Hey guys, I got my IUD a while back and I thought that I would share my experience getting one with anesthesia.
So my nexplanon at the time was giving me 2 heavy periods a month. I decided to get it removed and replace it with an IUD. But I knew that I had a low pain tolerance so I decided to look for a place that would put me under for insertion.
It took 3 calls to find a location that was contracted with my insurance to do insertion. My insurance ended up covering the IUD itself but not the anesthesia so I ended up paying 600 USD for it.
The procedure itself was very smooth. I waited in a room with a bunch of nurses attending to me and then they wheeled me to the operating room. Then they put me under and I just remember waking up. They gave me an apple juice and it smacked.
Recovery went fine but I did have cramping later that night. Fortunately a heating pad and Tylenol did the trick.
I tell this story because if you want to get an IUD but you’re afraid of the pain, don’t be scared to advocate for yourself. It’s still worth getting a consultation to see if this option would be safe for you depending on your health condition. Cost may depend on what your insurance covers though. But IUD insertion does not need to be painful.
I remember trying to find threads about this experience but didn’t see much so feel free to ask me any questions.

I (40 Bi) dated my ex (37 M) from 2004 to 2009. He left me for another woman he had only known for a month. Needless to say, it was a messy breakup. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was suicidal. I had to seek professional help and be given antidepressants. When he came to his senses, he tried to win me back, but I had already moved on by then. I am now in a 14-year same-sex relationship and at a happy place in my life.
Last night, while browsing Facebook, I came across a name on my list of suggested friends that caught my attention. It was “Jzyne Addanice” with my ex’s last name. It was an account made for a baby girl, not one year of age. My ex and I no longer have connections except for one common friend on Facebook. I did a little digging and found out the account was for my ex’s daughter, as I had assumed since the baby bore a striking resemblance to him.
To be clear, given that our breakup was more than 15 years ago, I am totally over my ex. Even yet, I still hadn't moved past the fact that he abandoned me for a woman he hardly knew. However, I genuinely don't care if he ends up having three dozen kids. What upsets me is that he took “our” baby name, Jann Adanice, tweaked the spelling, and named his daughter it. We were pretty serious, and Jann Adanice (J for my name, Ad for his name) was a name I came up with for our future baby when the time came.
I don't want children anymore, and at 40, I don't have any other than my fur babies. Still, I find it offensive that he took our baby's name and gave it to the child of another woman. AITA for being upset over this?

I'm planning to go to Thailand at the end of Decembebeginning of January with a group of friends, but we can't decide where to go since we don't have enough time to hit all the major spots. I've heard a lot of conflicting things from friends and people online. Our primary goals for the trip are to party and enjoy the beaches and nature. It would be cool to take a tour of some of the temples and stuff like that, but it's not overly important. Since we'd be there over New Years I also want to know what would be the best place for that. I'm assuming one of the islands.
We'd prefer to do beach parties and bars instead of indoor night clubs since those are the same everywhere. Our initial plan is to do three locations for four nights each, but we could possibly do four locations for three nights each and/or add a day or two to our trip. We don't want to be spending too much time in airports (I've made that mistake before), but short ferries between islands wouldn't be an issue. Bangkok, Patong/Phuket, Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Pha Ngan, Pattaya City, and Koh Samui are the places we currently have on our list.
Hopefully someone can give me some insight on which places would be the best for our trip and in what order. Where we are for New Years is probably the most important part of the trip. Thank you in advance!

hi everyone. got myself into a sticky situation and i know it doesn’t sound good but i have highish hopes. A little over a year ago I briefly met this guy at my job where I was working at the time. we briefly talked and introduced ourselves, which I assumed that he was attracted to me because why else would he have came up to me and introduced himself. This guy is a year younger than me and after I stopped working there, I didn’t see him much.
fast forward to this year, the day before my graduation I happen to see him out at the bar and I thought to myself why not be bold and talk to the guy because he’s super attractive kind and since I was leaving, I wanted to take a chance on him. Long story short we ended up hitting it off. He came to the other bar just for me. We ended up leaving the bar early and just spent all night one on one, talking, making out a little but nothing more. very flirty and amazing to say the least as we got to know each other rather thoroughly.
we’ve been texting ever since this night, so for about three days and it seems like the conversation is slowly dying out, after he asked me how my drive home was and I told him I have officially moved back to New York. Our school is in Pennsylvania and that’s where he lives as he’s a commuter. he told me “I’m glad I remet you when I did and now you’re a whole state away.” his is response time has gotten a bit slower although I haven’t been texting him for that long before so I don’t really know, but today i asked to chat on the phone and he denied saying that he was sick and I haven’t really heard from him since, I don’t know if I’m being delusional and thinking something like this is worth pursuing, but I wanna see him in person since we’re both off for the summer and live a little over an hour away from one another. He said he was down to do that in person but I’m getting nervous with the text messages. he did say his parents are on the more strict side but i don’t know if i scared him or did something wrong. What should I do?

The Hanging Tree By John Westrick

The ball streaked towards little Jimmy Hanson, covering the distance uncomfortably fast. The scrawny boy two sizes too small with the aviator glasses, cringed out of the way. It landed directly where he had been standing, and like that the game ended.
“Damnit Jimmy, you're supposed to catch the ball not hide from it!” a fat kid with a glove on one hand cried.
A skinny boy with glasses turned from the pitcher's mound to look at Jimmy disdain clearly visible on his face, “This is the third run you’ve allowed, and you wonder why we never let you play with us. You’re dog shit! Actually, I apologize to all loads of shit out there, you’re even more useless. I’d prefer to have Roger Morris on our team and he can’t see a damn thing with those bug eyes.”
An easy-going boy with blonde shaggy hair and a confident smile strolled up to Jimmy, extending his hand to assist, and said, “Here let me help you up. After all, you're the best player on our team. MVP hands down. Come on boys, give him a cheer!”
The boys chanted Jimmy’s name in a mocking parade of triumph.
“I don’t need your help, David,” said Jimmy.
Dirt smeared and face growing hot, the embarrassed boy attempted to climb to his feet. The hand extended to help, struck lightning-fast, catching the smaller boy squarely in the chest. With a groan of pain, the dirty boy hit the ground for the second time that afternoon.
“Well, if I knew you liked to eat dirt so much, I never would’ve offered to help,” said David, a wolfish smile forming on the landscape of his face.
A chorus of cruel laughter echoed all around.
“I hate you David Baxly,” said the wheezing boy.
David looked at Jimmy with disgust, giving him a savage kick to his left kidney. “Why don’t you do us all a favor and die. I doubt even your family would miss you.”
The rest of the boys walked away leaving the bleeding Jimmy whimpering on the ground.
No longer crying from pain but seething anger, slowly he began to crawl to his feet. “I wish I could go somewhere else. Just pick up and move and never have to see those shitheads ever again,” said Jimmy speaking to no one in particular.
It was thoughts of revenge that occupied his mind, half-baked plans, he didn't have the courage to act upon. No matter, it wasn’t revenge he truly sought, but a friend. The idea of having people look at him and truly see him. Humiliation for David Baxly was just an added bonus.
The bloody boy was still fantasizing about these things, when he found himself staring at the intersection of Jackson and main street in the sleepy town of Brookhollow, Tennessee. Brookhollow is like many rural towns, so tiny that it doesn’t even appear on the map. There are 876 residents in the tight-knit community, according to the 2008 census. Main street boasts one general store, a gas station, the town hall, and Debbie’s Diner.
It was on the outside of the later building that he saw the missing sign of Jack Dunkin, a 12-year-old boy from a neighboring town a few miles to the west. Jack was from Polk, a slightly larger town and known rival to Brookhollow. Even though Jack was in the same grade as Jimmy, they had never met.
Jimmy looked at the picture and saw that the boy had been missing for nearly 3 months. He wondered how his mom would react if he was missing that long; he reached the conclusion that she probably wouldn’t even notice. Ever since she took that job at Debbie’s to pay for the remainder of her husband’s gambling debts, she was hardly even home.
She was gone when he woke and didn't come back too well after he was asleep. The only time Jimmy had any communication with Laura Hanson was on Sundays. Even this small exposure was tainted by the bone deep exhaustion. She may have been present, even so, she wasn't there. Laura wakes, eats, drinks, uses the bathroom; yet she isn't really living. She reminded the boy of those cheesy horror movies they sometimes play late at night. The walking dead.
As little as his interaction with Laura, at least she still lived in the ramshackle motorhome right off the main highway. His dad, if he even still qualified to be called that, left some time back, draining the joint bank account and leaving the two of them penniless. Jimmy didn’t even know where he stayed, let alone had a phone number for the bastard. A few years back he received a postcard from him. He was shelled up in some two-bit motel in the thriving city of Las Vegas. On the back of the card was a charming little note, it said, “Jimmy, I wish you could see the city. Maybe you could come out and visit. I’d love for you to come and hang with my friends. Ps. Could you have your mom send me some money, I’m in a little bit of trouble here.
This led to his first real fight with his mom. He was adamant on going and meeting his father, thinking that if he got to know him he could change him. Bring him back. His mom wanted nothing to do with the man, nor did she want her son to be hurt again. The argument got heated and words were exchanged. In the end, he stayed, but some things chafe over time. Things were never quite the same.
If the boy was honest with himself, he would have to admit there is no one in his life. He has no friends in school, there is no one waiting for him at home, and he is not a part of any extracurricular activities. He goes to school, comes home, does his homework, makes dinner for his mom, and goes to bed. It has never occurred to him that he is lonely, the fact is he has never known anything else.
Jimmy doesn’t actually live in Brookhollow, his house is about two miles north up highway 29. He lives outside of the school’s jurisdiction, so he is unable to take the bus. He walks to school every day. The walk is peaceful and he actually looks forward to it. The boy possesses an overactive imagination and gets lost in his fantasies. A little less today, his ribs ache with every step. But not even this inconvenience can ruin the solitary 2-mile trek back home. He makes no turns, highway 29 is main street. All he needs to do is walk straight and he will arrive at his house.
But he is not walking in rural Tennessee anymore. He is a pioneer exploring the Great Frontier. Native Americans and wolves stalk him at night, he must be aware of the dangers that lie beyond every turn. He can see his way through any situation with the help of his trusty companion and best friend, One-eyed Pete. Pete used to be an outlaw that robbed and cheated people, but changed his ways when Jimmy saved him from being hung on the hanging tree.
A shutter runs through his body every time he remembers the hanging tree. It’s the largest oak he had ever seen. He loves to climb trees but would never dream of climbing that one. It is twisted, not a single leaf on its branches. If evil was ever a location, it would be at the heart of that gnarled tree. Jimmy doesn’t like to think about it. It always seems to ruin his mood. Poison his mind. His fantasies always turn darker when he thinks of the oak.
Suddenly he is aware of exactly how alone he is. A full mile out from the safety of the town. No one is nearby. It’s just him, the trees, and his own tormented imagination. He wishes he wouldn’t have thought of that tree. He wishes he had a dad to pick him up from school, but there is no rescue for him. In Jimmy’s experience, heroes only exist in the story books.
“The hanging tree is in your mind, Jimmy, it isn't real,” he tells himself over and over as if to ward away evil. And why not? For that tree is most definitely evil, the hideous villain in an insidious plot.
In the primal portion of his mind, he senses danger. The same skittish feeling the antelope experiences shortly before the concealed lion pounces and feasts on flesh.
“Trees don’t eat little boys,” murmurs the frightened boy.
“Maybe so, yet that oak could hardly be classified in the same league as other trees,” responds his own treasonous thoughts.
The boy's mind splinters; warring factions jockeying for supremacy. Paranoia seizes him, inky black hands clawing the air out of his lungs. A young boy unaware of the inward mutiny happening amidst his own wits, completely left to his own demented imagination. Yet, the stakes of this adventure are a great deal higher than any he has yet to experience.
His mother was fond of telling him, “What you think, you become.”
A truly awful thought slinks into his mind unbidden. What if the stories his mind conjures could gain reality too? The thought overwhelms the boy. His eyes shift back and forth searching for threats. Jimmy’s senses are keen to his surroundings. Every twig snapping, a creature stalking. Every bush rustling, a hungry beast ready to devour. Yet, the petty fears of a child's tormented mind pales to the unearthly wrongness of the hanging tree.
“What if mom is right?” says the concerned boy to the emptiness. At this unwelcome thought the boy slams his eyes closed in a futile attempt to banish the horrific idea.
“The hanging tree isn’t real,” says Jimmy, knowing in his heart this isn’t true. In the back of his mind, the boy is certain that the moment he opens his eyes, he will see it. He will see the strands of rope dangling from the gnarled branches. He will smell the smell of decaying bodies. He will hear the creak of rope swaying gently in the cool breeze.
The boy doubles his efforts in a vain attempt to keep his eyes closed. He sees red due to the strain he is putting on his muscles. He hears the steady pulse of his blood rushing in his head. The boy also understands that all this effort is for naught. He must open his eyes at some point. Jealousy creeps into the boy’s heart. Envy for the man born without sight. For the boy understands the moment he sees, there will be no coming back.
The moment has come.
Jimmy can no longer keep his eyes shut. Seconds before his eyes fling open, he feels the gentle touch of someone's hand on his shoulder. This touch startles him, and the boy throws wide his eyes.
Sure enough a few hundred yards in front of him, stands the abomination. A lone tree on the top of a bald, scarred hill. Not a living thing to be seen. No vegetation growing on the hill, no squirrels scuttling about, just a great oak, standing; an obscene gesture to the god of this world. The only fruit of this tree the decaying flesh of dead men, and likewise, the only cup the curdled blood of those hanging. A final meal set for the boy, an unholy communion.
The hand, whose was it? Was it even human? The little boy left visibly shaking at the touch of the unknown. Is this death? The icy grip of the Reaper himself here to harvest with his scythe. No marriage, no children, not knowing the pleasures of true friendship. Life cut short, a lamentable state of affairs.
It was in this line of thought, where true courage was mustered. A strength measured not by the size of his muscles or the amount one could lift, but the more impressive type, the type quantified in the amount of shit one can wade. Identified in the amount of crap hands dealt without bowing out altogether. Young Jimmy Hanson did the unthinkable, he turned and faced death looking it in the eyes.
Eyes, yes, but death perhaps not. It was no titan of horror, nor was it the poster child of demented evil. Child it was, but this boy was familiar. Not anyone from his class, yet he knew the boy. In a moment of clarity, he recognized him. It was the missing kid, Jack Dunkin.
He looked identical to the poster on the side of Debbie’s Diner. He wore the same black and white Van’s tee shirt, ripped blue jeans, and some tattered Nike tennis shoes. The thoroughly terrified Jimmy stood staring at the missing boy, mouth ajar.
Jack with an easy-going grin plastered on his face, said, “It's about time, someone comes looking for me. I've been waiting for you Jimmy, far too long.”
With an audible click the boy shut his gaping mouth and responded, “Ja- Jack, you've been missing for nearly three months. Have you been out here all along? Are you alone? Are you hurt?” Jimmy fired these questions in rapid succession, growing more suspicious with each word.
“I’ve been right here, waiting for you to come and play with me. You see, I am like you. I never had anyone to play with either. Now you are here, and you must stay with me,” said the bigger boy with a smile on his face.
Jimmy’s mind quieted, for the first time in his life he saw himself clearly. A boy with no friends, no father, hardly a mother, bullied every day, and no way of escape. Clarity revealed the harsh truth. A day had not gone by that he wasn’t lonely. There was no one in his life. There was no life for him.
The undersized boy looked at the other with longing in his eyes. He thirsted for a friend, like a man lost at sea. He hungered for companionship, like a man stuck in the wilderness. It wasn’t just a desire; he was desperate for a friend. If the bigger boy would leave, Jimmy felt as if his soul would tear in half. His heart would shatter into a thousand pieces unable to be put back together. The boys' eyes were a mirror reflecting the same sad truth, they understood each other. Both had lived, and neither had anyone to share it with.
The boys bound by shared hardships grasped onto each other refusing to let go. The combined burden of loneliness lessened by two backs, instead of one.
With few words exchanged, the two of them created soul ties. Not the ties of lovers, but of lifelong friends. The type one dies for. The rare type of friendship that most people never form in their entire life. It was rich. It was wholesome. Jimmy felt as if his life was complete. The one thing he always desired truly fulfilled.
Jack grabbed the smaller boy’s hand and guided him towards the tree.
Jimmy, not wanting to get anywhere near that monstrosity, tried to pull back.
“Don’t worry. The tree is a good place. It will take us to a new land filled with boys and girls just like you and I. No David’s or bullies like him,” said a smiling Jack.
“How did you know about David? You’ve been missing all this time,” said a concerned looking Jimmy.
“Jimmy, I hear whispers. My friends tell me things. They will tell you secrets too. If you want to be friends with me, that is.” The bigger boy looked down at his ragged shoes. He looked so pitiful and Jimmy was so starved for companionship, how could he not follow the boy.
Jack led the two of them to the scarred trunk of the tree. Here he let go of Jimmy’s hand, telling the boy, “Do exactly what I do.”
Jimmy’s fear bottled up deep in his guts. He felt as if he was going to explode. The tree was sinister and twisted. Evil through and through. Yet, the little boy had never had a friend. He was not willing to throw that away so easily.
Jack walked to the lowest hanging branch. He reached up and grabbed one of the dangling nooses. He wrapped it around his neck and looked at Jimmy. “Don’t worry, no pain is felt. The hanging tree is magic. You’ll close your eyes on this world, and wake up in a better place with me and all of my friends,” said a smiling Jack.
“Ja-Jack, I don’t think I can do this. It seems dangerous. I need to go back home soon. My mom will be waiting for me,” said a terrified Jimmy.
A heartbroken Jack looked at the smaller boy and said, “Jimmy, I can’t believe you would lie to me. Your mom isn’t home and she wouldn’t even notice that you are missing. Come with me. I am the only one who cares for you.”
Tears streaming down the smaller boy’s face, he responded, “Please don’t make me do it! This place frightens me. Can’t you just come home with me?”
“No! This world despises people like you and me. We weren’t made for it. We were made for the hanging tree. This is where you belong,” snarled the bigger boy.
Jimmy, eyes still running, reached with trembling hands for the dangling noose. He seized it. With one final glance at his friend, the little boy placed the loop around his neck. Immediately the noose drew tight. It felt as if the tree was hauling him up by it. The boy kicked and squirmed. Trying to shout for help, but his airflow was cut off. He managed to make a choking noise, then with one final twitch all was still. Still as the glassy surface of a lake on a spring day.
Little Jimmy Hanson had finally made a friend.
The two boys remained dangling together, gently swaying in the stale autumn breeze.

My girlfriend (F30) and I (F25) have been together for 4 years. We live 2 hours away from each other. She has meet a lot of my family due to them living in the same state as us, but I have yet to meet her family because they live in Texas. Though we haven't met, I do talk to her mom on FaceTime whenever my girlfriend talks to her so it's not like we have a bad relationship. My girlfriend and I have made attempts to go to Texas to see her but life always came in the way. And though my girlfriend has gone there to see her mom, it usually during the times her mom is going through something or a funeral and she doesn't want me to meet them during situations like that. I did try to meet her mom recently when I was staying over my girlfriends place because she is a truck driver and just happened to be driving through the state, but her mom expressed that she was tired and looked a mess so we didn't get the chance to meet. It was disappointing, however, she did say that she was planning on coming down on mothers day along with my girlfriends brother and his kids.
My mom usually likes taking trips during mothers day weekend and we usually celebrate it as a family the weekend after, so I told my girlfriends mom that we can see each other then. I told my mom about my plans to ensure she didn't feel any type of way about it too which she didn't). My girlfriends family was suppose to stay Friday to Monday morning and she asked if I could come that Saturday night because they were planning on going to see her grandfather 4 hours away. I have to take a bus in order to see her, so once she told me their plans, I booked my ticket the same day. For the past 2 months, my girlfriend has been working overtime in order to help prepare for their arrival and I tried my best to assist with that by buying things for her apartment.
Monday, the week they were coming down, my mom informed me that she was diagnosed with lupus. My mom almost passed away 4 years ago from a blood clot and ever since then, her health has kind of been all over the place. However, for 1 year, it did seem like everything was starting to become under control. So to hear she had lupus, did make me emotional. My mom told me that she was still okay with me meeting my girlfriends mom because she was still going to continue with her own plans. I informed my girlfriend about my mom's diagnosis and she was empathetic about the whole situation.
Fast forward to the day I was preparing to leave, I spoke to my girlfriend that morning and we expressed how excited we were for the overdue introduction in person. When I was in the middle of getting ready, my mom decided to have a conversation with me about mothers day. She expressed that she actually does want my sister and I to spend mothers day together with her because her health is starting to scare her and she doesn't know what will happen in the future. I don't see my mother crying often so to hear her breaking down, hurt me. I never want my mom to feel that she isn't supported so I decided I was going to spend mothers day with her. I called my girlfriend soon after and informed her what was going on. Her happy attitude soon turned to an annoyed one and said "I knew you weren't going to come." I asked her if she was upset and she said no and she loved me then got off the phone with me quickly saying she'll call me back. I texted her expressing how sorry I am and explained to her that it didn't feel right to just meet her mom after my mom broke down to me and up until now, I always had the intention of coming and would love to try and make a trip to her if we can. Though I won't be there in person, I told her that I would love to still speak to them through FaceTime. She told me " they're good, enjoy your family, love you."
I thought maybe things were okay but it feels like she is distant towards me. Whether she's busy with family or friends, she always makes time to at least text me and always calls me at night. The only times she doesn't is when she's upset. She did call me on mothers day that morning, but she asked if she could put my mom on the phone to say happy mothers day and then she hung up immediately after speaking to her. I tried not t jump to conclusions at first and just decided that maybe she'll talk to me after her family leaves cause she could be busy with them but I know they have left now and I still haven't heard anything. She has 2 phones, so even if something happened to her phone, she always makes sure to text me on her other one if something happened. Am I maybe overthinking things or aitah that could have handled things differently? I'm kind of lost on how to go about things and what to do.

Hi all, I had my lap this past Thursday and was prescribed gabapentin for nerve pain following surgery. I have taken one dose of 300mg for the past 4 nights now. I was hesitant to take it in the beginning because I’ve heard about negative side effects, but my surgeon encouraged me to take it at least for the first few days to help with the pain. Fast forward to today, the medication has been making me very dizzy, nauseous, and foggy. Also quite anxious.
My question is.. has anyone else been prescribed this after their lap and how long did you take it for? I looked online and apparently even short-term use can cause withdrawal side effects and I am wondering if I need to taper off of it? I sent a message to my doctor already, but no response, so I thought I’d jump on here to see if anyone has experience with this medication and getting off of it. Thanks in advance!

 This cannot be normal. I’ve been out of the dating scene for a bit (three years) as I’ve been working on myself and my career. Blah blah blah, that being said I have recently entered a phase in my life where I am once again comfortable with, and have started dating. Dinner went really well, she insisted we split the bill, green flag. 

She has a strong career in the same line of work I have recently started building myself into, another green flag. I could go on. She’s cool and I like her.

 Dinner was said and done, we head to a little bar we’re both familiar with for a couple late evening drinks before we call it a night. This is when she drops it. “Can I see your phone?” I should add that we have not once mentioned exclusivity, or have had any conversation remotely insinuating that we’d be exclusive to one another. I said it was strange that she’d feel comfortable enough to ask something like this without any reason to believe that we’d be official. 

She chalked it up to having been cheated on in the past. And while I understand, I still think it’s super weird, am I wrong? Help? lol

i love reading about Big Stupid Romantic Gestures on /actuallesbians, because I like to picture myself in the stories and dream that one day I'll have a more poetic life. But also because they're usually uplifting and wholesome, and I need more of that in my life.
so it's kinda incredible, really, that I've finally got one of my own to tell.
Few nights ago, I get in from work, and, as usual, i'm dead on my feet. She, meanwhile, is already home, because she's got a normal schedule for normal people. and as soon as I walk in the door, she jumps up off the couch and takes my hand and says I need to follow her. So I drop my bag and my keys, and - feeling a little panicked - follow her out of my apartment, into the hall, and then down the hall to the stairs at the end (nobody uses the stairs, where the hell are we going?)
we start climbing the stairs. all the way to the top. Up there, behind a bunch of maintenance shit, is a locked door leading out onto the roof (well, one of two roofs, actually). But it's always locked, and always alarmed, so we've never had a chance to use it. Except for this time, because the building manager is there and he's holding it open, smoking a cigarette and looking down at his phone. And like, we're all friends and everything (I've been living in that place for years) so he just gives me a little nod and a smile, and then goes back to tapping away on his fruit combo or whatever. Sliding past him, we go out onto the roof - which is not a safe roof, by the way - and it's cool and breezy and dark; and in the corner, up against some AC duct, there's a wireless sound bar connected to an ipod nano (that's how old we are), playing something vaguely classical and fancy.
and as soon as i look at her, she puts her arm around my waist and we start slow-dancing in the middle of the roof, like we're at a prom or something. And Lukas (not his real name) slinks away and leaves the door wedged open with a bucket full of cigarette butts, so now it's just the two of us (and the people in the adjacent, much taller building) all-alone on the roof. And I'm completely breathless, so I ask her what the hell is going on. What's the occasion? She says no occasion, just that i should 'look up'. And so I do. But all that's up there is a featureless gray sky, blown out by the orange sodium of our neighborhood. She says there's northern lights up there, if you look hard enough. Which is unbelievable, but I believe her anyway. And so I'm squinting and not really seeing it; there's maybe the faintest hint of green, I'm not really sure. And then, like a pot of spilled ink, my eyes adjust and there's this wash of color. Faint and blurry, gone in a second. But I swear I saw it. And I'm like wowww, completely transfixed; and that's when she kisses me and tells me she loves me (i said it back without hesitation, btw) and we start moving in a circle to something slow and orchestral. All while high up above (I assume, because, if im being honest, I didn't see shit) the night sky was shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
After a while, blue danube comes on, which is one of my favorites, and we start twirling to that instead. and it cannot be overstated how bad we are at dancing, but we kept spinning and tip-tapping across the insanely dirty roof for another, I dunno, forty-five minutes before Lukas came back to wrap it all up. And the whole thing was, without question, the best moment of my entire life. No ulterior motive, no surprise announcement, no 'by the way, I ran over your cat earlier, hope this softens the blow' at the end. Just the distant sound of traffic and the crackle of a 128kbps harpsichord over in the corner. We didn't speak a word. I just lay my head on her shoulder, she brushed my hair a little, and halfway through she touched my butt. Chef's kiss perfection, the whole thing.
anyway, that's it. I dunno if anyone cares. but i had to write it down somewhere, just to get it outta my head. also, i think she paid lukas to let us up there, ill ask him when i see him. oh, and in the future, i will completely embellish this story to have us dancing a step-perfect waltz to a crystal-clear aurora in the shape of our faces. but for now, it was just a clumsy night in the city. and i liked it. she's the best.

As the angel fell to her knees the War Mistress held her maul up smirking as the ruins' powers filled the very air of the Vengeful Spirit.”Not standing so proud now are you sister” Horus spoke while laughter filled the air from Moonbeam’s madness. ”Why Horus, Why turn your back on humanity, your family?”Sanguinia coughed out what she assumed to be her final words. “I will save humanity from mother's goal of becoming a god"Horus barked as she swung down as Moonbeam doubled over with hysterical laughter filled by claws of chaos warping their mind. As Sanguinia flinched as she braced for the killing blow.A large clang radiated out silencing the whole room.Every demon, every custodian, and the Empress herself looked on in shock as Dove parried the maul with but a human's determination. Doves' right arm went limp from her arm breaking from the impact.”You are not going to kill my angel you mutt”Dove shouted. Sanguinia looked on with tears flowing from eyes.Black blood pooled out of Doves arm mixing with hers. “Pitiful”Horus remarked before swinging her war hammer again only to cleave Doves left arm clean off. “Please Dove run” as Sanguinia Wept looking at her love being torn apart. “Never, I will stand as I always have tell the bitter end, I love San-”Dove spoke as she began to speak until Horus utterly finished with this announce swang one last time reducing Dove into a buddy pulp. As Dove's final words rang in Sanguinia's ears the blood of her love pooling black as the space the night sky that she had promised to be wed under.Something broke in the angel, all of the blood on the ground swept towards her.The black blood oozing over her once white wings.her armor once perfectly covered in gold now dripped a waterfall of blood. With sickening cracks and snaps the Angel stood, never taking her eyes off of Dove's body. Hours to a step back away from Sanguinia”How are standing?” Sanguinia's eyes snapped up to meet Hours’ eyes.Were once a bastion of kindness and comftha.Now lacked anything but mindless rage. Hours fearing for her life ready for another swing but before her mind could pensive Sanguinia with one flap of her wings and one stab from Dove's sword punctured through her armor and cut downward. Hours fell with not but a word as Sanguinia belted out “Dove” over and over again. Moonbeam sat motionless on the floor and stared at Hours' body.As the Empress stepped closer Moonbeam let out a massive physic scream that shunted everyone but themselves and Horus and the legion that still lived far away from Tera.

The following days were filled with work.The Empress was stuck on holy Tera forced to remain on the golden throne to stop any demons from entering Tera once again. Sanguinia barely spoke standing vigil, unmoving, muttering Dove's name as she stood in front of their beloved grave. The grave read ‘Here lies Dove, Sanguinia, only love and beloved parent of the blood angels.’ Moonbeam cradled Horus’ head.Even with all the thoughts that plagued their mind they knew, if anyone was going to avenge their love it was going to be them and them alone.

My bf [26M] broke up with me [23F] a month ago after being together for over 3 years. He continues to say that we're broken up but that he's not sure he wants to stay broken up. I find that to be unfair to me because I feel like I'm being strung along. He says he just needs time to think and that as much as he wants and loves me he's not sure we are for one another. He still wants to cuddle and he still calls me his babe but without the title that being in a relationship brings. I have a lot of resentment building because why should I wait for him if he's trying to imagine a life without me? He hasn't told a single member of his family but he's told his best friend and a female friend who imo has no business knowing that. He says he doesn't want his family to know unless the breakup becomes final. It's really confusing to me and I don't understand. I've started to distance myself from him emotionally and moved to our spare bedroom- he didn't like that. He says he wants me to stay put and keep sleeping next to him but I don't feel comfortable next to him anymore- not unless he chooses me. Even then idk if I can look past how much this has hurt me. I reached out to the man who took my virginity in 2019 (we'll call him Joe) and we've been talking for about 2 days. He is not a love interest due to the fact that we're not compatible emotionally and he doesn't want a partner or family in the future- it's completely sexual. I find myself fantasizing about him because well...he did really well at pleasuring me and my bf is currently my ex so I felt like it was probably OK. Then I woke up this morning after texting Joe practically all night and felt an intense amount of guilt. I know it's not technically cheating but I feel like I'm not who I thought I was. I also know even if my ex were to finalize the breakup before I told him about it that it would still hurt him a lot so I can't even imagine how he'd feel if he wanted to get back together. Also another detail is that I myself pushed to finalize our breakup several days ago due to the weight of uncertainty really dragging me down. We got into a fight because I was opening up about how much the uncertainty was affecting me and that I feel dragged along and like he's avoiding commitment and he fell asleep. I was tearing up and opening up and he fell asleep lol. I got up and was like "idk what it is about my distress that is so damn calming that it puts you right to sleep." I will admit I got emotional and started to go off and after a couple minutes of arguing he said "You know what, this isn't going to work" and I responded with "Thank you for finally giving me an answer" and then told him that it was okay and that I don't want us to be on bad terms despite our relationship being over. I hugged him and began moving my things to the spare bedroom and he started crying and saying "Wait no I'm sorry, give me more time please. I love you". I just hugged him and told him that I love him too. If you are a man PLEASE tell me what you think of this and also tell me if I'm a cheater. Don't hold back- if I'm for the streets I probably deserve it. Girls opinions are totally welcome and wanted too!!

My boyfriend (S, 35 male) and I (30 female) have been dating for a year and a half, and living together for 7 months. I have been considering breaking up with him following a few conflicts over the past months. When I brought this up to him, he apologized profusely for his attitude and promised he would start seeing a therapist and would never hurt me again. Is it reasonable to give him another chance? Am I overreacting? Am I overly sensitive?
Just to for a bit of context: I am neurodivergent and have some difficulty reading between the lines. I did ask my therapist what to do… but she doesn’t give me plain answers and wants me to come to realizations by myself… Also english is a third language for me, sorry for any mistakes.
So here are the conflicts I mentioned above: 1– A few weeks ago, S invited his parents and 3 brothers, as well as my sister, to our place for dinner. After a nice meal, we all sat down to watch TV. As the evening progressed, his brothers and my sister left one by one, but his parents did not budge. I eventually realized that they were going to spend the night. No one informed me of this, nor did they ask me if I had plans or if I agreed to it. I dont’t know if this changes anything, but this is my house, and my boyfriend lives in, rent-free, as I have a higher paying job. When we went to sleep, I told S that, in the future, when his parents decided to stay over, I wanted to be told in advance. He got defensive, raised his voice and said that he felt that I was telling him to ask for my permission to invite his parents. That I didn’t want to see them. That, in his culture, family doesn’t ask. That he didn’t know they would sleep over, etc. I slept on the couch that night. The next morning, I tried to deescalate the situation. I explained to him that I did not want him to ask for permission. That this was his home too and he could invite whoever he wanted, but that I preferred to know in advance. He said not to worry, because his parents would probably never want to come over again as he felt that I was cold to them and ignored them all night by being on my phone on the couch (which is true, I was upset). However, his parents never told him this… and did come back. I asked why he would say such a thing if they never mentioned it. He explained that he knew his parents by heart and knew that they would react this way. I then accused him of emotionally manipulating and gaslighting me. He thought about this for a few hours, then agreed that he did gaslight me, albeit unknowingly, because our fight brought back insecurities from a previous relationship. I forgave him and we moved on. He promised he’d see a therapist and would never hurt me this way again.
2–S borrowed a few thousand dollars for a failing family business owned by his brothers. As 6 weeks passed by and no one mentioned reimbursing me, I proposed that each of the brothers pay me 100$ a month until the debt was paid off. He agreed and fought with his brothers multiple times, but they would repeatedly say they have no money at the time, or change the subject. In the end, S took it upon himself to pay their debt, and does so by sending me 500$ every month. Following this, S’s work computer broke, and a new one would cost between 4 and 5K. He asked if I could help out, and this made me panic, as I wondered if he was using me, which I expressed to him. He comforted me in the moment, but a few hours later, he told me that he decided to get a loan from the bank to be able to pay his family’s debt as soon as possible, so that I don’t feel used. He seemed mad and raised his voice, but he denied being angry at me. “I am only angry at myself for putting myself in a situation to be told that I use someone.” I felt bad and apologized multiple times and the conflict deescalated. We ended up making up.
3– We went to visit my family for a week. He was a bit sick and did not socialize much. He spent most of his time on his phone, in my childhood room. My mom was worried about him. My sister tried to include him into activities with little success and later told me that he was participating in family conversations only in my presence, but that as soon as I stepped out of the room, he’d pick up his phone and ignore everyone else. I did not say anything to him, as I knew he was not feeling well. However, one evening, I had planned to see some childhood friends. And my mom asked S to have dinner with the family, but he refused, and went on a car ride and to McDonalds instead. Mom proposed different food options, worried that he didn’t like the food, but he refused. This made me very angry, but I did not want to seem accusatory, so I decided to let it go for the moment, until I was calmer and had found the right words to bring this up respectfully. He drove me to meet my friends later on, and blew up in the car, yelling that he felt I was cold and that he knew I was mad and that he knew I was about to explode but couldn’t handle the wait anymore. I cried and told him that I just needed some time to deal with my feelings and I had the right not to talk to him about everything that bothered me. He yelled at me the next day as well, saying that he was “worried he would get tired of my attitude”. I later asked my sister if I seemed cold towards S to her, and she said no. S and I later talked about all this, and he apologized profusely and said that he was tired and sick and worried.
4–He asked that I do not talk to my therapist about him because he doesn’t want people talking about him and knowing his business. We had an argument about it. I told him that this felt controlling and he recognized this and apologized dozens of times, explaining that he did not know about confidentiality, and that he overreacted because this brought back past trauma. He doesn’t mind my therapist anymore.
And other such little arguments where he reacts because of past trauma. Aside from these arguments, he is the sweetest man. Makes pancakes every morning. Massage twice a week. Kind. Very loving. Very generous. Sacrifices his own wellbeing for those he loves. Wears his heart on his sleeve. He left his better paying job to spend more time with me. We do a lot of activities together. Cleans. Cooks. Listens to me. Supports me. We have similar life goals. Drives 30 minutes into town if I want ice cream. Makes my lunchbox every morning. I really love the man. Plus, he’s sooooo good looking.
I was ready to leave him after the last argument (the yelling while at my parents’)… and I told him about it. He accepted the possibility of a break up, saying he only wants to know I am happy. But he asked for one last chance. I told him that I felt as if I couldn’t speak to him because of his reactions and that it felt somewhat abusive. He said that I was right and he understood that his reactions are not healthy and that he has to deal with his trauma. And he gave me examples where he thought he could’ve acted better, which showed that he really understood where the manipulation/overreaction occurred. He promised he’d never get upset at me again for no reason and things have been perfect for the past 2 weeks.
Even when I bring up something that upsets me, he listens and adresses the issue calmly and kindly.
Yet, I feel that I have trouble forgiving all the fights we’ve had where I felt muted. I don’t know if these are such grave offenses of if I’m just being overly sensitive. I tend to be very naive and I’ve been burned badly in the past, so now… am I being overly cautious. Are these incidents really so bad if he understands what he’s done?

he told me we’d get married, have kids together and that he’d never give up on us.
he seemed like he was obsessed for awhile, but after some mistakes made by both of us, things started to get heated and rocky.
i became obsessive over one of his mistakes and was struggling to deal with it healthily and had outbursts where i’d lash out at him and start shit from nothing due to my own insecurity. it had barely been a month, but i was trying to get over things popping up from the past one after another, and struggled to fix how i lashed out crying and screaming (which would escalate from calm arguments where i felt he would undermine why i was upset and i’d lash out). i also isolated myself because he didn’t like me hanging around anyone else other than maybe his friend group’s girlfriends, which made me more dependent on him and crash out when we were on bad terms or i felt he wasn’t as interested/invested in me.
he broke up with me and told me although he understood why i reacted the way i did, he didn’t want to continue this relationship because it was toxic and it wasn’t what he thought he wanted. he said he wants no contact and that he’d mail my stuff to me because he didn’t want to see me in person, even though i offered to come get my stuff 2 weeks later. he was persistent he didn’t want to see me because it would make it more difficult for him and he didn’t want to “fold”. i asked if he wanted to be friends in the future and he said he didn’t know and asked me to stop contacting him (i had trouble the first two days because it was abrupt and i rarely hung out with anyone but him, so i was heavily dependent). i feel like he’s surrounded with friends that are “for the boys” that are egging him on to break up and he completely changed in a night- from being calm and nice to me to cold and blunt showing no empathy. i haven’t been able to talk to him alone in person or on the phone where he’s been calm and not irritated with me. i understand he was angry and upset but he showed no compassion when i was crying on the phone asking him to stay on the line with me longer and to stop being so cold and harsh, it obviously got him angrier and it pushed me to stay no contact for a few days now. i’m wondering what is going to happen next.
I know that no one can predict what he does or think, but some advice and genuine opinions would really help right now. I’m really struggling and hurting but I’m coming to accept it.
Will he ever reach out again? How do I get him out of my head?
TL;DR : He seemed to be as obsessed as I was with him, ran into rocky period and decided I was becoming toxic after struggling to cope with some things that got brought up from the past, he didn’t feel like I’d change and left. Would he ever reach out again? Could we become friends sometime in the future?

Alright I've played around 30 runs and about 15-16 hours of the game. And I figured I'd give my thoughts so far.
Firstly I love the game, it has a lot of charm and a lot of content which is good for a 30 dollar game.
I love the character's the combat can be fun especially with the right builds, and I believe Supergiant has done a LOT to help cutdown on RNG bullshit fucking you over like very few good boons with the new system where Gods trinkets can enhance their rarirty once a night.
However A few things have bugged me. And these are personal things and likely Skill issues but still. (note: No matter how big of an issue I seem to make these. These really are just little niggles. And I do love this game. I'm just inherently a more negative person who is better at explaining what they dislike vs what they like.) 1. The surface seems brutally difficult vs the underpath. And Like Very specifically polythemus has fucked me so many times. Then again Polythemus and Cerberus both have attacks that just mess with me. Their shockwaves are attacks I'm bad at dodging and even when I think I dodge them I still end up being clipped and taking 20+ damage. Which While not as big a deal in the 3rd major area in the underground because you can find a bunch of health then... IS a big deal in the first area of the surface. and has ended in me Losing ALL THREE death defiances before i even get to the ships.
(If anyone wants to give tips by all means.)

1. the weapon's that aren't the staff and Sickle and knife, All feel slow in a not fun way. Well the ax is forgivable, but the Skull just feels like a way worst adamant rail, and the two fire staffs just feel like both options are super slow unless your casting, which mandates regenerating mana, but You either gotta get lucky with chaos, (Which you can't even gaurentee a gate anymore sadly.) or suffer a pretty bad downside from one of the gods.

Also The dash also feel's slow and I'm not sure if there's a double dash like in hades 1 but I wish there was if not. Because most the time I die in this game is when I missjudge a dash vs my enemies. (See above.)
And quite a few of chrono's moves feel ODD and poorly explained. especially in stage 2 where he just... nukes you. And while there are apparently mechanics to avoid it. I'd have never known that without looking it up. (Note; if there's dialog where Hecate or someoen gives you a hint, I'll retract this.)

So, for most of this season I have been a proponent of a Mixed Lethality build, because a full lethality build just leaves you too vulnerable. This is when you alternate between buying bruiser items and lethality items. For example: Shojin -> Grudge -> Edge of Night -> Steraks -> Guardians Angel. This way, you have a nice mix of damage and survivability.
However, as time has passed, I've slowly realised that buying lethality kinda sucks on Yorick in the Jungle. While top is all about applying as much pressure as possible in the side lanes, which lethalilty complements well, Jungle is all about winning teamfights, and to do that you need as much survivability as possible, which lethality does not provide. Therefore, we have to do what all Yorick players dread, using a Bruiser build.
1st Item: Stridebreaker Stridebreaker is fantastic. It's active is just amazing with this build, as it allows you to play very aggressive, slowing down enemies that would normally escape, or escape dangerous situations. And, unlike all other tiamat items, you can cast it while moving, and it works with Approach Velocity. Plus. 450 health makes you quite tanky, and the cleave and attack speed is nice. Its only downside is no Ability Haste.
Boots: Steelcaps or Merc Treads I normally buy boots straight after 1st, so I am a little bit more tanky.
2nd Item: Black Cleaver You go cleaver because you WILL need anti-tank in every game. If someone builds a tank item, and you don't have cleaver, your damage will plummet. Plus, its stats are quite nice, with a health 400 hp and 55 ad. If your facing a tank Jungler, going cleaver 1st and Stridebreaker 2nd can often be a good idea.
3rd Item: Steraks Gage I think Steraks is, hands down, Yoricks best item. First, its an amazing defensive item, having the best shield out of all the lifeline items. If you buy it third with this build, your looking at a 1100+ HP shield. Second, the AD it provides is based on base AD, and since Yorick's base AD at level 18 is the 5th highest in the entire game, it gives you a whopping 74 AD. So, not only is this Yoricks best defensive item, it also gives him the most AD out of any item. Plus, 20% tenacity is nice.
4th Item: Spear of Shojin This is the one I'm not too sure about. Shojin is always a good option, but I'm not sure if it is the best. If you reallllly wanted to go lethality, then I would switch this out with Edge of Night.
5th Item: Jak'Sho At this point, you don't really need more damage, so getting a tank item is what I would recommend. You have a 1.6k shield with Steraks and you have 50 Armor and Magic Resist, how is the enemy ever going to kill you?
6th Item: Guardians Angel You can grab whatever you want here, but I personally like Guardians.
Runes: Phase Rush - By far his best run in the jungle. Conq can work, but phase rush is better. Nullifying Orb / Nimbus Cloak Transcendence (You need this because you get no Ability Haste from Stridebreaker) Waterwalking
Approach Velocity - Yorick's best rune, always run it Magical Footwear
Rune Shards: Attack Speed Attack Damage Scaling Health
Spells Exhaust - You can go ghost or flash if you want, I just really like exhaust.

So I’ve had eye problems for about a month now. I see the static, it doesn’t really have a color it’s just like a flickering effect across my visual field. For the diagnosis of VSS you need 2 of the 4 types of symptoms, for night blindness I can still see in the dark, drive in the night, no problems except in pitch blackness(obviously) so I think that’s fine. For light sensitivity I’ve seen 2 eye doctors and they didn’t notice any and I really don’t have any issues either except in direct sunlight (again pretty normal I think) and I don’t have any symptoms of palinopsa. But I do get floaters continuously from the sky , not a lot just one after another that keep coming, and I do have ghosting on screens and street signs on the dark, and certain objects if I really focus. So do I have VSS? Is this something else? I just don’t know

Im gonna start with a little background context. I had dealt w other friends confessing their feelings for me. The first one, was such a case. We had to deal w each other for like 2 years, and we ended up basically hating each other. It was not only time consuming, but it left me emotionally drained. It was really one of my most messed up years in life. But this post aint about him.
While i was going through that, i got to meet Kay. He became a huge part of my life. He became the friend i desperately needed at that point. He helped me out with all the emotional whiplash i was going through, and he was there til the end. In 2022, i had discovered that another friend(from the same friend group) had also caught feelings for me, but i didn't want to go through something similar, so i immediately distanced myself from the group. Kay remained as my friend, with a couple others from the group i really got along with. Nothing was out of the ordinary ever since i left, which was around february 2022.
For the next 4 months my friendship with the rest of the group and Kay was awesome. I was about to graduate highscool, and i couldn't be any happier. But, i was going to move from states, so i wanted to see all my friends before i left.
Almost literally the last day i was in the state, i had dinner with Kay and another friend. I had driven Kay to his house, and while we were in front of it he started going off on how much he was gonna miss me n stuff. Im not really a person fit for emotional stuff, Kay was the complete opposite, and is he goes on he gets to the point to tell me he's had feelings for me for a while. What a shocker right. He then hugged me and said i really didn't have to say anything since he knew all about what i went through, and that he was gonna take advantage of the distance there was gonna be since i was leaving. I couldn't really say anything, i think i basically didn't say anything and left. I only remember crying on my way home.
We had agreed on still being friends but since we almost talked every single day, well that wasn't gonna be it anymore. I was completely fine w it, i don't tend to attach myself so much to people, so creating distance was an easy task for me. So from around june and all the way to october, guess what, it was a mess. Kay had putten me in such a special spot in his heart, that the change of dynamic wasn't something he wanted, but he also didn't want me to be so close due to his feelings. I tried my BEST to put up w his demands. During those months our friendship was basically like him playing with a yo-yo. He pushed me away, and then begged for my attention, over and over and over again.
Up until November i was exhausted with not understanding Kay. We had talked a lot of times to see what was gonna be of our friendship, but everytime he said he wasn't sure, he didn't know what he wanted, and stuff like that. He never took a real decision. I was so tired of figuring out what he wanted of me so we wouldn't have such an uncomfortable friendship, but at that point it just seemed better to cut it off there. I talked to him mid novemeber, pushing towards the end, and told him that this dynamic we had wasn't working at all. I reassured him that i still wanted to be his friend, and that i still cared for him a lot. But that things just weren't working at that point. He agreed to the fact that he never made a decision, and he was sad that it came to that point. I had told him that whenever he considered he felt better, that i would gladly be his friend again. And that was it.
December and january passed, and until February i start hearing of him again, not from him though. Basically i found out that he started telling such an alternate story to every single one of my friends in my past friendgroup. To some he told that i completely ignored him ever since he confessed, and to others he told them i would never leave him alone. I didn't care about whatever he told to people, if thats what made him feel better, fine by me. But things started to get worse.
I got along pretty well with Kay's bestfriend, and we would chat from time to time after Kay and I "weren't friends anymore". Kay found out abt this and started treating his bsf like a cheating boyfriend. Demanding him not to talk to me n stuff. I didn't play much in that, and Kay's bsf is gay so i don't think it was out of jealousy or something. He then started asking to his personal friend group to never ever reach out to me, or even dare to follow me on social medias n stuff. I knew about this friendgroup of his because at some point in our friendship he kinda begged me to be a part of it, but i wasn't really interested to become part of a group where i only knew 2 people out of like 12. So i also didn't care about him telling them that, but his bsf and i REALLY got along so it was bothering to see my friend (lets call Kay's best friend Bart lol) struggling so much to keep up with Kay's tantrums.
At some point Kay accepted the fact that Bart and i would still be friends no matter what. Kay would never really explained why he didnt want Bart to talk to me, so it was just dropped off.
Also this was through messages, groupchats and discord calls. Funny right?
On summer 2023 i went back to my state to visit my friends and family. I got to hangout a lot with Bart too since we lived like 5 minutes from each other. One night that we hung out, we decided to make some pastries. We really f*cked up so bad, like horrendous, it was actual nightmare fuel. Bart was driving me crazy cuz he only repeated like 2 tiktok audios for an hour straight, until he suddenly told me if i wanted to hang out with his friend group (that one friendgroup Kay belonged to w like 12 people in total). I knew that they weren't supposed to even follow me on social media, so i told him if they were ok w me being there. He told me that sure yeah it was fine that they didn't care that much. At first i was hesitant, but i just wanted to get out of the place we were at so i agreed.
That hangout was nothing special to be honest, it was awkward as hell hahaha. But, the day after they asked me to hangout again. And then it happened again, and again. I basically hung out w them, or at least a part of them, like twice a week throughout summer break. And to all of this, Kay was never aware of this.
Not until the LAST day of summer, straight up the last day i was there, literal hours before i left he found out. All due thx to the fact that one of his friends and I added each other on discord or twitter (idk from which platform he found out)
That basically caused a huge mess within his friendgroup, and it came down to Bart and Kay never speaking again, and also the friend who added me on discord.
I was never really blamed by anyone at that point, but i felt guilty since i knew that his friends weren't supposed to talk to me.
So, AITA?

Hey all. Been having regular pains in my lower left abdomen area for about a month and a half now and not entirely sure why. I've been browsing the forums of various gut diseases on reddit, and figured I'd post on one to see what you all think.
32M, 6'0', 185 pounds. Non-smoker, casual drinker. Run 1-3 times a week. No regular medications or big surgeries in my past. I drink at least 3-4L water a day.
Other symptoms include:
-lots of gas, mostly burping but a little more farting too
-occasional sharp pains higher up on my left side at the chest area, but not as frequent as the abdomen pains
-Pain flares up more often when I'm sitting down, or lying on my right side in bed. Have resorted to lying flat on my belly in order to not experience pain in bed at night.
-unclear how much diet affects it. I had quite a few beers on Saturday and was in more intense pain throughout the night. However, I've had soda and 2-3 beers at one time before and it didn't seem to affect my pain.
I do have one theory as to what happened. Around the same time these symptoms started, I had started using Crest whitening strips on my teeth for about 30 minutes a day. I suspect I was accidentally swallowing a ton of the bleach in those things, since I produce a lot of saliva. I used them for about 3-4 days before I realized there might be a connection and I haven't used them since. However, the symptoms continued.
Went to a primary care doctor, who was doubtful of the strips being the cause. He pressed on my stomach but I felt no pain there. Blood work says liver, kidney, and thyroid are all clear. Doctor suggested it might be diverticulosis based on my description of my symptoms.
Also strange, but good, is my urine and stool samples are unaffected. I'm having no problems there. I do have quite an active bladder and have to go to the bathroom quite a bit, but that's been going on for years. The lack of any other symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, etc., makes me think it's not an actual condition and just trapped gas.
Any ideas or next steps? Could the strips really do that much damage to my insides, or am I crazy?
I understand changing my diet may solve these issues, but I'd like to confirm that I have to do that and see if there are medications I can take to even avoid doing that. What's really strange is how sudden these symptoms came on, which makes me think the strips are part of the problem, but maybe my gut just finally said enough's enough.
I have a follow-up with my primary care doctor in a few days.

A short Zuihitsu poem I strung together for the monthly prompt, "New and Old".
Morning. Monday. The sun peeks between the cracks of my window blinds, spilling out onto my floor. He’s tentative – he’d rather not wake me too strenuously, but I have to get out of bed.
A boy wanders under a freeway – aimless, he is – with his little brown eyes surveying the rubbled ground. It’s dark and noisy and clammy down here, but a flash of silver jumps out to grab ahold of his flashlight and yank him its way.
I haven’t forgotten anything, have I? Keys, coat, wallet; I’m always on a time crunch even when I’m not.
Drive to work: upbeat, perfervid, vivacious.
The fork the boy picks up is antique, ancient, like it’d been dumped straight out of a tear in time into the wrong era. It tries to speak to him and tell him all about its endeavors, but the rust coating it muffles its voice.
I’m wearing a new suit today; I bought it a little while back, although the saleswoman was sure I couldn’t afford it. Well, I proved her wrong – and as I traipse into the office with as much vigor as I can muster, I wonder if any of my colleagues will comment on it.
My old suit was tiresome and down-at-the-heels. It pioneered for a great while and served its purpose grand and supplemental – I rescued a dog in it, I was promoted in it, I tore a hole in it.
“I mean, it’s corroded–
No one has a lick to say to me about my new suit, but I linger patiently for it anyway – an offhanded quip or a, “hey, nice suit”. I spend the day waiting for something that doesn’t want to arrive.
Had to get that hole stitched up, by the way. It was a whole lot of trouble. I’d hired this old babushka to do it, but she wouldn’t stop giving me dirty looks, as if I did something to offend her. Maybe I looked at one of her thousand cats the wrong way, or pushed open the door to her abode too loudly.
The boy carries his fork all the way home like a lost kitten. He steals – borrows, more accurately – his parent’s tools so he can polish it up all mutton-fisted. For hours upon end, he scrapes away at the rust, fleck by fleck, until the fork's voice isn’t so stifled.
Drive to home: dreary, tedious, toilworn.
–and what’s so great about a used-up fork, anyway? You might as well throw it away and buy a new one, you know? I wouldn’t go through all that trouble.”
As soon as I’m home, I take off my new suit. I place it in the wash. Run a cycle; squeaky clean. I crawl into bed.
His parents remark about the fork that night when the boy uses it to eat dinner. He should sell it off at a pawnshop, they’d simultaneously said; he’ll fetch a good price for it. He argues otherwise. It’s pretty and besides, finders, keepers!
Anyway, I ended up throwing out that old suit. I grew weary and bored of it.
Morning. Tuesday. The sun bulldozes through the cracks of my window blinds, pouring out onto my floor. He’s unabashed – he wants me to know loud and clear I have to get out of bed and wear my suit again.

he told me we’d get married, have kids together and that he’d never give up on us.
he seemed like he was obsessed for awhile, but after some mistakes made by both of us, things started to get heated and rocky.
i became obsessive over one of his mistakes and was struggling to deal with it healthily and had outbursts where i’d lash out at him and start shit from nothing due to my own insecurity. it had barely been a month, but i was trying to get over things popping up from the past one after another, and struggled to fix how i lashed out crying and screaming (which would escalate from calm arguments where i felt he would undermine why i was upset and i’d lash out). i also isolated myself because he didn’t like me hanging around anyone else other than maybe his friend group’s girlfriends, which made me more dependent on him and crash out when we were on bad terms or i felt he wasn’t as interested/invested in me.
he broke up with me and told me although he understood why i reacted the way i did, he didn’t want to continue this relationship because it was toxic and it wasn’t what he thought he wanted. he said he wants no contact and that he’d mail my stuff to me because he didn’t want to see me in person, even though i offered to come get my stuff 2 weeks later. he was persistent he didn’t want to see me because it would make it more difficult for him and he didn’t want to “fold”. i asked if he wanted to be friends in the future and he said he didn’t know and asked me to stop contacting him (i had trouble the first two days because it was abrupt and i rarely hung out with anyone but him, so i was heavily dependent). i feel like he’s surrounded with friends that are “for the boys” that are egging him on to break up and he completely changed in a night- from being calm and nice to me to cold and blunt showing no empathy. i haven’t been able to talk to him alone in person or on the phone where he’s been calm and not irritated with me. i understand he was angry and upset but he showed no compassion when i was crying on the phone asking him to stay on the line with me longer and to stop being so cold and harsh, it obviously got him angrier and it pushed me to stay no contact for a few days now. i’m wondering what is going to happen next.
I know that no one can predict what he does or think, but some advice and genuine opinions would really help right now. I’m really struggling and hurting but I’m coming to accept it.
Will he ever reach out again? How do I get him out of my head?
TL;DR : He seemed to be as obsessed as I was with him, ran into rocky period and decided I was becoming toxic after struggling to cope with some things that got brought up from the past, he didn’t feel like I’d change and left. Would he ever reach out again? Could we become friends sometime in the future?