reviews_and_ramblings | Hearing Beauty by Mike Shade

In a futuristic world, a mix of medieval and eighteen century eras, Toby is a blind guy who lives with his family. He is from a wealthy family and his family wants a good marriage for him (it seems that same sex marriage is a common thing in this world). But every time someone sees him and his blindness, the betrothal never happens.

Then he meets Derik, a good man, not so wealthy like him but gentle and caring. But Derik is orribly scared, scars he has suffered during a captivity in enemies hands. Love blossoms soon, but Toby's family is not so happy to see his only son with that ugly man.

A short story very tender and heartbreaking. Toby is not totally blind, he can see shadows and colors, and so he matches voices and sounds with colors. For him Derik is dark colors, but at the same time warm colors. And Derik is shy to love Toby, cause he is a beauty. But they are a perfect match, and not cause Toby is blind and Derik is ugly, but cause Toby enlightens the shadows in Derik's life.

I'm waiting for Torquere Press to re-release this short story by Mike Shade, and I'm very happy to have a chance to read it: it's simple and cozy, a very warming reading.

Amazon Kindle: Hearing Beauty
Publisher: Torquere Press (February 14, 2011)