“I’m going out front for a minute,” Harmony said, quickly getting up. If Lex said anything in response, she didn’t hear him.

Closing the door behind her, she walked out onto the front lawn. No one else was on the street, so she couldn’t see what other people looked like now. But it was a gorgeous evening. As the sun was going down, the neighborhood was bathed in reddish-orange light. The grass stood crisp and tall, perfectly mowed. She heard a toad croak somewhere down the street. Señor Gato, Lex’s black cat, was spread out lazily in the middle of the quiet street, enjoying the final sunbeams of the day.

But, again, Harmony couldn’t enjoy it. Was this all there was? It was a question she couldn’t help but ask herself recently. But it was hardest in times like these. Everything was beautiful and warm, but Harmony couldn’t help but tinge it with doubt. Shouldn’t there be more? Was she greedy to ask that question?

On the other hand, how good was it, really? Could she really enjoy a pleasant evening when she knew there was pain in the world?

But didn’t that also mean she should enjoy the good times while she could?

But didn’t THAT mean it was unfair that she got them when others didn’t?

A breeze blew by, rustling the grass and the green leaves of the trees, as full of life as they’d ever be, the sound of their dance almost musical.

Others could enjoy it. But not Harmony.

She sat helplessly on the perfect grass, on a perfect day, in the prime of her life, and found herself, once again, searching for answers. That voice in the basement had changed everything… hadn’t it?

Or had anything really changed?

She sat up straight, in defiance of the perfect evening. No… SOMETHING had changed. SOMETHING was out there. More than what she knew or had been told. She’d had a brush with SOMETHING.

Her head turned slightly back toward the house as the air cooled and the light faded. Something…