Melissa Hardy's short story, "The Heifer," tells the story of a young woman named Aina who travels to Canada to start a new life with her husband. Aina is raised in a traditional Finnish home and defies her father by leaving to be with her love. She is blinded by the childhood romance and jumps at the chance to be with Uwe. This severe shift in lifestyle affects Aina and changes her forever. Her innocence is quickly jaded and exchanged for a cynical outlook on life. She realizes her survival is in her own hands and does whatever it takes to live.

Aina is fourteen when Uwe leaves for Canada. She is devastated after his departure. She waits four years until he sends for her to come. Fourteen is a young age to fall in love. Aina is blinded by love and ignores the fact that she hardly...