My Cardboard Balcony

It's been a good week. No, this will not be as long as my last introspection, but allow me to get all gushy and talk about some things and people that I'm so grateful for. Like two of my friends from college, Sarah and Ron - thank you for swinging by my town and having lunch with me. It was awesome to catch up and confirm that you'll be going to my wedding. Don't worry, it'll be fun. Also, my new family at my second job - you guys are amazing. I am having a blast working with you all and can't wait to see what comes next in the future. And my hair stylist, Maureen. You are such a BAMF for embracing my desire to take a risk and giving me a wonderful pixie cut. As we both say, you make me look veddy veddy bee-yoo-tee-ful! My father deserves a shout-out, too, for having a coffee outing with me and catching up and just all around being an amazing man. I love you. Another friend, Rae: Thank you. You know what we talked about tonight over dinner and drinks. ...

Bald and Battered by Belinda Roddie I shaved my head so you could see my scars.

I could feel his hand slither against my hip, and that was when I pulled out the gun. It slipped out of its holster like meat sliding from a greasy package, and it felt wet and foreign against my palm as I raised the barrel and pulled the trigger right between the bastard's eyes. I expected a delicate hole in his head, a trickle of red. I did not give him a beautiful death. His head very much exploded, like a volcano, and he toppled to the floor with his blood and shattered bone pooling around him like magma.