Growing up, Simon Riley never had good experiences with holidays. He was stuck with a shitty family who had nothing to celebrate. On Halloween nights he didn't have any friends to go with and his parents never took him trick-or-treating. He didn't understand the joy of this tradition.

Despite this, as a teen he still loves Halloween. His parents are a little more tolerable, putting up a facade for the kids going door-to-door. And it gave him an excuse to cover his identity and just be someone else for a night.

This Halloween, the only person he's ever considered somewhat of a "friend" invited him to a huge Halloween party.

He usually hates crowds, and seeing people drunk only makes him remember his parents at home. But tonight he's not leaving early. He sticks around, clinging to the disguise and relying on it for at least a little confidence.