The purpose by the crosses

On the side of a wide plain with little to no settlements two straight roads intersect. Some poles with signs on top indicate the traveller where they are and which road they will intersect. Symbols and names are on the signs indicating places that are in the far distance. Around the intersection and along the roads for very long distances lies a mostly arid ground with small brushes and shrubs barely reaching to the knees. Further away are mounds of earth, possibly man made, as well as a curvy trench with water that closely resembles a creek.
Near one of the corner of the intersection further away from the poles with the traffic sign, lies another much smaller group of poles. Located between the shrubs four crosses made of steel rods are pierced into the ground. These resemble crosses found on graves. Yet located by the intersection indicates that lives were lost at that very place. Possibly due to collision, there were lives that met a tragic end.

A little further away along one road lies a plastic toy. Spread on the floor with pieces spread out, it looks like a dead insect on the barren ground. Yet upon closer inspection the parts of the toy can be folded together representing a little toy car. Some of its wheels have gone lost, which is maybe the reason it was thrown away in the first place.
Even though it was abandoned, broken, left to no use, it may very well have found a new purpose. Placing it next to the cross, it serves as a form of sympathy and support to the lives lost. Maybe one of the lives was a child who enjoyed toys. And this little plastic car found its purpose to sit next to the crosses as a memory the lives that found an end at that intersection.
 

UPDATE 
Years have passed. Seasons gave way in the normal cycle where wind is blowing over the land, followed by snow and ice. Nights with cold giving way to sun with heat and drought. Vehicles continue to race by while plants, resilient to this environment, continue to grow. In this scenery, a barren landscape which has few significance to travellers in their vehicles go by. Little significance gets shown by the occasionally scattered garbage on the side of the roads, such as cardboard, cans or glass bottles. Yet the four crosses continue to remain over the years withstanding heat, dust, snow and ice. 
At the base, the toy car remains.
A silent memory has continued to maintain its place, loyal to its purpose. Time will continue and be written into history while silent and small witnesses to previous tragedies exist, even in remote barren places.

Scroll to Top