Chinese New Year (the world ends at Midnight)

Midnight he woke up to the end of the world.

He shot up and made his way to the window. A flashing silver band belted around the village and soft pops and loud pops and other sounds like a giant popping his knuckles and elsewhere high whines seared the night, silenced in claps sudden and brutal and final. The noise died down. A few scattered remains. Then silence reclaimed the night for at least another year.