The muddy ground squelched under Elizabeth’s leather shoe, pulling her into its folds as she made her way through the field. Every muddy footstep revealed another spirit taken and held against its will in that unforgiving space. Battered and bruised by the elements, their form and colour held little remembrance of what they once were. Elizabeth made her way to the farthest corner of the space, an area where a large bush had overgrown what she could only assume was once a toolshed. That is where she intended to search for what was missing. She had to be quick about it, as the ground was unforgiving, and she was not sure of what part of her would fall victim to its hunger. This space, this place where souls went to die, where the lost were never found. This place, this space, where laughter can be heard echoing faintly from every crevice. A graveyard.

“Lizzie!” she heard the harsh, shrill voice of her younger sister. Stacy was safely over the wall…safe from the treacherous reach of this place.

“Lizzie! Did you find Sue and Robbie?”

Elizabeth, not wanting to slow her pace, shouted quickly over her shoulder, hoping Stacy would hear her. She needed to get to where she was going quickly and get out. No distractions.

“Not yet! Be patient!”

In front of the overgrown shed, she stood, her rain boots slowly sinking into the mud. She hoped she could find them. She did not want to disappoint her little sister, but she had no intention of staying too long in this place. This graveyard of lost souls.

Then, she saw them. Bright colours against the wet, brown earth. Sue and Robbie, locked in an embrace, tied together with a string onto a model airplane; trapped in the overgrowth. Stepping forward, Elizabeth yanked at the tail of the model aircraft, thankfully managing to loosen it with one pull. She was grateful and did not squander it. As soon as she had secured them firmly in her arms, she turned and ran towards the old metal gate, now clanging hard against the brick wall as the wind had suddenly picked up upon her departure.

Running through the thick mud was a task; every step felt as if it were being encumbered by tight hands gripping at her ankles. She felt for sure she would lose her boot amongst the forgotten and lost souls. On her way out, she passed many versions of ‘Sue and Robbie’s. How many kids like Stacy had lost the very thing that made them smile to this place? Taking a last look around as she reached the gate, she felt the deep feeling of hopelessness and sadness…of loss and regret. All the points of toys sticking out of the mud like headstones, marking the loss of a child’s joy. At least today, this graveyard of toys did not capture one more soul.