It's only been a year since the incident.

The incident where someone you dearly loved had died. Your parents. You didn't know what would happen. All of the horrible rumors you heard about orphanages. The way they would treat kids... But you were taken by a home for gifted children instead. Similar in function, but completely different from the horrible things you would expect.

As you sit among the steps leading down to a fenced in area deemed the playground for some of the younger kids, snow shift around the prints your shoes left in it, you can't help but let your mind wander.

You close your eyes for a moment, letting the memories replay in your head for the millionth time as the frosted wind nipped at your face and made it feel as numb as your heart.

"Aren't you cold?" A voice gruffed. It wasn't the softest, and by that you could almost immediately recognize it as Mello's. He stood behind you against the double doors, his back to them as his hands sank into the pockets of his leather jacket, still opting for fashion over warmth. He didn't come outside long enough to care.