---
Time continued to pass.
---
The sand kept shifting.
Added to.
Smoothed out.
The roads multiplied.
Grew longer.
Branched out further.
More houses appeared.
Not same.
But still following a pattern.
A few buildings took shape.
It would be quite terrifying.
If it collapsed.
—
The children's hands began to slow down.
Not as haphazard as the beginning.
They observed first.
Before making a move.
Yuna was beside me.
Still in the exact same spot.
Her hands were dirty, covered in sand.
Left uncleaned.
---
"...there's still an empty spot right here..."
She filled it in.
Neater than before.
I didn't help.
There was no need.
She already knew what to do.
---
The sounds around us shifted.
Growing sparser.
The laughter faded.
Footsteps walked away.
One child stood up.
"...I'm heading home..."
The others nodded.
"...Me too..."
They left.
One by one.
Leaving fewer of us behind.
---
An adult called out from afar.
A name was spoken.
