The Market of Hearts

In the city of Veylin, emotions are more than fleeting feelings—they are currency. Bottled, traded, and consumed, they power the economy and shape lives. Joy is a luxury for the wealthy, anger fuels soldiers, serenity soothes the restless. But for the poor, every smile has a price. Mira has nothing left to give—except herself. Her younger brother, Jalen, is drowning in a depression so deep he can barely move, and the small doses of contentment she can afford do nothing to save him. Desperate, Mira turns to the underground Exchange, where the rarest emotions can be bought… if one is willing to pay with memories, dreams, and pieces of the soul. Each vial of happiness she secures for Jalen restores his laughter but erases part of her identity. Childhood joys, cherished love, even her bond with him—all are stripped away in the name of his recovery. As Jalen begins to thrive, Mira slowly unravels, becoming a hollow shell of sacrifice. But happiness is never permanent, and the Exchange always demands more. When the final price is revealed—her love for the very brother she is trying to save—Mira must face a devastating question: how much of herself can she give before there is nothing left? Emotional Currency is a darkly lyrical tale of sacrifice, desperation, and the cost of love in a world where even feelings are for sale.