RESEARCH_AND

We used to sit together on our bed, a nice red cushion and occasionally Mathilda would take us for a walk for nice occasions, but these days are long gone. Now I just wait for my loved ones. The days are longer.

Once this was a booming neighbourhood, but times changed. I noticed the change slowly, Mathilda started to take us less and less out. Then the neighbourhood became silent and loud at the same time. No one dared to speak, the only sounds left were even louder, mostly coming at night. Mathilda also became quieter; she would hide often under her desk. One night, some men showed up, and she hid us under a plank of wood in the floor. We were afraid that she would forget us here because we know how clumsy she is. We almost lost hope.

But then, suddenly everything was bright and shaking, we were outside, I was looking around for Mathilda when I realised that I had lost my other half.

I thought the sleeping people must wake up at one point, right? They will bring me back to Mathilda, at least Mrs Smith knows how much Mathilda would miss us. I always kept an eye out for her, she was sleeping not too far away from us, but the yellow men picked her up and brought her to bed. Everyone got a bed; they were all very tired.

The winter came and it was harsh and cold, the rain was burning away my shine, at this point, I don’t even know if Mathilda would recognise me anymore.

After a long while of silence, slowly the noise came back. I saw the yellow men come back and they would collect all sorts of things and throw them into a bucket. Maybe this is my way of finding back to my loved ones? It must have been deep winter because the men were covered from head to toe, maybe a new trend? I could only see their tired red eyes. They must have been very dirty humans too because every time they left, they took showers. They started to come back regularly, but they never picked me up and the rubble around me got less and less.

The day came, and on a very sunny day, I took my chance. I propped myself up onto a stone with the energy I had left and let the sun shine on me. It worked! A yellow man is picking me up! He threw me forcefully into the yellow bucket, and it was dark again, but not silent, the collective moans of pain filled up the space left in the bucket. I was so tired that not even the painful moans could disturb my sleep.

Key(K): Ah look he’s finally waking up, the sleeping beauty! I told you he isn’t dead!

Wedding Ring (WR): Did you have to say it in front of him?

K: Where else am I supposed to say it? It’s not like we’re leaving anytime soon.

WR: There is a time and place for everything.

Earring(E): What do you mean we’re not leaving anytime soon? I need to find loved ones. The yellow men will surely bring us back?

K: Ha! Yes, and I'm the key to Buckingham Palace!

WR: Oh, come on, remember when you first got here, you were also a little piece of misery! My dear, I hate to be the bearer of sad news, but you won’t go back to your family anytime soon.

E: I can wait as long as it takes!

WR: You don’t understand...

E: I do understand, I understand that you don’t love anyone that’s why you don’t care! But I have people I love!! And I know that they’re also waiting for me!

K: let me explain it to him since he doesn’t understand your “kind words.” We will rot in here until our very last days you hear! You saw the yellow men! They didn’t take us here to bring us home! They’re waiting for us to not make them sick anymore so they can melt us and make new things!

Earring looks at Wedding Ring and waits for a comforting word but there are none.

WR: It is true my dear. Look around there’s only metal around us. Our day will come, and they will melt us...

Earring is speechless and doesn’t know what to say.

WR: But we can enjoy our time left and talk about our old lives.

Ah, there they are, the not-so-comforting words.

K: For my part, I'm looking forward to being molten! My old bones could use a new form! You see I believe in Reincarnation! Maybe in my next life, I will be a silver fork! Then I could listen all day long to what the rich people talk about!

WR: oh, shush now!