You know it well, the Voice said. Isn't your own name familiar to you?

Kelty blinked.

Then the tears returned.

And fell

and fell

and fell fell fell

fell

All around little lights twinkled amongst the trees. They cast a patchwork glow upon the snowy ground that reminded Kelty of her Nan's quilts.

burgundy

crimson lime

teal

canary violet

ruby

blue

And the eager night with its terrors and its long fingers crept closer and reached out to touch her, resentful of the lights and this child who grew them.

Kelty? said the Voice, but the lights began to falter, and Kelty began to cough.