A light snowfall dusts the hair of Mabel and the boys this blustery Sunday. There's enough falling that it requires them to shovel the driveway again, and Mabel has to substitute for Gabriel as he's currently away from the house. Niel hopes it's the last time they have to do this for the season.

  "Hey," Voltaire begins, "can't you just use your Dust and make this easier?"

  "I'd like to, but not where other people can see it, and not when it stands out against the snow," Niel responds. A passing red car proves his point.

  "This isn't that bad when we're all out here. Imagine if we had a longer driveway," Reed says. It's a sobering moment when he of all people is unbothered by manual labour.

  "Or if the snow was wet," Mabel chimes in, casually flinging a shovelful of powder into the yard.

  Niel supposes this could be harder, as it has been before. Winter storms and heavy snow have made shoveling an unwelcome tedium, and with the strength of his Dust behind his shovel, Niel was always following Gabriel as the second one out the door. Maybe he just dislikes spontaneous plan-changes, or maybe spending almost a year in this place has made him lazy. Niel looks over at Voltaire and finds him hard at work. This week is going to be rough on him.

  "Ready for tomorrow?" Niel asks.

  "I guess so," Reed answers, bummed about March Break ending and having to return to school.

  "I was talking to Voltaire."

  "Oh."

  "More or less," Voltaire responds, "since I'm not going to be doing anything until Wednesday."

  "Ready for Wednesday, then?"

  Voltaire briefly pauses his shoveling. "...I don't know."

  "It'll be okay," Mabel reassures. "I'll be there with you again."

  Voltaire gives a low murmur in recognition, still anxious for the days ahead.

  The following Monday heralds the beginning of the long-awaited trial against Voltaire's parents. The trial runs from today until Friday, with the judge's verdict potentially taking a day extra. Voltaire's testimony is needed only on Wednesday, so for today, when the opening statements are being given, he can rest as easily as he can in these circumstances.

  On a brighter note, Poppy is chipper due to today also being St. Patrick's Day. It's a holiday where she's from, and though it's only observed here and not celebrated, there is a parade being held in the capital city of the province. At least someone is able to celebrate today. Later that evening, Niel overhears her talking in confidence with Mabel and Gabriel, something not for the children's ears. Thankfully for her, Niel doesn't understand what she means when she laments not being able to get 'shitfaced' tonight due to having to return here in the morning. With a laugh, Mabel jokes she does so anyway.

  In the morning, a family bonding moment blooms when the children and their guardians come together to make breakfast, as Poppy is mysteriously out sick. Coincidentally, it's also Dwayne's birthday today. The gift was left up to Mabel and Gabriel, who decided on a store-bought birthday card with everyone's names signed into it and a voucher for a fast-food restaurant he frequents.

  With the day winding down, everyone retires to their rooms to sleep. It's a big day tomorrow. Voltaire, after tossing and turning for who-knows-how-long, ends up pulling himself out of bed to do anything else. The Crown started presenting its case and bringing forth witnesses today. Voltaire sees this as the trial's true beginning, and he's antsy. Even though he had been avoiding watching the news to keep his mind off of things, he's antsy. He's going into the lion's den tomorrow. Lawyers will be examining and cross-examining him, getting him to spill out every bit of trauma he has and poking holes in all of it. He'll be in the same building as the people who tried to break him down to nothing and treat him as if he never existed—again. Voltaire paces back and forth in his room. Arcs jump from his nerves to his fingers to his arms and legs. His hands, feet, and face tingle with static. He's too. Damn. Antsy.

  A sudden knock at his room door swiftly yanks his attention out of his mind. Before he can open it, Niel proves correct his assumption of who it could be at his door. With Voltaire standing in the middle of the room like a panicked deer in the headlights, Niel ushers him back to his bed where they both take a seat.

  "How are you everywhere?" Voltaire asks lowly as he pulls his Mute back under his control. Niel always seems to be wherever he's needed most.

  "It wasn't hard to hear you from across the hallway," Niel responds.

  Hearing implies that Niel was awake. "Did I wake you up?"

  "No. I haven't slept at all yet."

  "Why?"

  Niel gives the ex-thief a sheepish and tired smile. "Something important is happening tomorrow."

  As it turns out, Voltaire isn't the only one who's anxious. Niel cares so much for him that he's even losing sleep, despite not being the one in the hot seat.

  "Why are you so damn nice?" Voltaire questions rhetorically.

  Niel's gaze lowers to the floor as his expression sinks. "I'm just trying to be better," he says, recollecting himself to look Voltaire in the eye again.

  "More secrets?"

  "This one isn't for anyone to know."

  Voltaire thinks to himself that maybe there are some parts to Niel that he shouldn't try to pry open. Calmed down now, the pair soon part ways and try to get some amount of rest before the morning greets them.

  Tensions run high when the sun rises. As the rest of the children eat the breakfast a now rejuvenated Poppy provides, Mabel, Gabriel, and Dwayne fix Voltaire up for court. He's not the least bit thrilled about it—anxiety, uncomfortably, and fatigue all stew together to form his crabbiness. His guardians have a tough time getting him to behave and follow directions, but they somehow manage with enough persistence. With him, Mabel, and Dwayne now dressed and ready, they exit the house and leave the rest of the home's inhabitants to fret over the Electric Mute kid all over again.

  Niel, Illia, and Gabriel find this second verse to drag on the same as the first. Voltaire will be okay, won't he? It's not like he's in any danger or anything, or that his future depends on him being perfect with his testimony. It's important, yes, but the overall stakes are rather low. And yet, Niel can't stop his leg from bouncing on the ball of his foot. Illia crosses her legs right over left, then left over right, then right over left again. Gabriel paces upstairs where the kids won't see him. Voltaire will be okay, won't he?

  Several hours have gone by and there's still no sign of their return. On the contrary, Gabriel gives the pair an update from Mabel: the cross-examination has started. All this time spent waiting and agonizing, and the worst part is only just now beginning. Illia looks distraughtly at Niel upon realizing this. Niel gazes down at his watch, his tortured reflection vaguely caught in the glass. They're not coming home anytime soon. Will Voltaire be okay?

  Most of the next hour passes and Gabriel gives another update: the judge called for a recess. Voltaire lost his temper and lashed out at a lawyer who went too far. Knowing that her students' focus will only continue to wane in the face of this ordeal, Louise decides to narrow the scope of today's remaining lessons. Lost time can be made up for later when they can properly digest what they're learning.

  Classes eventually conclude and Reed and Lydia return home. Both are surprised to see that Mabel and Voltaire aren't back yet. Poppy arrives as well to begin prepping supper, and she shares this exact sentiment. It seems only Gabriel knew just how long this was going to take. Reed invites Niel to a game so they can pass the time easier, and both girls end up joining them in his room to spectate. They're all somehow able to lose themselves to the game, and in a moment of high competitive stress between the two boys, Lydia manages to snap a photo of them plus Illia behind Niel. Neither Niel nor Reed even realize a picture was taken until they're shown it afterwards. Lydia questions how boys even function. Suddenly, Gabriel's voice rings out from below to send the four kids rushing downstairs: they're back.

  First through the front door is Voltaire, and he looks positively drained of life. With a sullen expression and not a word spoken, he passes them all by and tiredly climbs the stairs to his room without giving anyone a second glance. Mabel and Dwayne look no less exhausted.

  "What a long day..." Dwayne groans. The usual enthusiasm in his voice is nowhere to be found.

  "How did it go?" Gabriel asks his wife.

  "His testimony? Fine. The defence lawyers couldn't pick it apart given the circumstances and other evidence," she reports, weariness replacing her motherly tone.

  "But they certainly tried," Dwayne adds. "You'd think they hated children just as much as his parents do. The judge nearly removed one of them when he kept trying to blame Voltaire for his own abuse."

  So that's what set him off and caused a recess. Having heard enough, Niel ascends to Voltaire's room as Reed goes to turn off his game and the girls sit down for supper. The bedroom door has been left slightly ajar, and Voltaire can be seen laying down on his bed, facing away and unmoving. Niel silently enters, though he doesn't make it to the bed before the ex-thief catches wind of his presence.

  "...I want to be alone right now..." Voltaire quietly requests, and without turning over to say it. The melancholic defeat in his voice is so alien compared to his usual bravado. Respecting his wish, Niel gives him a brief pat on the head and leaves without another word spoken between them.

  With nothing more for him here, Dwayne bids the foster family farewell so he can spend the rest of the evening recuperating with his wife. Voltaire has already communicated to Mabel that he isn't hungry, so after Dwayne leaves, they all eat without him. An infectious tension keeps the dinner table quiet from chatter throughout. All thoughts are on Voltaire.

  The hours progress well into the evening, and still not a sound is made from the home's youngest member—not even a thump. Mabel checks in on him, but she eventually steps away at his request. He doesn't even want to go to Muay Thai. The weight of empathy soon becomes too much to bear for the minds of Reed and Lydia, and they decide to try their hands at comforting him. However, the ex-thief isn't receptive to them at all, and they leave with little accomplished. With no hope on their own, the pair have a proposition for the other two that sleep on the third floor.

  "Can you two check on him? For us?" Reed asks once Niel returns from judo.

  "Why not do it yourselves?" Niel questions.

  "We already tried. We're not... as close to him as you two are," Lydia explains. Illia isn't particularly close with him either, but she says nothing regarding this.

  'Niel is better with him than me,' she signs instead. Niel translates this for the other pair.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "Could you?" Lydia asks. "I think we all know how bad the silence can get."

  "Alright," Niel capitulates. He already planned to anyway, but he wasn't sure of when he should. No time like the present.

  On approach to Voltaire's room, Niel finds the other three huddling behind him. Seems they want to spy while he does the heavy lifting. Whatever. He uses his Dust to open the door silently and step inside, leaving enough of a gap in the doorway for the others to hear. The floor creaks and gives away his presence, but Voltaire doesn't react. Niel sits down on the edge of his bed without a word.

  "I thought I said I wanted to be alone," Voltaire reiterates after some time of silence. Some life has returned to his voice—a mix of annoyance and depression.

  "I think you've been alone for long enough," Niel says.

  "...I'm used to it."

  "...Doesn't make it a good thing." The inflection in Niel's voice doesn't go unnoticed by anyone. Of all of them, his experiences resemble Voltaire's the closest, and the ex-thief knows this.

  Voltaire says nothing, not in rebuttal nor in rejection. His dismissal of Niel has already turned into a fragile tolerance. So, Niel sits there, silent and understanding, for his presence is already enough.

  From outside the room, the others are left feeling unfulfilled by the silence. Surely there's more they can do than stalk, right? Reed and Lydia are worried that entering now may tear down what Niel has built. However, such a thought does not find its way into Illia's innocently reflective mind. Instead, she falls back to collect some things from her room first before cautiously intruding into Voltaire's. Upon hearing the door squeak, Voltaire rolls over to see who is bothering him now, and Reed and Lydia quietly blame each other for not stopping her in time.

  "What do you have there?" Niel asks a glasses-wearing Illia. He can clearly see the blanket and sleepy seal plushy she got for Christmas tucked in her arm, but along with them is a large and thin book he can't make out at this angle. It's only until she sits next to him does he finally see what kind of book it is: a picture book where the goal is to find a smaller object in a greater image. He's never known something like this existed.

  Opening up to the first page reveals a sprawling scene of various and brightly-coloured wooden toys, buttons, ribbons, and other similarly themed objects on a plain background. As for the items to seek, they're given beneath the image in the form of a rhyme, riddle, or both. Without thinking, Niel starts reading aloud this rhyme, and Voltaire's attention is drawn acutely enough to sit up and find out what the hell he's talking about.

  "Why don't you help us look?" Niel asks, pointing to this children's book he's already been enraptured by.

  "No, I don't want to," Voltaire dismisses before collapsing back onto his bed, preferring to languish in his own misery instead.

  Despite this, Niel and Illia keep going with their search. Page by page, they join in the rhymes and decipher the simplistic riddles made for children half their age, all to hunt down each of the little trinkets the book tells them to find. Niel's rare audible enthusiasm and Illia's little celebratory claps make it far too difficult for Voltaire to ignore them. He can't do anything BUT listen to them having fun with the book. Tired of being the odd one out, Voltaire picks himself up and sits next to Niel.

  "...I wanna join..." he sheepishly admits.

  Niel gives a small chuckle of amusement, and they resume their conquest of this book's secrets. A small creak draws his attention to the doorway. Oh, right—Reed and Lydia are still out there. Now with the ice broken around Voltaire, Niel picks both of them up with his Dust and pulls them in to join the book club. They're hesitant at first, but soon Lydia sits next to Voltaire and Reed next to her, and with the ex-thief now holding the book for everyone, they hammer out every page in no time. Together.

  He may have grown used to the silence, but Voltaire finds the surrounding noise of people who genuinely care about him to be one of his greatest comforts.

  >>>>>>

  With most of their attention on the trial, it's easy to forget that the world is still turning around them. Case in point, none of them realize that Thursday is also the first day of spring until it's upon them. So now that it's spring, does that mean they're free from having to shovel snow? Absolutely not! With another eight centimetres having fallen overnight, they're back out to clear the driveway again once Reed and Lydia leave. Didn't Niel wish to be done shoveling snow for the season? Indeed, he did, and he got his wish—it's not winter anymore. He irritably grumbles to himself once he realizes this.

  As for the trial today, it's Voltaire's brother's turn to suffer in the hot seat. The ex-thief hardly cares about this. He's more interested in being able to stay home to recharge from yesterday, though with the caveat of having to help Gabriel, Niel, and Illia with shoveling.

  And lastly, Friday. The final day of the trial. Closing arguments are presented on both sides, and in true Voltaire fashion, he isn't there to hear any of it. The only thing of importance to him is the judge's verdict afterwards, which he hopes to hear second-hand from Dwayne today. And sure enough, it comes much sooner than anyone expects. With Dwayne on speakerphone in the centre of the living room, he shares to the residents of the home the ultimate result of this torturous trial.

  His mother and his father, on all charges...

  ...guilty.

  The relief and cheer from everyone in the room is beyond palpable. Not only will terrible people finally be punished for their atrocities, not only will this finally bring Voltaire closure, but it cements a safe and stable future for him. With this guilty verdict, there is no longer any chance—not even a fraction of a percentage—that he will ever have to return to his parents again. At long last, he is now truly safe, and he can't help but break into tears and cry from the intensity of this realization. It's a colossal weight that has finally been lifted from his shoulders.

  Dwayne soon arrives from the courthouse with Poppy not far behind, carrying groceries for tonight's celebratory supper. They'll be having a dish that quickly became Voltaire's favourite, and one he's more than willing to help Poppy and Mabel prepare: steak frites with garlic butter.

  >>>>>>

  Niel's alarm stirs him awake one special morning. After he groggily taps his phone to silence it, and as he throws the curtains open to bathe his room in the morning light, he comes to realize that it hasn't really set in until now. Illia and Voltaire greet him as he exits his room, and they descend to the second floor as a trio. Lydia and Reed both greet him too. Lydia is ready for breakfast, but Reed—still fighting off sleep—will need an extra few minutes. She decides to make their trio into a quartet and join them on their way to the first floor. And that's where Niel sees it.

  Streamers of gold, silver, and indigo hang from the ceiling and over the windows and doorways. Red and blue and white balloons bundled in threes dangle over entranceways and in corners. The sparkling letters that spell out this occasion are strung over the dining room table. Before turning to the kitchen, Niel glances nostalgically at the door he stepped through for the first time exactly one year ago. His guardians and Poppy await him once again with a warm smile.

  "Happy Birthday, Niel," Mabel greets as she wraps him in a loving hug.

  "Thank you," he sincerely responds.

  As nice as it would be to have today free of schooling, April 7th unfortunately falls on a Monday. Another shame is that the sky has cleared up to bring about some lovely spring weather. As he longingly gazes out the window during whatever moment he can spare, Illia plots, and her plans can be set to motion once their time with Louise is over.

  'Glade?' Illia signs simplistically.

  "Sure," Niel responds equally simply. He was going outside anyway, why not go with Illia? As they put their shoes and sweaters on, Mabel notices them preparing to leave.

  "Going out to the forest again?" she asks before they go, to which the pair respond affirmatively. "Don't put any petals in your hair, okay?"

  That last comment was directed toward Illia, causing her to turn away with a guilty smirk. She knows exactly the kind of mess she made before and fully intended to ignore the consequences. Mabel places her hands on her hips and gives the girl a disapproving look. Illia caves and agrees.

  The early April air is warming as the days go on, requiring the retirement of their heavy winter jackets in favour of their lighter sweaters, though the breeze can still prove itself chilly. Apart from sparse patches in areas that get more shade than sun, almost all the snow has melted, causing Illia's distaste in change to creep its way in again. This visible change in seasons is no more obvious than in the forest surrounding the glade. Not only have the leaves grown back, but the trees are flowering again, budding into bright early blooms that contrast their white and pink against the green. Petals also litter the forest floor along with the dead leaves from the fall. Unfortunately, these dead leaves fail to entertain Illia when they provide no satisfying crunch underfoot.

  Niel looks up to the canopy from underneath a low-hanging tree. It's a fading memory that stirs from the flowering forest, the days leading up to his first encounter with the home. The breeze and birdsong wisping through the trees, following him wherever he staggered to—was it malnutrition and fatigue that caused him to collapse? All he remembers is the hunger, the cold, and the world repeatedly becoming blurry. He had a very low supply of Dust, too. How many mistakes did he make to get into that situation, to become that vulnerable?

  He doesn't remember, or maybe he doesn't want to. Maybe he doesn't want to admit to himself that he was on the brink of giving up. The mind shatters before the body in cases of endurance. Then the mental brings down the physical until both are beneath the dirt. How fortunate he was that he fell in the right place and time for Illia to find him. His better life now is because of her. Feeling a surge of gratitude, he turns to thank her, and...

  Her hair is full of flower petals.

  "Why," Niel says, disgruntled, not as a question but a statement of his disappointment. It's been, no exaggeration, a minute since he last took eyes off of her. And now her head is as bright as the flowers around them.

  Devilishly grinning now that she has Niel's attention, she gleefully and gracefully spins in place—an innocent display of her excited playfulness. Before he can question how and why she plucked so many flowers in such a small amount of time, she grabs a vibrant branch just over his head and gives it a shake. All the petals rain down on his head all at once as a result. It seems that they just missed these trees in peak bloom, and now they're shedding their petals in preparation for the blossoms turning to fruit. As Niel somewhat irritably brushes the rain of flower-shed and other debris from his shoulders and hair, Illia decides he's no longer decorated enough and places a loose flower behind his ear.

  'Happy birthday,' she signs with a grin.

  He's not sure at first what she placed behind his ear, but he realizes when it ends up falling off on its own. There's no stem on it to keep it upright. To remedy this, and to satiate her, he decides to use his Dust as a hidden hair clip and fasten it to the side of his head. Illia claps merrily upon seeing Niel accept her gift. Now maybe she'll get to keep the petals in her hair? Of course not—she's forced to relinquish them before going home, though she does get to keep a flower. Neither he nor Mabel need to know about the spare petals she has tucked away in her pocket.

  After they all eat supper, his birthday cake and present are brought to the table. If memory serves, it's the same white and blue rectangular cake that he had last year, down to the placement of the sliced strawberries. It seems the only difference is that 17 candles now adorn the top. They all sing Happy Birthday to him, and it's up to him to make a wish. The one he made last year came true, so why not wish for more?

  I wish I could be better this year.

  He's satisfyingly able to blow out every candle with one deep and measured breath. So, what did he get for a present? Reaching into the gift bag, he pulls out a game controller that matches the ones that Reed has.

  "I think that's my present!" Reed jokes as he reaches out to snatch it. Niel, of course, swats his hand with the box.

  "You use Reed's old controller, so we thought you'd like one of your own," Mabel explains. As odd as it may be, it's a welcome gift: he's been using his Dust to make the old controller's buttons actually function internally. Maybe he won't lose to Reed so often now.

  "It took us a while to think of this. You certainly haven't made coming up with ideas any easier," Gabriel comments.

  "That's because I don't really need anything else," Niel explains. And it's true. Everything and everyone in the home is all he could ever ask for.

  Though Niel's birthday comes to a close with little else to note, the excitement doesn't end just yet. The day after happens to be another of significance: sentencing for Voltaire's parents. This time, the news comes out while they're all still in the classroom, so Voltaire shares the result when they converge at home. They all gather around the living room one last time to listen.

  "Mom was sentenced to five years in prison, and dad to eight," Voltaire reports. His tone makes it clear he's not happy with this result.

  "Really? That's all?" Reed comments, equally disappointed.

  "Yep."

  "At least you won't have to see them again," Niel says, looking to the bright side.

  "And this'll mess them up for life," Lydia adds, harking back to what she said about his brother before. "You can ask my parents all about that, when they get out."

  Mabel and Gabriel aren't satisfied either. But, if it's any consolation, this trial saga is now and truly over. Voltaire has a welcoming home here, one that his parents can never interfere with.

  >>>>>>

  Overcast clouds loom over the city on Good Friday. With no school and a long weekend ahead of them, each of the kids are taking it easy today. Illia decides she wants to go to the glade today and paint with her birthday watercolours, so she packs up her things in her little backpack and checks to see if Niel wants to go with her again. She ends up finding him in Reed's room with the pair playing a game together. Eh, she'll leave him be. She puts her shoes on, and off she goes.

  When suppertime comes around, Mabel calls upstairs to let the kids know that it's time to eat. It doesn't take long for them all to arrive... except for Illia. Mabel calls again, and nothing. Wondering, she and Niel both ascend to her room. Nothing. Mabel checks her phone—Illia's location will appear on it. She's somewhere around the edge of the forest, but her marker isn't moving. Niel rushes out of the house in a panic. There's a horrible feeling in his stomach.

  He gets to her last known location, just before the path toward the glade, and… it's just her phone lying cracked on the ground. She's not here, and not at the glade. There's no sign of her anywhere.

  And she doesn't return home that night.