his heart.

Moral of the story:

Be wise about who you give your love, hope, and energy to, and of what amount. It can be broken unintentionally, like the second brother did. Or intentionally as Mother Witch did.

Sometimes, you have to love yourself more than others, so that you can be happy with who you are.