For weeks, nightmarish visions of lesbian ballerina gangs haunted me and taunted me for what used to be mine. Trapeze acts with calliope music crammed into diner space, fever dreams where i have no voice and fire monsters surround me. They tell me I will be Persephone, whether I like it or not, it's just a matter of time...

I have become even more of an imbecile. I now absolutely believe in that New Year's Eve magic you only see in movies. Previously, mine have run like my Valentine's days- complete train wrecks. This year I experienced the wonder of kissing a stranger, then getting to know and actually like him afterward. He's got tattoos of pinup girls on both legs and he wants to take me to see a band called 'the lucky strikes'. I've known him less than a week, and we already have a story to tell (I hospitalized him on the first date- whoops). We have so little in common, we could seriously be from different galaxies, but he's fascinating and I can't help but kiss him when he's mid-sentence.

I adore the universe for gifts like these, whether they work out or not, they just make life worth living. I have to admit, I had a few dicey years between cali and now, but last year, and now this new beginning, have made me new. I may be destined for the underworld, but I've got plenty of time to kill between now and then.