“These aren't ordinary shoes. They will take you where your heart truly belongs,” said the cobbler with a serious look on his face. He seemed to really believe what he said. He smiled at Sandra as he helped her ease into her shoes.

Sandra didn't believe the cobbler. Her heart belonged to her. That was one thing that she was certain of. "Nobody will love a fatty like you," said many people to her over the years. She used to be bothered by it but she had outgrown it. She had one thing that nobody else did. She was happy with who she was. That happiness made her positive. Positivity gave her confidence. She ended up being the best version of herself. She did things that she wanted to, remained as active as her body let her, smiled all the time and managed to spread her infectious energy. That was why she didn't believe the cobbler. Her heart belonged to her. Only her.

“I’m not lying,” said the cobbler confidently. He looked up at her looking hurt. It seemed as though he was desperate for her to believe him. He adjusted his suspenders and wiped his hands with a rag.

Sandra smiled. She smiled and tried the shoes anyway. She took a few steps forward. The shoes were comfortable. They looked really good on her and it was in style. She then turned to look at the cobbler who was eyeing her hopefully. He looked like a hopeful puppy. She wanted to humour him. Just once, she wanted to be proved wrong. She hoped. She waited but nothing happened.

"Nothing happened," she said, trying and failing to look disappointed. She grinned widely but was surprised to see the cobbler.

"Perhaps it did," said the cobbler with a wide grin. She had tried on the shoes he had made specially for her. "It got you to talk to me. That, according to me, is magic," he said with a nervous smile. He looked at her hopefully.

Sandra realized something that she had missed for quite some time. She had been oblivious to him. She knew him all her life but never noticed him. He had made every shoe she had worn so far. He was always nice to her and a genuine man. Perhaps, she needed a bit of magic to make her see it. This was a man who desired her heart. She was seeing him like this for the first time.

"Perhaps it did," she said, returning his smile. She took a seat as he removed the shoe from her feet carefully. He placed the shoes back in the box and neatly packed it.

As he did, they began to talk. The first of a billion words they would share.