“Look, you don’t want to know.” I pulled my own hood up off my head. The light, flickering as it was above us, was dim enough to hide our faces anyways.

The truth was, I was itching to tell them. But if I did, all our progress would be lost.

As well as our friendship.

“And anyways, I know damn well that ‘where I found this’ is the least of your worries, knowing the situation.” I added, glancing...

It shouldn’t have been boarded up. It’s lawn pristine and cleanly cut. Its trees always beautiful and following regulation. In the fall the leaves always found themselves in neatly tied bags by the curb. Yet no one came outside.

Once when I was smaller and full of that trepidantion that couldn’t be told no, I stayed up all night, watching. Waiting.

The lawn had been full of leaves, is was aroun...