ONCE UPON A TIME IN A VILLAGE CALLED AURORA

Once upon a time in a village called Aurora where it was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark, there lived a young lady named Emerald who was the most amazing artist in the entire village and everyday between morning and evening before the sunset Emerald would go to the village center and sell her creations. But nobody would buy them, only a few of her creations would sell but not enough to keep beloved bookstore open until one day a miracle over took the village of Aurora. Here is the miracle of Aurora.

My precious bookstore is all I have left. It's the only thing that's keeping me sane. My bookstore is the only thing I love. Never in my life have I felt a stronger connection to anything other than my bookstore. Now I'm in trouble. My precious bookstore is in trouble.

I pride myself on putting smiles on people's faces through my books and most especially my art creations. I love the smiles people get when they pick a book and open it or when they pick up one of my creations like a bracelet or a necklace. Money was never an issue for me. Now with what little I have I put into keeping my store open. It's not enough.

My little village of Aurora has become more expensive with the addition of a new luxury department store that sells everything you'll ever need. No one has time to go to a small bookstore and pick up a book or handmade jewelry. People want the good stuff. The better stuff.

The smiles I see now seem fake to me. When I look out of my window, I See strangers. No more the happy people I once saw including me. It's the middle of winter, the snow is falling and I have this one chance to save my beloved store. Tomorrow I will go to the village center and sell my jewelry.

The snow came down hard last night. Aurora is a blanket of white. Aurora always looks beautiful when the snow falls. A perfect winter wonderland. I grab my new creations I made yesterday, put them in my bag and head to the village center.

The village center is always packed with tourists and villagers. The snow is cleared away as usual. I find the perfect spot in full view of the people. I set my table and unload my creations. I already see a few people eyeing my bracelets and necklaces. They walk up to my table and look around.

The sun is setting, little bits of snowflakes are beginning to fall, the village center is starting to empty, only a few people are left including me. I wait a little while longer hoping to sell more of my creations.

Well now the sun has gone down completely, guess nobody is coming. I pack up my belongings and head home. The snow is coming down hard now. I carefully watch where I'm going. Wow, the wind is picking up as well.

In the village of Aurora there's a stranger who's name is Nathan. He comes from money and came to the village to rebuild. He built a towering building filled with many stores. But the people are not happy. They are not happy because their beautiful village has been turned into a place they don't recognize. Many of the stores in Aurora are struggling because of the new building. Nathan walks around the village looking at all the stores and seeing how beautiful they are. He goes to the village center. He walks around seeing all the beautiful displays. One display catches his eye. A beautiful young lady selling jewelry. He watches her all day and into the evening attempting to sell her beautiful jewelry. He follows the young lady to a bookstore, her face is sad, defeated. He watches her thinking what he's done wrong to her. He keeps watching until the lights go off.

I didn't make enough money. I'm sorry mama not everybody is interested in my work. People are just angry, angry that the village has changed, then there are some people who are happy with the change, mainly the young people and the tourist who come. The old timers are not happy. I see it in their faces every day. I'm angry mama because I failed you and failed the bookstore.

Mama, you wouldn't be happy with how different Aurora looks. You always pride yourself in the bookstore and the small businesses that surround Aurora and you taught me to take pride in my art. So, I'm going to do whatever it takes to save the bookstore we both love. Goodnight mama.

"Mama is that you." A smile as beautiful as the sun, eyes as blue as the sky are looking at me. "My darling girl, my Emerald. Don't give up. A miracle will happen for you and our village. Keeping making your beautiful creations."

The smile on my face grows wider. I feel happy and warm. I feel love and pride. My mother disappears. I fall back into a comfortable sleep. I wake-up with a renew sense of hope. My bookstore will be saved and so will ,my village.

I once again gather my belongings and head to the village center. I wave hello to my neighbors who I have known since I was a little girl. These are some of the people who haven't bought into the new luxury department store.

I continue my walk to the village center. I see some of my friends who are excited and in love with the department store. I wave to them and continue on. I make it to the village center. I got the same spot as yesterday. I set my table up and put my creations on display, then I wait. I wait an hour before I get my first customer. She buys two bracelets and a necklace. Not many people come, just the usual customers I get.

In the distances I see the department store my heart sinks. A miracle is never going to happen. I woke-up with a renew sense of hope now all I feel is defeat. At this rate my bookstore is not going to be saved and neither is my village. My village, my home will be all about what the rich want. I pack up my stuff and head home.

Nathan with a sad look on his face watches as Emerald packs her belongings and sadly leaves the village center. All day Nathan has been watching the impact his department store is having on the village. Some of it is good mostly it's bad. Thinking about what he must do Nathan once again follows Emerald.

I failed you again mama. What hope doI have in my creations if nobody wants to buy them? I fall asleep and once again I see a smile as beautiful as the sun and eyes as blue as the sky standing before me. "Don't give up my sweet girl."

My mother disappears and I'm left to wonder what to do next. Don't give, it's hard not to but for the sake of my amazing mother I'm not going to give up. I go back to sleep and I hope tomorrow will be a better day.

I wake-up with a smile on my face. I saw my mother again. She always believed in me so I have to believe in myself. I get up from my bed, shower and get dressed. I walk downstairs, gather my creations and my table. As I'm about to leave my home I hear a knock my door. I open the door and see Mrs. Bryan. She has a smile on her face. "Emerald come with me." I follow Mrs. Bryan out of my house. "Mrs. Bryan, what's going on?"

The town seems different, a whole lot different. "Look." I see Mrs. Bryan pointing at my bookstore. Oh My God! what is this? Mr. Johnson, the banker for Aurora is standing in front of my store. "Emerald, I have great news for you. The bookstore is officially yours. Your debt has been paid." I'm in complete shock. "How is this possible?"

"An anonymous donor. No name, just a check for your store and there is more. The department store is closing and the same donor who saved the bookstore donated millions to the small businesses of Aurora."

Nobody moved for what seemed like a long time. Then shouts of joy and happiness began to engulf all of us. We danced right in the streets. I couldn't believe it. My mother was right a miracle indeed happened.

In the distant Nathan watched as the villagers got the surprise of their life. In his heart Nathan knows he did the right thing. Aurora never needed a department store to survive all they needed was each other. Nathan watches the beautiful lady with a name that suits her, Emerald.