he's hearing stories, peculiar stories and it's making him feel strange. and he's feeling lonely and tearful and uncertain and he's half afraid to feel that love again. but he's hearing stories and he's hearing laughter, unending laughter and it's making him feel sad, and he's feeling cold and indifferent and old now and he's half afraid to feel that love again. and he's hearing stories and laughter and happy ever after and he knows there's many rooms in his father's house but he's spoilt by choice and he's hearing stories and laughter. and he's lived for ten years, ten full years in that freedom house on the hill and his room feels dark now and dusty and forgotten and he's half afraid to feel that love again but still he's listening, and waiting and watching from behind the frosted pane and he's strangely warm now, and peaceful and contented and he's devoted if not the same and he's hearing stories and laughter.