Nothing exists here but the vast expanse of desert, a shimmering mirage on the horizon, distant gray mountains, and the faint chirping of insects that can be heard but not seen, seeking refuge from the heat every now and then. If anything stirs in this desolate place, it is merely a lizard scurrying away from the scorching sun in search of the nearest shade provided by a withered tree, or seeking solace in the scant shadow of a house, where broken limbs and hearts lie stretched out in quiet despair.