My Cardboard Balcony

All the Noise by Belinda Roddie The crackling crunch of fireworks as the asphalt splits beneath my shoes. The bubbling cider down my gullet on a dry, dry New Year's Eve. These old acquaintances are forgot and never brought to mind. They leave words in my head like drums, the percussion repeating as endlessly as the DJs' screech of bass blasts. Cacophony, insanity, the beginning of the same.

"Lord," intoned Darcy, much to everyone else's amusement, "have mercy on me this upcoming year. A house without a rat problem and a dog that doesn't have three tumors in his ears would be really, greatly appreciated." "2014 was not a good year for you, huh, Darcy?" Yasmin laughed, lounging in the corner with a very large bottle of beer. "This just hasn't been a good decade," Darcy corrected. "But hey, maybe the halfway point means a turnaround in fortune."

A Dish by Belinda Roddie A dish of fish, and a liter of something sweeter. I fill your bowl with crunch while you debate what you should have for lunch. You've opened a can of salty guilt, as the leftover mushrooms wilt. Here, a spoon will serve you well to feast on cuisine from Hell.

No update on the website today. Let's see what New Year's Eve brings!

Secrets by Belinda Roddie A lot of history is behind that door, the dreaded consequence of stifling past daydreams. Turn the knob, and you may be assaulted.

Elizabeth popped an olive in her mouth and chewed it slowly. Everything tasted oddly bitter today. Even the sweet wine that her aunt had gotten her for Christmas had a rather displeasing end flavor. She wasn't quite sure what was wrong, until she got into her swivel chair and instantly began seeing double when she opened up her laptop screen. Another attack, she thought to herself. Just close your eyes. It'll all be over soon.

"I miss you." "I know." "When can I see you again?" "I don't know." "It's so lonely without you." "I know." "Where are you going to go now?" "I don't know." "I want you to come back." "I know." "Do you miss me, too?" "I don't know."