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Chapter 1 - Unnamed

Chapter One: The Last Tree Standing

Thesunbeatdownrelentlessly,itsharshraysaconstantreminderofaworldthat

lossofwhathadbeen.

carefreesoundofchildrenplaying.Itwasstrained,weak,asifthechildren

slow,theirenergybarelyenoughtomakeitthroughtheday.

feetwascrackedanddry,theearthnolongerabletonurturelifeasitoncedid.The

themselvesweretryingtoholdontosomething,anything,thatresembledjoy.A

soil.

Theirribsstuckoutbeneaththeirskin.Theireyeswerewideandhollow,asthough

hadlongsincelostitsway.Dr.Kuntustoodstillinthemidstofitall,looking

Dr.Kuntustoodthere,takingitallin.Shecouldalmostheartheechoesoflaughter,

riversthathadoncecarriedwater,sound,andlifenowlayasemptyscarsinthe

heryouthwerenownothingmorethanabarrenwasteland.Thegroundbeneathher

werenownothingmorethansandfilledskeletons.Thewindwhisperedthroughthe

Dr.Kuntulookedawayfromthechildren,herheartheavy.Sheturnedhergaze

clingingtotheirskin.Theykickedadeflatedballbackandforth,theirmovements

herbones,theweightofitall.Shewasthelastoneleftwhoremembered.Thelast

Inthedistance,afaintsoundechoedthroughtheair;laughter.Butitwasn'tthe

aroundatthelifelesslandscape.Theoncethrivingkemitplainsshehadknownin

thestars.Now,itwasallgone.Thesilenceintheairwasdeafening.Shefeltitin

wereoncefulloflife.

ruins,carryingthescentofdecay.Itfeltasthougheventheearthitselfmournedthe

groupofthemhuddledaroundadriedupwell,theirfacesthinandhollow,dust

theyhadseentoomuchforchildrentheirage.Itwashardtoimaginethatthey

backtotheruinsofthevillagebehindher.Mudhutsthathadoncestoodproudly

thesoundoffamiliescookingtogether,thevoicesofelderssharingstoriesunder

werenowreducedtorubble.Thethatchedroofs,onceplacesofwarmthandlife,

onewhocouldstilltrytomakesenseofit.

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