She held his hand. One large eye stared into space, the other had already been torn off. Sometime a very long time ago. She couldn't remember it ever being any different.

A while ago she was very happy. In this magical place. While the wind was driving the red sand outside, she and her family found shelter in the defensive walls of this castle.

The fortress stood on a high rock. From the parapet one looked directly at the dry bed of a river that meandered sadly.
On the opposite side were derelict houses. She often stood on the defensive wall and looked into the distance. Then she imagined how the people had lived in these houses. What kind of games the children played together and what clothes the beautiful ladies and gentlemen wore.

One day she found a book on the tallest tower of the old castle. It was a thick book with yellowed, almost brittle pages with various pictures on it.Some of them even featured families. Some were colored, others just black and white with a jagged border. Still others looked like pictures by great artists. Dreams of a better world, captured in pastel shades.
She showed the book to her mother. She said that the book was a photo album and she called the many pictures photographs. Her father was happy about thehand colorations, as he called the pastel dreams.
From then on, the girl guarded the album like treasure.

[i]"Mom, how was that before?"

"The valley was green and there were many families in the houses. There was a river down there with numerous ships going. Wine was grown on the slopes. I tasted the grapes. They tasted sweet."

"What happened?"

"I don't know, my girl. It's been a long time."

"Will the river come back? Tell me mom."

"Maybe when heaven has cried enough."

She was still standing on the defensive wall in silence.Sadly, she squeezed his hand tighter. He looked at her with his single eye. Her torn dress was blowing in the wind.

[i]"Look, my child, what I have for you."

"What is it papa? Oh please show me!"

"It's called 'Brumm'."

"How cute. What is that papa?"

"A teddy bear. I found it in the fireplace room and thought you would like it."

"I love you soooo!"
She spread her arms and fell around his neck.

She woke up one morning and wanted to see her parents. Her mother sat on the bed next to her sleeping husband and cried.

[i]"Mom, what have you got? Dad isn't awake yet?"

"Papa is sleeping now, my little one."

They had never entered the fireplace room again.

She cried and buried her face in Brumm's worn plush fur.

[i]"Mom, tell me a story!"

Your mother said nothing.

"Mom, are you sleeping?"

She stayed silent.

"Mom, wake up!"

She would never wake up again.Red dust floated in the air. A bird made its way in the sky. She hugged her teddy tightly. Then she stretched out a skinny arm for the bird as if to say: "Take me with you."

She fell. And heaven was crying.