June stared through the garage window, taking in the warm sight in front of her. Her family was sitting at a very large dinner table, laughing and smiling like a Hallmark stock photo. She could see her grandmother, her mother, her brother . . . and her father, who had promised that he would always be there for her when she returned. And he was there, passing the potatoes to the boy she had once called Butterball. Would her father still accept her, now that she had committed atrocious acts of genocide? Something told her that he would, but that wasn't the point. By inviting herself back into his life, she'd be ruining that perfect picture. She'd replace the smiles with frowns and the food with a terrible mess all over the table. It was only a matter of time before she wrecked something or mauled someone or caused a ruckus. If she didn't do it immediately, they'd be expecting her to snap at any moment, which would make it all the more tragic when she proved them right. With teary eyes, she turned away from the window and waddled up to Neithhotep, who was waiting patiently behind her.

"I can't do this."

The dragon smiled in consolation.

"I know it's hard, but you'll be happier at home."

June bit her lip.

"What if I'm not supposed to be happy?"

Neithhotep dipped her head down with a concerned expression.

"Why do you say that?"

"I hurt people, and people who hurt people shouldn't be happy."

Neithhotep tilted her head.

"Oh, sweetie . . . I don't know what to say."

June shuffled her feet.

"I think I would like to be dead."

Neithhotep blinked.

"Sorry, what?"

"I don't want to be alive. I did bad things to good people. It never bothered me much, but now I'm starting to think about what I've done. I used to believe that everyone did mean things to be powerful, but I never thought about what the people at the bottom felt like. I wanted to be on top because I used to be the one who got hurt. Yesterday, I was reminded of what it feels like to lose. I remembered all of the mean people who did mean things to me, and I realized that Claire had the chance to do those things too. But she didn't. She helped me. I took everything from her. I made her hurt. But she helped me. She helped me . . ."

Neithhotep put her hand on June's shoulder.

"I know you feel bad about the things you've done. That's the first step to becoming a better person. But you can't just sit and cry about it. You have to make it right. The best way to do that is reintegrating yourself."

June peeked through the window once more.

"What if they don't want me?"

"That's a risk you'll have to take."

June whimpered and hugged Neithhotep's leg. She patted the spinosaur's head as she began to sob.

"I can't . . . I can't do it . . . Please, don't make me."

Neithhotep sighed and looked through the window.

"Wait here."

The dragon slipped away, leaving June alone. She was horrified to see her lift the garage door and step through, closing it behind her. Was she going to speak with her family? June had to know. Unfortunately, when she tried to look through the window, she found that Neithhotep was blocking her view from the inside. She crawled around the building, trying to find another way to spy on her, but was unsuccessful. Desperate, she pressed her ear against the door, listening intently. They were speaking too quietly for her to hear, which made her predicament all the more unnerving. Finally, she gave up and sat down on a discarded tire. She kicked her legs idly while she waited, praying that she wasn't about to be banished for good. When the door slid open once more, her heart trembled.

"June?"

She raised her head as Neithhotep reappeared outside.

"I have something for you."

She held out her hand, revealing a bright pink flower. June stared at it with confusion.

"It looks like felt . . ."

Neithhotep smiled.

"That's because it's a magic flower."

June cocked her head.

"Like the Lilylotusdrop?"

Neithhotep nodded.

"Yes, only this flower doesn't heal you. Instead, it disguises you when you wear it."

June bit her lip.

"Does it really work?"

"Absolutely. Just put it on, and you can walk straight through that door without them recognizing you."

June reached for the flower, but paused halfway.

"I can't take this."

"Why not?"

"I don't deserve it."

Neithhotep smiled.

"I have no use for it. Take it, child, and be with your family."

She placed the flower on the side of June's head and nudged her towards the garage. June was reluctant at first, but she drew up all of her courage and inched through the door. Her family seemed to be waiting for something, because they were all smiling at her when she came in.

"Hello, there," her father said, "Where did you come from?"

June didn't know what to say, so she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"I'm from Madrid."

Her brother gave a spiteful scowl.

"Funny, you don't seem to have an accent . . ."

Her father elbowed him sharply, and he fell silent.

"Do you have a name?" her grandmother asked.

". . . April . . ."

Her mother smiled.

"Well, April, as long as you're here, why don't you stay the night?"

April nodded.

"I'd like that."

She flinched as her mother reached down for a hug, and everyone froze. There was a tense moment, but April didn't lash out. She hugged her mother, then her father, then her grandmother, and finally, her brother. He didn't seem too happy about it. After that, her parents led her to her new room, where she curled up on her bed and closed her eyes. It was funny that they had a room ready for her, she thought, but she wasn't in a position to complain. The mattress was the softest thing she'd ever slept on, and the blankets were plush and warm. It took her no time at all to drift off into a deep sleep.

She didn't even have nightmares, this time.