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Every day she walked in this road, she saw this street musician. In the sunlight, under the rain, through the wind ... The man was always there, playing his violon with a smile on his face.
Street performers weren't exactly rare in the kingdom. Most often, it was teenagers who wanted to show that they could play an instrument, get a public and perhaps a little bit of pocket money. But this man ... He was different. He never outright asked for money. It seemed that the people's smiles were more than enough to bring him the warmth he seeked. Yet ... His frail and thin starving body showed that this probably wasn't what he needed. He would never say so, obviously. Perhaps that was some sort of pride. Perhaps that his happiness made him forget about his situation.
When Cocoa first saw the man, she sat down for ten good minutes, listening to every single note he could provide her. She'd always remember this first performance. She was so submerged by it that she completely forgot about her work. After noticing that was going to miss her bus, she ran as fast as she could towards the end of the road, and noticed that the man had stopped playing to salute her.
When she came back later after finishing her day, the man was still here. A few people were around him, voiceless, simply admiring the man's dexterity for long minutes. Cocoa couldn't help but sit down once again and listen to the melody from afar. After the man had finished his performance, he sat down and talked with his public for a bit, before sitting down to clean his instrument. At this moment, Cocoa gathered up the courage to walk towards the man and sit next to him.
"You're really talented."
"Ha ! Thank you, miss. I appreciate the compliment."
"I don't have any money on me right now ... But would you perhaps be interested in a warm cup of cocoa at my house ? It is merely a few blocks away."
"Ah, I must say, my goal isn't to-"
"Please, I insist ! I truly appreciated what you shared with everyone here today. If you're willing to give something for others without expecting much in return, then so am I."
"You're kind. It is a rare quality nowadays."
"Hehe, stop flattering me, and start walking instead ~"
The two strangers came to the woman's house, laid down on her couch and started to talk about everything they had in mind. This somehow felt liberating for the both of them.
The man's name was Mint, and he'd been a street performer for as long as he could recall. His life brought him to an eternal errance between cities, always sharing his art for the joy it brought him to be listened to. He was homeless, had little to no food, but found that this life made him infinitely happier than working in an office all day long. There was a small hint of sadness in his story but ... Cocoa could see that his smile was genuine.
As for Cocoa, well ... Her life was normal. Perhaps a little too much. She worked at a local cafe, liked to share cocoa with the people she appreciated, enjoyed taking care of her hamster and ... That was pretty much it. The fact that she loved Mint's performance wasn't just because he was talented. It was because it brought something new to her life. And she couldn't remember who long it'd been ever since she felt this happy.
When the lights began to fade to darkness, Mint thanked the woman and got back outside to wander back to whatever shelter he may find for the night.
And the next day ? He came back. He played at the exact same spot, and once more, Cocoa stoped herself to listen. Weirdly enough, even if she started to silent because of the feeling of novelty it brought her, it slowly but surely became a routine for her. She'd listen to the man twice a day, wait for him to end his talks with all of his other listeners, and would invite him to get Cocoa afterwards. His presence brought her something she never felt before. Perhaps that was a little cliché but ... She guessed that it must've been love. It wasn't all powerful like stories told. She wasn't always thinking about him all of the time, she wasn't jealous if she saw him with other women ... She just felt like he was the person she enjoyed spending time with the most. And of their little talks next to an open fire accompanied with a subtle hint of a warm drink was meant to be the way that she'd love a man ... Then it seemed like perfection to her.
That one night, winter had just started. The streets had been cold for weeks but this was actually the first time of the year where snow could be seen. And like always, Mint was playing. But outside of Cocoa, no one was there. Everyone had already gathered to the warmth of their home. Yet ... He didn't give up until he finished his last partition.
"Mint. You played quite well tonight, but I can see that your hands are freezing. You must be exhausted."
"It would be a lie to say that I'm not. But I still had someone to listen to me. That's all that mattered to me."
"I'm happy you think so. Still ... We should hurry to my house. I don't want you to catch a cold."
The man did not protest in the slightest. The duo quickly ran to the woman's house, slammed the door and sighed.
Mint took a good part of the night looking at the fire and smiling, his mind probably wandering somewhere else. Whenever he talked, he could only mention how much Cocoa had brought to him for the last few months. They were both happier now. And the only thing that changed it was a cup of Cocoa.
"It is already late ... I believe I should get going."
"And I believe you shouldn't. Outside is freezing. I've accepted to let you go many times. But I refuse to see you hurt yourself in the cold. Please. Stay."
"... You're too kind, Cocoa."
"You always told me that it was a rare quality."
The woman grabbed Mint's hand. He did not let go.
And to say the truth ... He never really went back out on the street either