Kurt stands on his backyard deck and watches the sunset through the winter-bared trees. He stares at the vacant house across the pond, as he has each winter evening for the past nine years.

Kurt hides under his backyard deck. He peers through wooden beams to keep watch on the house across the pond. Knee-deep snow and frigid temperatures cause him to shiver, but he refuses to go inside his home.

Howling winds gust through trees, forcing branches to graze the house’s siding. Their finger-like limbs taunt and tease, and Harlie bolts awake.