As spring descends upon the world, one can only dare to dream that, with it, so will a dash of hope. After all, they say it's what dies last. In its own cynical, macabre way, The Opiate, Vol. 45 proves as much with its ardent fiction, non-fiction and poetry from Juliette Font, David Rich, Max Talley, Dee P. R. Kay, Frank Freeman, Geoff Wyss, Meaghan McCoy, Eric Machan Howd, Gary Keenan, William Ray, Gregory O'Neill, Robert Witmer, Edward L. Canavan, Ron L. Dowell and Beau Coursen.