Wetland

“I got lost,” the boy whispered. “My dad said it was just a ditch. He said it was nothing.”

Wetlands are transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic environments, often described as the "kidneys of the Earth" for their natural ability to filter and purify water. While they cover only about 6–9% of the Earth's surface, they support 40% of global biodiversity and act as one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. wetland

He poled back, not toward the landing, but toward a different shore. The high, dry ground where the survey stakes had been hammered in—orange plastic ribbons fluttering like obscene flowers. “I got lost,” the boy whispered