From the day
Perspective: The Anxious Local · Tactile
The plastic of this Beyblade feels cheap and brittle against my palms, yet it costs nearly as much as a week's worth of groceries in this crumbling economy. I stared at the receipt in disbelief, seeing **$1.03** for a single loaf of bread and nearly losing my mind—rofl, as if things couldn't get more expensive while the city wastes millions pitching for an Olympics a decade away. I pulled my heavy denim jacket tight to block the damp November chill, the stiff fabric rubbing uncomfortably against my neck as I checked my phone for a signal that wasn't there. Between the soaring prices and the whispers of global unrest, even the flickering neon signs for *The Santa Clause 2* feel less like holiday cheer and more like a distraction from a world spinning out of control.