02/28/2026
She opened The Book of Peace.
The pages made the softest whispering sound.
“Yes,” she said quietly, “this one is for you.”
And she began.
From the Book of Peace
Once upon a time, in a quiet valley very much like this one, there lived a tired heart.
The heart did not look tired. It still beat bravely each day. It still rose in the morning and carried its thoughts and duties and worries with great responsibility.
But when evening came, it did not know how to put them down.
So it held them.
And held them.
And held them.
One night, the Moon noticed.
The Moon, who sees many things.
She leaned down through the sky and spoke to the valley wind.
“Go,” she said, “and tell the tired heart something important.”
The wind slipped through the grasses, through the trees, through the smallest cracks in window frames, until it found the tired heart.
And it whispered:
“You may rest now.”
The heart did not believe it at first.
“What about tomorrow?” it asked.
“Tomorrow will arrive when it arrives,” said the wind gently.
“What about what I forgot?” asked the heart.
“If it is important, it will return,” said the wind.
“And what about what I cannot fix?”
The wind wrapped around it like a shawl.
“Not everything is yours to mend tonight.”
The tired heart grew quieter.
The Moon watched.
The wind continued, very softly:
“You are allowed to set things down.
You are allowed to breathe without solving.
You are allowed to sleep without finishing.”
And for the first time in many evenings, the heart loosened its grip.
Not all at once.
Just a little.
And the valley grew peaceful around it.
Mouse closed the Book of Peace and rested it against her small chest.
She leaned towards the window, looking out at the moon one last time, then turned back to you with the gentlest smile.
“I will stay here,” she said quietly, “until you find peace.”
And somewhere inside you, peace began to gather.
The candle flame steadied.
And the world grew softer.
With love,
Victoria Beata
Author & Illustrator of Tales of The Glen
May gentle things find you, and stay a while. 🌙