My charge lies sleeping

in the shadow of the trees.

I glance back,

they stir,

open their eyes, sigh,

and sleep again.

I refocus on the scene

before me, in the field,

near the rock.

Another little shadow,

this one digs a hole

and they are alone.

Their clothes, scorched

and shredded.

Their hair, a forgotten forest.

I feel horror as they climb

into the hole

and pull dirt over

their body,

small fingers scratching

the skin of the earth.

I walk forward, slowly,

and sit.

They vacantly gaze at me

between dirt crumbles,

their rib cage barely moving.

"I see you experienced the war too," I say.

They don't speak.

"Can I help you out?

Maybe we can talk?" I ask.

A slight flicker in their eyes.

I climb into the hole and gently lift

them into my arms,

earth tumbling from the edges

as I climb out.

The child hides their face into my shoulder

and begins to cry softly.

"I'm so sorry, darling.

I'm so sorry it took me this long to find you."