He looked in the window, through the lacy veil that separated him from the real world. Inside, lights danced, staving off the dark cold for one more night. He raised a hand, and pressed it to the frosty window. The sharp coldness stung, but he barely noticed it. He barely noticed anything anymore. Crystals formed on his cheeks, and he pulled his hand away, leaving a clear void that was quickly dimmed.

A burst of laughter, muted by the cold, wound its way through the night sky to caress his ears, as he slowly sank to the icy ground. He lifted his head, and whispered the child's question to the bitter dark.

Why?