They promised to come back...

So expressive - the poor man - the sky is losing its color, even the grass is losing life, and yet the colors are beautiful.  So, there is beauty in hopelessness?  Hmm.  I wouldn't think so if it was happening to me.  But here, we get to observe this man's plight.  His figure is a little cartoony, so it's hard to relate to him enough to feel too bad for him - this preserves us.

This is a creative idea beautifully executed. Not much more I can say.

-O