There are places that feel like the end of the world, and the village of Tilaj is high up on the list. For this small Hungarian village has not only almost stopped living, it's disappearing as well, and where it is going is back into itself, for this is a place that should never have been!
Upon arriving in this small Hungarian village, one is met by a picture of life that has packed up and gone. Tilas's time was short and it finished a long time ago. And its sun started setting with its children who were leaving. For Tilaj had nothing to keep them. And from nothing comes nothing and Tilaj came from nowhere!
There were no old established families, nor any memorials to the plague, and non of the usual layers of time that can be seen in houses of varying times. Everything was built at more-or-less the same time, and, worst of all, there was no real church. Tilaj had never a heart and not even a school. It was simply for sleeping and bringing up children. And the last real shop closed a long time ago.
But, in a way, it was perfect for that which it offered. It was built to take care of needs. And, in those days, people were poor. And, a small house in the damp by the river in Tilaj was the most that many could afford. And life wasn't that bad! Everyone not only grew their own produce, but also kept chickens and pigs. Living in Tilaj meant never seeing hunger, and there was always plenty to drink. There were grapes in every garden and fruit on every tree. And, this was a paradise for children, and, in paradise the children were happy.
The long hot summers days were perfect for playing. With a river to splash in and a forest to hide in, there was all that was needed for hours of summer time fun. The kids were never at home,and that was good so. And, then, of course, came the winter. And, in those days the winters were hard and the snow it was much. And the very long evenings were for learning in front of the fire.
And, the children learned, played, grew up and moved on. And, where they once played is now the place of their past, and so Tilaj slowed down to how it is now. A beautiful spot of unspoiled nature with its river and forest and calls of the wild. And all on a road that's coming from somewhere and going to nowhere!
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