New Year’s Ex
By Sam Couste
Marco frowned as he peered out the window of his apartment to glower at the busy street below. Pine garlands and twinkle lights looped from lamppost to lamppost, but their bright cheer was not enough to cut through the foggy gloom of the evening. Thick black clouds obscured any sign of stars. Gray sleet streaked across the glass, and the sidewalks were barred on either side by walls of dirty slush.
The weather didn’t seem to be dimming anyone else’s mood, however. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet, and already the boisterous crowds reverberated with laughter and hollers and toasts for well wishes in the new year. Marco scowled down at them all, with their silver spangled hats and grating noisemakers, channeling his inner Grinch and wishing the sleet would evol
