The three year old was perplexed. What is this place? Where is the sea? Where's Mama? How come it doesn't hurt anymore?

"Hey there newbie! What happened to you?" An older girl ambled forward. She was pig-tailed. Hair ribbons matching the dark green school blazer.

"They took my home." He replies, tilting his head towards a crowd of gathering kids. Some smaller. Some older.

"Was it the bombs?" She laughs out loud, carefree. Almost giddy.

"The ocean, actually." He squints his eyes against he piercing brightness of The Place. "It's bright here. Brighter than before."

"Yep. You know why this place has more light?" She tugs him forward, gesturing towards sprawling hills and lakes. "Because we stole it. I took some with me. You did too."

"Did we steal the beauty too?" He marvels.

"Oh yeah..."

Author's note:
Word count: (137)

For the little ones who die everyday. In Syria. In Pakistan. In Palestine....everywhere.
We failed to protect you.

(Cover Art: Shahzaib Hussain)

Music: Angels Fall, by Breaking Benjamin. Reminds me of these kids for some reason.