It's finally here. Joshua's fingers trembled and his breaths came in sharp gasps as he buttoned his overcoat, excitement seeming to radiate off of him in waves. "Well Penelope, how do I look?" The shimmering blue butterfly gave a slow flap of her wings. "Oh yes, right, right, right." Joshua muttered as he quickly found and donned his neckerchief, fastening it securely around the lower half of his face. "I almost forgot." The fleshless white bone that still made up the top half of his face might be mistaken for a mask, but the lipless, gaping black hole that remained of his mouth was undeniably not false. Grabbing his umbrella, the tall, gaunt man stepped outside of his door on trembling legs for the first time in a year.

The weather was bleak, oppressive clouds and a torrential downpour met Joshua on his front steps, but nothing could dampen his mood. In the grey morning light, he strode down the street, Penelope balanced securely on the front of his coat looking to all but the most observant of passersby to be an ornate and brightly colored brooch. Joshua was awestruck by the sights that met him, his deprived eyes greedily drinking in the view. Trees lined both sides of the street, their branches bursting with the yellows, oranges, and reds of the season. The spicy, earthy scent of the wet leaves met what was left of his nose. Joshua stopped to close his eyes and inhale deeply. Smiling he continued on.

The other residents of the neighborhood had decorated for the holiday. Carved pumpkins and cloth ghosts adorned pouches, plastic draculas peered unseeing from windows. Joshua saw a particularly enthusiastically decorated yard, a 12-foot-tall plastic skeleton stood towering above hand painted cardboard tombstones, wilting in the relentless rain.

Just ahead of him, a group of teenagers rounded the corner and started meandering in his direction. Footsteps faltering, Joshua unconsciously gripped his umbrella tightly.

"Woah, great costume, man." a demonic looking clown exclaimed as the group walked past, laughing and talking excitedly amongst themselves. "Yeah, Happy Halloween" a girl wearing a short black dress and a pointed hat added over her shoulder.

"Oh, yeah, um, you too." Joshua managed to mumble in reply to the group who had continued past without waiting for an answer. He breathed a shaking sign of relief. Yes, today he was safe. Today was the one day he could blend in and walk amongst the still fleshed. People could look at him and smile rather than shriek in terror at what he had become. Yes, the young which was right, today was a very happy Halloween.