The Stone That Learned to Listen

In a mountain village, a smooth stone sat at the center square. People placed their hands on it when troubled. Over time the stone warmed whenever someone approached. A traveler asked why. An elder explained: “It has listened so long that it remembers every sorrow.” One night, lightning shattered the stone. Villagers gathered its fragments, each piece now faintly warm and humming. They carried them home, realizing the mountain had not lost its listener — it had simply entrusted everyone with a small share of compassion.