On the way to New Years

Danny groaned as he woke up. It hurt all over, and he felt as though he had to go. There were no toilets in this place, and he remembered Ruby's words from some time ago: "You have to think of this part of your body as an appendix". But that didn't stop his feeling.

"It is perhaps a latent memory," Ruby had said. "It's possible that you'll find a place to go in your dreams. But here... you know where this is, right?"

"I'm dead, aren't I..." Danny groaned.

"No one here's told you that," Ruby said. "Nobody dies, they just change form."

Danny looked at his scarred arm and murmured to himself.

"Your bones are in pain," Ruby explained of Danny's pain. "You've been overdoing the soda."

Danny sighed and hugged his knees. "Why does it taste so good when it's bad for me?" he asked his sister.

"We all have our vices," Ruby said. "That you recognize it's one is good. I wouldn't worry about the future, Danny boy. I'm just here to wag my finger at you for a little bit."

Danny looked down.

"I do it because I love you," Ruby said, and kissed Danny's forehead. "You have a good day, and forget about everything I said. We'll meet again tonight."