Addressed letters to the consular officer

Title: “Privacy Unraveled”
Characters:

• Alex: A mid-level executive in a prominent company. • Sam: Alex’s colleague and friend. • Jamie: Alex’s boss. • Reporter: A tabloid journalist. • Audience: Represents the general public’s reaction. 

Act 1: The Incident
Scene 1: Alex’s Office
(Alex is working at their desk, Sam enters)
Sam: (worried) Alex, have you seen the news?
Alex: No, what happened?
Sam: (shows phone) This video… It’s everywhere. Someone leaked footage of you in the bathroom.
Alex: (shocked) What? How did this happen?
Sam: I don’t know, but it’s all over social media. People are already making jokes about it.
Alex: (frustrated) This is a nightmare. How am I supposed to face anyone now?
Scene 2: The Boardroom
(Alex and Jamie are seated at the table)
Jamie: Alex, we need to discuss the video. This is serious.
Alex: I know, Jamie. I’m devastated. This was a complete violation of my privacy.
Jamie: (sighs) I understand, but the board is concerned about our company’s image. We need to address this quickly.
Alex: What can I do? This wasn’t my fault.
Jamie: We’ll start with a public statement. We need to show that we’re taking this seriously and that you’re handling it with dignity.
Act 2: The Fallout
Scene 1: The Press Conference
(Alex stands at a podium, facing reporters)
Reporter: Alex, how do you respond to the leaked footage? How will this impact your career?
Alex: (composed) This has been a deeply personal and humiliating experience. My privacy was violated, and I am working with authorities to find the person responsible. I ask for understanding and respect during this difficult time.
Reporter: Do you think this will affect your position at the company?
Alex: I hope not. I am dedicated to my work and committed to moving past this incident.
Scene 2: The Office
(Alex and Sam are talking)
Sam: That was a tough conference. How are you holding up?
Alex: It’s been rough, but I have to keep moving forward. I can’t let this define me.
Sam: People will eventually forget. Just stay strong and keep doing your best.
Alex: Thanks, Sam. Your support means a lot.
Act 3: Moving Forward
Scene 1: The Office (Months Later)
(Alex is at their desk, working. Jamie enters)
Jamie: Alex, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. The board has decided to support you. They admire how you’ve handled this situation.
Alex: (relieved) That’s a huge relief. Thank you, Jamie.
Jamie: Just keep focusing on your work. This will pass.
Scene 2: The Public’s Reaction
(Audience members represent public opinion, murmuring among themselves)
Audience Member 1: I felt bad for Alex. That was such an invasion of privacy.
Audience Member 2: Yeah, it’s not fair to judge them based on that.
Audience Member 3: I respect how they handled it. Shows real character.
Scene 3: Alex’s Home
(Alex sits, reflecting. Sam joins)
Alex: It’s been a tough year, but I’m grateful for the support I’ve received.
Sam: You handled it with grace, Alex. People see that.
Alex: (smiling) Thanks, Sam. Here’s to moving forward.
(Curtain closes)
End of Play

Link to Questionnaire: https://forms.office.com/e/7HRF1MUV9P
We are a small team in Europe who think there has not been any innovation in the digital news space in a long time. We see that there is a need for a better way to make sense of what's going on in the world, and we want to build something that goes beyond simply summarizing news with AI.
We plan to bring a platform to an international audience, so we want to hear from you wherever you are based in the world.
What do you need the news for? How can we minimize misinformation? What are you missing today? We want to help.
Please share any ideas you have and feel free to think outside of the box -- what is the relationship between misinformation, filter bubbles, information overload, and what solutions are missing to help address your specific concerns?
Thank you for your time and feedback.

https://preview.redd.it/2zlt8sb9ji5d1.png?width=777&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd5522d006aaf2e54478e281f187efaad6b6d9f7
Planning to go on a trip about a week to UK with my parents and sibling. Parents and sibling visas are approved. My dad is sponsoring for mom and sibling. I'm applying on my own. My visa application was refused and I want to address the reasons listed first before applying again. What other documents can i add to provide 'strong family, social or economic ties'?
I'm 25, Singapore Permenant Residence and Myanmar National. I've been living in Singapore for more than 10 years now and have studied secondary school, polytechnic and university all here in Singapore. Currently, I'm working at a local company and have been working full time about 3 years~ish. I live with my parents and sibling as they are also Singapore permenant residence as well.
For the visa application, I attached my bank statement, 6 months payslip, Singapore re-entry permit, Singapore Permenant Residence identity card. But since the application was refused, it looks like its not enough evidence that I'm not going to over stay in UK :(
I'm thinking of asking my boss to provide a letter to say that i'm employed at the company and taking annual leave for the trip. I'm also thinking of asking my dad to write a letter saying that he can guarantee that i'm not going to stay in UK past the visa. Should I also add in hotel booking, itinerary for the trip or flight tickets? Hotel is booked but we haven't gotten flight tickets since we aren't sure we will get visa or not.
So, the question is what other documents can i add to provide 'strong family, social or economic ties'? Has anyone been in the same boat as me? Thank u in advance.

Been a few days.....
Yeah, I been gone a few days. Not gone like away anywhere, but off here. Doing some thinking and restructuring my life. Its kind of weird to be honest. I changed so much about myself for her to make her happy. When I really was not paying attention to myself. I am noticing that now. I stepped away from the trying to talk to her, and forcing myself on a situation I honestly can not control. I mean I can't make her love me, I can't make her talk to me, I can't make her come back. I already said everything I needed to say, whether it be text, email, or letter, hell even voice message. Which Honestly made me feel like a fool, and a complete nut job. If she isn't gonna read or respond, I cant make her. So why have I kept sending stuff? I finally figured that out. Made things a little easier too, I mean once that thought came to mind. It made me think hmmm, just maybe she was not the person she pretended to be the last 3 years. Maybe just maybe over. So what do I do. I told her everything, I have been quite alone lately, pretty much punishing myself for something she is doing to me. Shit, I am a damn victim. That's the thought I got now. Time for me to move on, and not like move on move on... But to keep moving forward, without her. Her loss right? She did change me though, I have noticed it when some people have been coming by recently. People I thought were friends, but yet now I have found them to be more offensive than ever. Like super judgmental. Hell, they only came by for me to change their car battery, and yet came off offensive? How is the that doing me any favors? It's not. I have noticed a lot more about myself and others. Being alone really has not been a bad thing. I have reached out to people who I know need help, Offer them a job. One was a job paying 17.50 an hr. They fucking told me it was not enough,,,, ahhhh They are currently jobless, and about to get evicted... (we can see why now) Another person, is jobless, been an office body all their live... Had their car repossessed, and about to get evicted. Offered them a very small job, just coming to clean shop once a week and to do my laundry. Offered a 100.00 bucks for 4 or 5 hrs worth of work... They got mad at me. Then demanded me to take them somewhere.... Is it just me but people don't know how to take help when being offered? I mean I am not rich, I am far from saying I can live comfortable. Yet, they want more? When I am just being nice offering what I can. Starting to see people for the monsters they really are sucks. But I don't plan on being hurt like i have been again. I dont blan on dating, or hooking up I really dont care to even go out anymore. People are just fucking fake. Love does not hurt. If it hurts its not love. Anyways ttyle

I had my f1 visa interview on June 3rd, 2024 in Delhi Consulate. Everything went fine and I was told my visa has been approved after the interview. Now as of June 9th, 2024 the visa status is still stuck at “approved”. People who had interview after me in Delhi consulate have their visa status “issued” now. Apart from me there are 2 more people ik of who are in same condition as me, we all had our interviews on June 3rd in Delhi Consulate itself.
Is this normal? Should I worry? Are their chances of getting refused now?
This is the message I get when checking my status:
The consular officer has approved your application subject to final processing by the consular section that is necessary to issue your visa. When that processing is complete, the status will change to "Issued". However, a final screening step must still be completed prior to issuance that could lead a consular officer to conclude that you are not eligible for a visa. If that occurs, the consular officer will notify you that your application has been denied and your status will change to "Refused".

Community College counselor sexually harassed by student
Hi all. Not sure if this is the best place for this but I’m in need of guidance and wanted to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Apologies in advance for rambling
I am a community college counselor in CA .I specifically work with formerly incarcerated/justice impacted students. Sometimes my students are coming straight from being incarcerated to school. They are dealing with a myriad of issues including addiction, recidivism, homelessness,trouble finding employment ,mental health issues.. the list goes on.
As a young female counselor, I have from time have my students make flirty comments or ask for my number or social media. I find these instances fairly easy to shut down by saying that I am not allowed to share my private contact info with students or any kind of social media. I make sure to emphasize that it would be inappropriate. I had one incident in November that escalated somewhat but nothing compared to what happened a few weeks ago.
I had an appointment with a young man, about 20- this was my first time meeting with him. His energy seemed slightly off( I assumed he may have been high) but I proceeded with the appt. The first red flag was the he pulled up a chair to sit right next to me. My desk is pushed up against the wall and there are chairs to my left side and one behind me. I have a double monitor set up- Usually students sit to my left , and I turn the one monitor towards them so I can show them relevant info/work on their ed plan. That day my second monitor wasn’t displaying so I thought maybe that’s why the student got so close. Throughout the appt he was very fidgety and kept brushing up against my leg and turning my office chair( the spiny kind) towards him. The movement was just slight enough that I stupidly gave him the benefit of the doubt. I also felt “frozen” in the momen. Anyway we wrap up the appt and I ask him if he had any questions or if there was anything else I could help him with. In that moment, he grabs my face with both hands and kisses me. I immediately tell him to get the fuck out of my office and run over to my supervisor.
That day I filed a report with the campus title IX office. Just this week I got a letter of how things will proceed: interview me,him witnesses, a hearing and then a resolution n.
If you’ve made it this far I guess I’m hoping to receive any type of advice from professors, counselors, advisors, administrators etc who have been sexually harassed by students . What did you do? If you also went through title ix, what was the outcome. Did you press charges through the police??
Thanks in advance for any advice. Maybe I’m being dramatic but this has been tough for many reasons

What's Way I Can Watch Zverev vs Alcaraz (live) Free Streams?,..It's time for the 2024 French Open men's final at Roland Garros. This Sunday, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will face Germany's Alexander Zverev on the clay court. The 21-year-old No. 3 seed Alcaraz defeated No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the Semis to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard court, grass and clay. No. 4 seed Zverev defeated an ailing Casper Ruud in his Semis to face Alcaraz tomorrow. Alcaraz vs. Zverev is scheduled for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, June 9. You can find the full order of play at Roland Garros here.
Here: Zverev vs Alcaraz Final (Free)
Live: Zverev vs AlcarazFinal (Free)
Are you ready to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final? Here’s everything you need to know about the last match of Roland Garros, including the full broadcast schedule, where to stream matches for free and more.
How to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final:
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: Not before 8:30 a.m. ET
Location: Roland Garros, Paris, FR
Court: Court Philippe-Chatrier
Round: Final
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV, VPN
When is the French Open final?
No. 3 seed Carlos Alacaraz faces No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev this Sunday in the men's French Open Final.
What time will Alcaraz vs. Zverev start?
The Alcaraz vs. Zverev match will be played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, beginning sometime after 8:30 a.m. ET in the US. You can find the exact order of play at Roland Garros here.
What channel is Alcaraz vs. Zverev on?
You'll need access to NBC or Peacock to tune into the Alcaraz vs. Zverev final match. This Sunday, the US broadcast schedule for the French Open is as follows:
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
No tennis channel? No problem. You could always catch an uninterrupted livestream of the tennis tournament with the help of a VPN — more on that below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev live without cable:
For $5.99/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and Hallmark movie, and movies like Five Nights at Freddy's and Super Mario Bros.
How to stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev free:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t want to have to hop around between NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel all week, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the F1 race this weekend without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
2024 French Open broadcast schedule:
All times Eastern.
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
French Open livestream US
US viewers can tune into NBC's French Open coverage live on NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app if they have a cable or satellite subscription to log in with.

How&Where to Watch Zverev vs Carlos Alcaraz live stream aT ReddiT?,..It's time for the 2024 French Open men's final at Roland Garros. This Sunday, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will face Germany's Alexander Zverev on the clay court. The 21-year-old No. 3 seed Alcaraz defeated No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the Semis to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard court, grass and clay. No. 4 seed Zverev defeated an ailing Casper Ruud in his Semis to face Alcaraz tomorrow. Alcaraz vs. Zverev is scheduled for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, June 9. You can find the full order of play at Roland Garros here.
Here: Zverev vs Alcaraz Final (Free)
Live: Zverev vs AlcarazFinal (Free)
Are you ready to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final? Here’s everything you need to know about the last match of Roland Garros, including the full broadcast schedule, where to stream matches for free and more.
How to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final:
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: Not before 8:30 a.m. ET
Location: Roland Garros, Paris, FR
Court: Court Philippe-Chatrier
Round: Final
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV, VPN
When is the French Open final?
No. 3 seed Carlos Alacaraz faces No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev this Sunday in the men's French Open Final.
What time will Alcaraz vs. Zverev start?
The Alcaraz vs. Zverev match will be played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, beginning sometime after 8:30 a.m. ET in the US. You can find the exact order of play at Roland Garros here.
What channel is Alcaraz vs. Zverev on?
You'll need access to NBC or Peacock to tune into the Alcaraz vs. Zverev final match. This Sunday, the US broadcast schedule for the French Open is as follows:
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
No tennis channel? No problem. You could always catch an uninterrupted livestream of the tennis tournament with the help of a VPN — more on that below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev live without cable:
For $5.99/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and Hallmark movie, and movies like Five Nights at Freddy's and Super Mario Bros.
How to stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev free:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t want to have to hop around between NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel all week, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the F1 race this weekend without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
2024 French Open broadcast schedule:
All times Eastern.
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
French Open livestream US
US viewers can tune into NBC's French Open coverage live on NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app if they have a cable or satellite subscription to log in with.

Hello everyone. I have a small business. No employee. Currently sa subd ang office address (mismong bahay ko) lumipat ako ng bagong house. New process ulit ng business permit para sa change address. Nag request ako sa sec. Ng HOA sa new house ng letter of “No Objection” for brgy clearance and locational clearance. Sabi sakin ng sec, “wow pede ba kami makisali jan sa business mo?” “Okay lang na pakihintay ung letter kasi hindi dito naka stay si pres.” “also, naniningil Kami dito sa hoa ng 500/month for business fee pwera pa sa association dues which is 500/month.After 3 weeks, dun ko lang nakuha ko ung letter.
Nagtaka ako. Kasi sa previous na subd na pinag stay ko ay hindi naman ako siningil ng ganon (business fee). Nag approach ako sa kapitbahay namin na may business din. Yes, Sinisingil din sila ng 500/mo (business fee). Nag increase kasi dati ay 300/mo lang.
To this, may i ask po your opinion? Is it legal po na maningil sila ng ganon? May same experience din po ba kayo nito? Thank you
PS. Minsan ng humingi ng padulas ang pres ng HOA namin nung time na nagpapagawa Kami ng bahay. May position sa government agency

Here's Way to Watch Zverev vs Alcaraz Live Streams Free ON Tv Channel At ReddiT,..It's time for the 2024 French Open men's final at Roland Garros. This Sunday, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will face Germany's Alexander Zverev on the clay court. The 21-year-old No. 3 seed Alcaraz defeated No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the Semis to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard court, grass and clay. No. 4 seed Zverev defeated an ailing Casper Ruud in his Semis to face Alcaraz tomorrow. Alcaraz vs. Zverev is scheduled for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, June 9. You can find the full order of play at Roland Garros here.
Here: Zverev vs Alcaraz Final (Free)
Live: Zverev vs AlcarazFinal (Free)
Are you ready to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final? Here’s everything you need to know about the last match of Roland Garros, including the full broadcast schedule, where to stream matches for free and more.
How to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final:
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: Not before 8:30 a.m. ET
Location: Roland Garros, Paris, FR
Court: Court Philippe-Chatrier
Round: Final
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV, VPN
When is the French Open final?
No. 3 seed Carlos Alacaraz faces No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev this Sunday in the men's French Open Final.
What time will Alcaraz vs. Zverev start?
The Alcaraz vs. Zverev match will be played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, beginning sometime after 8:30 a.m. ET in the US. You can find the exact order of play at Roland Garros here.
What channel is Alcaraz vs. Zverev on?
You'll need access to NBC or Peacock to tune into the Alcaraz vs. Zverev final match. This Sunday, the US broadcast schedule for the French Open is as follows:
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
No tennis channel? No problem. You could always catch an uninterrupted livestream of the tennis tournament with the help of a VPN — more on that below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev live without cable:
For $5.99/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and Hallmark movie, and movies like Five Nights at Freddy's and Super Mario Bros.
How to stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev free:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t want to have to hop around between NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel all week, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the F1 race this weekend without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
2024 French Open broadcast schedule:
All times Eastern.
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
French Open livestream US
US viewers can tune into NBC's French Open coverage live on NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app if they have a cable or satellite subscription to log in with.

How can I find Zverev vs Alcaraz (Live) Streams Options?,.It's time for the 2024 French Open men's final at Roland Garros. This Sunday, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will face Germany's Alexander Zverev on the clay court. The 21-year-old No. 3 seed Alcaraz defeated No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the Semis to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard court, grass and clay. No. 4 seed Zverev defeated an ailing Casper Ruud in his Semis to face Alcaraz tomorrow. Alcaraz vs. Zverev is scheduled for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, June 9. You can find the full order of play at Roland Garros here.
Here: Zverev vs Alcaraz Final (Free)
Live: Zverev vs AlcarazFinal (Free)
Are you ready to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final? Here’s everything you need to know about the last match of Roland Garros, including the full broadcast schedule, where to stream matches for free and more.
How to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final:
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: Not before 8:30 a.m. ET
Location: Roland Garros, Paris, FR
Court: Court Philippe-Chatrier
Round: Final
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV, VPN
When is the French Open final?
No. 3 seed Carlos Alacaraz faces No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev this Sunday in the men's French Open Final.
What time will Alcaraz vs. Zverev start?
The Alcaraz vs. Zverev match will be played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, beginning sometime after 8:30 a.m. ET in the US. You can find the exact order of play at Roland Garros here.
What channel is Alcaraz vs. Zverev on?
You'll need access to NBC or Peacock to tune into the Alcaraz vs. Zverev final match. This Sunday, the US broadcast schedule for the French Open is as follows:
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
No tennis channel? No problem. You could always catch an uninterrupted livestream of the tennis tournament with the help of a VPN — more on that below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev live without cable:
For $5.99/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and Hallmark movie, and movies like Five Nights at Freddy's and Super Mario Bros.
How to stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev free:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t want to have to hop around between NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel all week, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the F1 race this weekend without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
2024 French Open broadcast schedule:
All times Eastern.
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
French Open livestream US
US viewers can tune into NBC's French Open coverage live on NBCSports.com or the NBC Sports app if they have a cable or satellite subscription to log in with.

How to Watch Zverev vs Alcaraz Final Games 2024? (no cable),..It's time for the 2024 French Open men's final at Roland Garros. This Sunday, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz will face Germany's Alexander Zverev on the clay court. The 21-year-old No. 3 seed Alcaraz defeated No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the Semis to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard court, grass and clay. No. 4 seed Zverev defeated an ailing Casper Ruud in his Semis to face Alcaraz tomorrow. Alcaraz vs. Zverev is scheduled for no earlier than 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, June 9. You can find the full order of play at Roland Garros here.
Here: Zverev vs Alcaraz Final (Free)
Live: Zverev vs AlcarazFinal (Free)
Are you ready to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final? Here’s everything you need to know about the last match of Roland Garros, including the full broadcast schedule, where to stream matches for free and more.
How to watch Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev at the 2024 French Open final:
Date: Sunday, June 9
Time: Not before 8:30 a.m. ET
Location: Roland Garros, Paris, FR
Court: Court Philippe-Chatrier
Round: Final
TV channel: NBC
Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV, VPN
When is the French Open final?
No. 3 seed Carlos Alacaraz faces No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev this Sunday in the men's French Open Final.
What time will Alcaraz vs. Zverev start?
The Alcaraz vs. Zverev match will be played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, beginning sometime after 8:30 a.m. ET in the US. You can find the exact order of play at Roland Garros here.
What channel is Alcaraz vs. Zverev on?
You'll need access to NBC or Peacock to tune into the Alcaraz vs. Zverev final match. This Sunday, the US broadcast schedule for the French Open is as follows:
Sunday, June 9: Men’s Final
9 a.m.-2 p.m. - NBC, Peacock
No tennis channel? No problem. You could always catch an uninterrupted livestream of the tennis tournament with the help of a VPN — more on that below.
How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev live without cable:
For $5.99/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, plus, you'll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show and Hallmark movie, and movies like Five Nights at Freddy's and Super Mario Bros.
How to stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev free:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t want to have to hop around between NBC, Peacock and the Tennis Channel all week, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
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My name is Rory Fars, and my little sister, Lily Fars, is the last family I had left.
A heavy sense of dread settled over me like a suffocating blanket as I sat in the worn leather seat of Lily's old jeep. The car, a relic of our happier days, seemed to groan under our shared sorrow. Beside me, Lily, my best friend, and confidante, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, which swayed gently in rhythm with the haunting melodies from the oldies station on the radio. This car had seen us through countless joyful journeys when our family was whole. Almost three years had passed since that fateful Christmas trip in Texas when our parents were tragically killed in a horrific multi-car pileup. The memory of their loss was a constant ache, a wound that never fully healed.
My dad was from Amarillo, Texas, so my parents often took trips down there, visiting the places that held so many memories for him. During one of these trips, just before Christmas, a sudden blizzard struck while they were on the freeway. The snow fell in blinding sheets, making the world outside a disorienting white blur. As they tried to slowly pull to the side, their vision obscured by the relentless storm, they never saw the car barreling toward them at least forty miles an hour. The impact was devastating, an abrupt and brutal end to their journey and, in many ways, to our lives as we had known them.
My parents were always sticklers for safety, insisting on seatbelts every time we got in the car. So, of course, they had theirs on during that fateful trip. The initial impact wasn't what killed them, the coroner explained to me. Not even the first hit from behind, which was going at least fifty miles an hour, was fatal. I had to practically shake the information out of him—they were so resistant to tell me anything at first. By the time the third car hit, with an unknown speed, their survival was already in jeopardy. The coroner said that by the fifth car, they were likely dead. But it didn't end there. Another twenty-three vehicles slammed into the back of the pile, each collision further crushing their bodies, reducing them to a horrific, unrecognizable state. Each jarring impact pushed my parents deeper into a gruesome amalgamation of twisted metal and shattered lives.
I don't know why I felt compelled to demand those details at the time, but I deeply regret it now. I wish I had never asked. Almost every night, unless I drink myself into oblivion, I am haunted by nightmares of what they endured. I dream of driving up to save them, only to be caught in the same deadly barrage of cars, ending in a twisted metal tomb for all of us.
Lily is never in those dreams. Even in my most horrific imaginings, I can't envision her being hurt. Lily is my little sister, younger by eight years and three months. Whenever I mention our age difference, I see the judgment in people's eyes, but what can I say? Our parents never stopped loving each other. They had Lily late in life; she became our shared joy, our living reminder of the love that had bound our family together.
Lily wasn't my twin in the literal sense, but ever since she was born, it felt like we shared the inexplicable connection that twins often describe. As she grew up, our bond only deepened—we acted, sounded, and even looked remarkably alike. She became my rock, especially after our parents' tragic deaths. We leaned on each other, cried into each other's shoulders, and somehow found the strength to move forward. We eventually moved in together, finding solace in a two-bedroom apartment that became our sanctuary.
Lily seemed to handle our parents' deaths better than I did, or maybe she was just better at distracting herself with technology. Even before their passing, Lily was addicted to any kind of digital screen she could manipulate. Her ability to navigate the digital world was unmatched; she was the most intelligent person I had ever met. Her intelligence was a beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped us, a testament to her resilience and brilliance.
After my parents' death, I embarked on a quest to find my spirituality by delving into paranormal investigations. I hoped these pursuits would bring me closer to my parents in the afterlife, spiritual realm, or whatever you want to call it. Instead, it created a chasm between me and any sense of spiritual existence. Each investigation seemed to push me further from the answers I sought, leaving me feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever.
I had hoped that by exploring these paranormal claims, I would discover a way to reach out to my parents and feel their presence again. Yet, as the years have passed, this endeavor has only deepened my loneliness and sense of loss. Despite knowing how detrimental it is to my mental health, I can't bring myself to stop. The hope that the subsequent investigation will be the one that proves the existence of an afterlife and that I'll find a way to contact my parents keeps me going. It's a desperate, unrelenting pursuit for a connection that remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
I should have accepted their death and moved on like any sane person would. Instead, I let my grief fester and dragged my sister and a stranger, Mark, through my obsessive quest for answers. My relentless pursuit of the paranormal didn't just alienate me; it consumed us all, leading to their untimely deaths. My name is Rory Fars, and I am here to confess my side of the story about the missing case of Lily Fars and Mark Lawrence.
This is the truth about how my desperate search for a connection with the afterlife led to a nightmare from which none of us could escape.
To start off, no, Lily was not a student of Mark's who fell in love with him and then got jealous of me hitting on him, leading her to kill him and herself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but given some wild theories circulating online, I need to address this one specifically since it seems to be the most popular.
First and foremost, Mark Lawrence was not, nor has he ever been, a professor at a university. Lily and I met Mark at the Local Museum in Redlin, a town nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He was the curator of an exhibit showcasing the history of Raven's Nest, a forgotten mining town that neither Lily nor I had ever heard of. This is where our story begins, in a place steeped in history and mystery, far removed from the convoluted theories that now cloud the truth.
We were constantly searching for new ideas for our podcast about paranormal claims. Each of our twenty-five episodes so far had concluded with a rational explanation, so when Mark told us about the curse of Harper, I was immediately intrigued.
Mark was an older man, likely in his mid-sixties, with a full head of silver hair and a beard that stubbornly clung to its youthful color, only lightly dusted with grey. He had a presence that commanded attention, and his stories about the curse were delivered with an intensity that drew me in.
On the other hand, Lily was always more interested in the technical aspects of the paranormal. She had her own theories and was determined to debunk every claim we investigated. She wasn't easily swayed by Mark's tales about the curse of Harper, but she was willing to listen and give him a chance to prove himself. Her skeptical mind constantly checked my enthusiasm, and together, we hoped to uncover the truth behind yet another paranormal mystery.
"Hello ladies, care to hear about the mysterious town of Raven's Nest?" Mark asked with theatrical enthusiasm.
Lily and I exchanged a knowing glance, trying to stifle our amusement. Despite our attempts to remain composed, a smirk played at the corners of our lips.
"We're all ears," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
He sighed, almost as if he was disappointed that we said yes. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel himself for the task ahead. "Well, you see," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "in the early twentieth century, a man named Harper Franstein exploited many men and children in the coal mines. By the mid-1920s, he had established his own settlement in a secluded valley, which he dubbed 'The Raven's Nest.' It was never officially recognized as a town, but that's the only name we have to go off of."
I could see the beads of sweat forming on Mark's brow as he struggled to recall every detail. Despite his initial enthusiasm, he now appeared flustered, his confidence waning. Eventually, he resorted to consulting his damp and crumpled notes, a sign of his growing unease.
"Um, anyway, yeah, um," he stuttered, audibly gulping as his nerves got the better of him. Lily couldn't contain her laughter, emitting a snicker that earned us a glare from Mark.
"Hey, just relax," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're not here to judge or intimidate you." With a gentle touch on his forearm and a chuckle, I attempted to reassure him, hoping to ease his obvious discomfort.
He paused, sharing a chuckle with me, while Lily struggled to suppress her laughter and eventually excused herself, leaving just Mark and me. Evidently, he felt more at ease with fewer listeners, so he pressed on with his narrative.
"Anyway," he resumed, "Harper held complete control over the town and the mine, and he made sure everyone was acutely aware of that fact. When the disappearances began, he tried to sweep them under the rug, attributing them to anything but his own negligence in mining practices."
"What do you mean by 'negligence in mining practices'?" I interjected, eager to delve deeper into his intriguing tale.
He looked up, clearly pleased by my question. "Yes, exactly," he affirmed. "Harper adhered to a mining technique outlined by Dwight Brunst in the mid to late nineteenth century. This method mandated only one entry and exit point into the mine."
"Wait, so they were forbidden from creating additional exits?" I pressed for clarification.
"Not explicitly," he explained. "The practice advocated for just one entry and exit as it was believed to minimize the risk of cave-ins, at least in theory. However, there were instances where miners, feeling uneasy about this restriction, took matters into their own hands and carved out what they called 'Emergency Exits' for themselves. After about half of the town started going missing, Harper couldn't take criticism about how he responded, but most people say he was losing money quickly and didn't want to live in a world where he was poor. He walked into the mine, never to be seen again, much like the cave's past victims. Visitors report seeing and hearing Harper, trying to get them to leave."
As I stood there, listening to Mark's enthralling narrative, I found myself captivated by the mysterious allure of Raven's Nest. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decided to pose a question.
"So, what does the town look like now?" I inquired, eager to learn more about the present state of this enigmatic place.
Mark's demeanor shifted slightly as he rifled through his notes, a subtle indication that he didn't have a straightforward answer to my query.
"You've never been there?" I asked, my tone softening with genuine curiosity.
He flinched as though my question had struck a nerve. "Shhhhhh... shut up," he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.
Suppressing a chuckle, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, hear me out. My sister Lily and I are investigating paranormal phenomena. Your story about Raven's Nest sounds like the perfect addition to our podcast. What do you say we compensate you for your guidance? Let's say, three hundred bucks?"
He straightened up, contemplating my proposition for a few moments. Without uttering a word, he extended his hand, and I met it halfway with my own, sealing our agreement with a firm handshake.
Our journey to Raven's Nest was no easy feat. Situated a good twenty miles from town and nestled deep within a dense valley. After all of the tight turns, narrow dirt roads, and steep inclines, it took us a grueling two and a half hours to go twenty-something miles, but we finally reached the outskirts of the infamous settlement. As we stood at the edge of the "Nest," anticipation mingled with trepidation, setting the stage for the eerie exploration that lay ahead.
I glanced at my phone; the time read 11:56 pm, signaling the late hour. Sensing the exhaustion weighing heavily, I suggested we catch a few hours of rest in Lily's jeep. Mark, though visibly unsettled, remained silent from the back seat, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he slumped against the window like a sulking child.
Drifting asleep in the passenger seat, I soon found myself ensnared in a nightmare. In my dream, Mark was being dragged away into the darkness, his desperate attempts to claw his way back to safety only resulting in broken fingertips. Despite his struggles, he was powerless against the unseen force pulling him inexorably into the abyss. Suddenly, I was alone, engulfed in utter darkness, my heart pounding with fear as I ran blindly from an unseen terror that seemed to pursue me relentlessly, its malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart racing as the remnants of dread lingered in the pit of my stomach. It was morning, and I was struggling to adjust my vision. Lily's frantic but comforting voice broke through the haze of my terror, grounding me in reality. With her comforting embrace, I gradually calmed my racing thoughts, drawing deep, steadying breaths.
As we sat there, enveloped in each other's embrace, Mark approached the driver's side window with an unexpected question, "Alright, what's for breakfast?" His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor were a stark contrast to the harrowing nightmare that had just consumed my thoughts, momentarily dispelling the lingering specter of fear that had haunted my dreams.
Lily and I both look up at him and back at each other as we burst out into laughter.
Amidst our shared laughter, Lily and I exchanged amused glances before turning our attention back to Mark.
"Ha...ha, yeah. No, but seriously, what's for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast, at least?" Mark pressed, hoping for a more substantial response.
His earnest inquiry fueled our laughter further, our giggles echoing through the quiet night air. Eventually, we regained our composure and stepped out of the jeep, stretching our limbs after the cramped confines of the vehicle.
Mark awkwardly moves to the side, still waiting for an honest answer. Lily tossed him a granola bar, eliciting a bemused chuckle from him. With a shared understanding, we set off on foot, embarking on the hike into the town.
The path ahead was clear: a single dirt road that wound its way from the abandoned coal mine into the heart of the small settlement. The road, now overgrown and muddy from years of disuse, bore the marks of neglect and isolation. Wary of the treacherous conditions, Lily opted to forgo the risk of getting stuck, steering clear of the decrepit road that likely hadn't seen a traveler in at least half a century.
We parked Lily's jeep at the entrance to both the mine and the town of Raven's Nest, opting to proceed on foot from there. Standing at the mountain's peak, gazing down at the desolate town below, I couldn't help but ponder the history beneath the dilapidated structures. I imagined how this valley must have once been a pristine landscape cherished by the indigenous people who roamed its lush terrain.
"Jesus, this place is more like a shit nest," Mark muttered in disgust, his disdain evident in his tone.
Lily shot me a knowing glance, silently communicating her skepticism toward Mark's assessment of the town.
Deciding to put Mark's knowledge to the test, I casually inquired, "So, what year was this area founded?"
Mark's reaction was almost defensive as if my question had caught him off guard. He hesitated momentarily before fumbling for his note cards in his pocket, a telltale sign that he wasn't as knowledgeable as he let on.
Before he could respond, I interjected with another question, "Mark, how long have you worked at the museum?"
As Mark froze, his gaze locking onto mine like a deer caught in headlights, I watched him closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. My narrowed eyes bore into his, silently urging him to be honest.
Finally, breaking the tense silence, Mark confessed, "Look, this is only my first week. I... I haven't had the greatest time lately, and I really need the extra money. I'm sorry I lied, but I'll help however I can."
I met his gaze unwaveringly, sensing the sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was a man in need of redemption, grappling with his own personal struggles.
"Alright, alright, don't cry too much," I teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. Gesturing towards Lily, who was busy preparing her wireless motion cameras in her backpack, I continued, "Lily and I already figured that was the case. Honestly, we're surprised you agreed to come along."
Mark remained frozen, but the tension seemed to melt away from his expression, replaced by a tentative smile. It was a moment of shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that he was still welcomed into our expedition despite his initial deception.
"Alright, I have the cams and portable batteries to make sure the cameras and anything we have with power can last," Lily said, her voice brimming with determination.
We began our descent into the town, our hiking boots struggling against the thick, clinging mud produced by the constant light rain and years of disuse. Each step was a battle, the mud threatening to swallow our boots with every move.
After an eternity of trudging through the muck, we finally reached the town's only paved road—the main road. It had taken us only about fifteen minutes to hike down, but navigating the muddy slope had sapped our energy. We paused for a break, taking a few minutes to clean off our boots and catch our breath.
As we rested, I noticed Lily rummaging through her bag with a focused intensity. Curious, I asked, "What are you looking for?"
"I brought five motion-detecting cameras that I want to set up strategically throughout the town," she replied, pulling out one of the cameras. She walked over to the nearest building, a structure that served as a post office, police station, and fire station. She positioned the camera outside the building so it was pointed at the only road leading in and out of the town.
"We need to cover all potential points of interest," she explained, securing the camera in place. "This one will monitor any activity on the main road. We should place the other cameras around key locations like the mine entrance, the town square, and some more intact buildings."
I nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. "Good idea. We need to make sure we capture anything unusual."
Mark, having finally caught his breath, joined us. "Alright, let's get these cameras set up and see what we can find," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Look," Lily said, turning her tablet screen toward us. She waved her hand in front of the camera she had just placed. The tablet displayed five squares on the interface, each meant to show a feed from one of the cameras. Since Lily had only set up one camera so far, only the bottom right square showed any footage pointed at the road leading out of town. She stopped waving her hand, and the feed went to a blue screen.
"What happened? Did we lose connection?" Mark asked frantically, his eyes wide with concern.
Lily cackled, struggling to contain her amusement. Composing herself, she waved her hand in front of the camera again, and the bottom right square showed her hand waving once more. "It's motion-activated. It's the best way to save on battery life," she explained.
Mark seemed to relax, though he was still catching his breath after the brief panic.
I glanced at my watch, noting the time. "It's 8:30. We're behind schedule. If you want to place the rest of your cameras, we better move now," I said, walking down the street.
Lily immediately got up and followed me, with Mark struggling to keep pace behind us. We reached the market building, and Lily positioned her second camera on the side of the road, pointing up at the market.
It's not much longer before we make it to the Town Hall. I suggest Lily place a camera nearby. She nods and heads into a building across from the Town Hall labeled, "Slaughterhouse: LOCAL ANIMALS ONLY."
As Lily explores the building to find an adequate spot for the camera, I wait for Mark to catch up. While I wait, I can't help but imagine this town in its prime, picturing the streets filled with families who loved each other.
My thoughts are abruptly cut off by a sound echoing in the distance—a roar unlike any I've ever heard. It was a mix of a human screaming in pain, the roar of a lion, and, near the end, the howl of a wolf. The chilling sound sent shivers down my spine.
I jump to my feet and immediately call out, "Lily, you okay?"
There's no response from Lily, but I'm interrupted by Mark finally catching up, panting heavily.
"Holy... shit... did you... hear that?" Mark said frantically between breaths.
"Yeah, we have to find Lily," I say, bolting into the slaughterhouse. I glance back to see Mark bracing himself on the steps of the Town Hall, struggling to keep up.
As I enter the building, the stench of rotting flesh hits me like a wave, causing me to gag. The smell is too fresh to be decades old.
"Lily? Lily, where are you?" I yell, using my shirt to shield my nose from the overwhelming odor.
"Rory, I'm in here!" I hear Lily yell from a room two doors down. I pass the first door, peeking in to ensure I hadn't misheard, but I wish I hadn't looked.
Inside the first room, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a pile of animal carcasses, their decayed bodies arranged in a grotesque display. The sight is horrifying, the flesh still disturbingly fresh. The bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to focus on finding Lily.
I rush to the room where her voice came from, pushing the door open. Lily is there, setting up the camera, seemingly oblivious to the horror in the adjacent room. Relief floods through me as I see she's safe.
"Lily, did you hear that roar?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I heard it," she replies, her eyes wide with concern. "I was just finishing up here. Let's get back to Mark and figure out what that was." She had placed the camera in a window, pointing directly at the Town Hall.
We hurry back outside, where Mark still catches his breath as we meet between the buildings. "We need to stay together from now on," I say firmly, looking at both of them. "Whatever that noise was, it's not something we want to face alone."
"Let's check out the Town Hall!" Mark says excitedly as he slowly clambers through a broken window.
"Did he not just hear what I said?" I mutter under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lily gives me a shrug, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guess we're heading into the Town Hall then," she says, adjusting her backpack and walking towards the broken window.
I sigh and follow suit, hoisting myself up and carefully maneuvering through the jagged glass. Inside, the air is musty, filled with the scent of old paper and decaying wood. Dust motes float lazily in the beams of sunlight streaming through the cracked windows.
The main hall is vast and eerily silent, with rows of empty chairs facing a stage draped in tattered curtains. The walls are lined with faded portraits and yellowed maps of the town, remnants of a time when this place was alive and bustling.
Mark is already at the front, examining a large, decrepit desk. "Look at this," he says, his voice echoing in the empty space. "It's like stepping back in time."
I walk over, glancing at the old papers scattered across the desk. Most are mundane—meeting minutes, maintenance logs—but one catches my eye. It's a letter dated June 1925, addressed to Harper Franstein.
"Harper, the disappearances are becoming more frequent. The townsfolk are getting restless, and I fear they may take matters into their own hands if we don't act soon. We need to find out what's causing this before it's too late."
I read the letter aloud, and the room fell silent. "Sounds like things were getting pretty tense," Lily remarks, her voice subdued.
As I'm distracted by the time capsule in front of us, Mark sneaks off.
I'm not sure how long it was before she noticed, but I saw Lily looking around before saying, "Where the hell did Mark go?" breaking me out of my trance.
I look around, turning my head in all directions, and shrug at Lily. I hear shuffling in the second room down the hall, so I slowly walk toward it.
"Mark?" I call out.
Just then, a loud crash reverberates through the building, making it sound like the whole place was about to come down.
We run in and see Mark struggling to keep himself from falling into a giant hole that must've broken under his weight. Trying not to laugh, I glance at Lily. We help him up as he dramatically falls onto his back, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Lily and I can't contain our laughter anymore as we bust out laughing hard. Startled by our sudden outburst, Mark jumps in fear. He looks around, confused for a few seconds, before realizing that we are laughing at him.
"Jesus, thanks, I guess," he says, clearly thankful but annoyed by our reaction.
After we contained ourselves, we headed back outside, exiting through the window Mark entered through. He struggles to climb out, but after Lily gives him a hand, he is safely out of the Town Hall.
"Alright, Ror, where should we put the next camera?" Lily asks me.
I stop to think momentarily, trying to picture the town's layout. "I think the only place left is the neighborhood," I respond confidently. I always talk like that with Lily. Over the years, I've realized she is the only person I can have that much confidence around. With anyone else, I'm worried about saying something stupid or wrong or how they'll view me, but with my sister, everything is easy.
As I look at the replica map of the town in its heyday from the museum, I determine that the neighborhood is to the East. "Okay, looks like we head East past the Library. Let's go." I say, walking away.
It only takes about eight minutes to get to the long strip of road that housed the town's workers. According to the map, there were fifteen houses along this strip of road.
The houses stand eerily silent, their wooden frames weathered and decayed by time. We walk down the road, our footsteps crunching on the gravel and echoing in the stillness. The air feels heavier here like the past is watching us, waiting to reveal its secrets.
"Let's put the last cameras on that house at the end of the road," I suggest, pointing to a house that looks slightly less dilapidated than the others, "another one at the last house on the other side, and the last we can save for a spot you choose."
Lily nods and heads toward the first house, pulling another camera from her backpack. She sets it up on the porch, positioning it to capture the entire street, and does the same in the opposite house. As I stand with Mark breathing hard, still unable to catch his breath since we first got here, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. I glance around nervously but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"All set," Lily says, breaking my reverie, "Still no ideas for the last cam?" Lily asks me.
"Like I said, wherever you think it would be best. I feel like we have enough good spots and angles, so go wild with that one," I told her.
She smirked and kept walking next to me. Mark was still struggling behind, but after the town hall mishap, he was trying his best to keep up. I looked at my watch, and it read '12:30 pm'.
"Holy shit, it's already 12:30," I said in amazement, but no one else seemed fazed. It felt like we'd only been here thirty minutes, not almost four hours.
We walked back down the street. Lily and I had been discussing on the walk that she should put the last camera at the town's only stoplight in front of the Library.
As we made our way to it, I could have sworn I was seeing something moving fast past my vision in the corner of my eye. Every time I turned to look, it was gone. I chalked it up to being my imagination until Lily and Mark both experienced the same thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked as he ducked, bracing for something terrible to happen. Lily and I looked back at him and then at each other as we shrugged. It was after that that I started seeing things, too.
I confided in Lily about the unsettling visions and sounds, and she admitted she had experienced the same phenomena but had kept quiet, fearing Mark would dismiss her as paranoid.
"Well, it's probably just a cat or something," I said, attempting to downplay the situation, but neither seemed convinced.
We continued our trek, and I noticed that the more we walked, the more frequently I caught fleeting glimpses of movement in my peripheral vision. It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Finally, we reached the light in front of the Library. As Lily mounted the camera, I felt a sense of satisfaction. We were making good progress, and it seemed like a suitable moment to start exploring the town more freely. We decided to split up and cover different sections of the town.
"Wait, we have to go alone? Why can't we stay together like you said?" Mark asked frantically, but Lily and I ignored him as we headed in separate directions. He continued to protest, but we paid him no mind. Eventually, I was either far enough away to not hear him anymore, or he had given up. Either way, I was happy to enjoy the eerie silence of the town.
As I wandered, the stillness of Raven's Nest enveloped me. With its decrepit buildings and overgrown streets, the town exuded an unsettling charm. It was as if I had stepped into a forgotten world, a place frozen in time with secrets waiting to be unearthed. The ambiance reminded me of an amusement park's haunted town section—artificially eerie yet irresistibly intriguing. Despite the creepiness, the mysterious vibe of the town kept me engaged and eager to explore its hidden corners.
I glanced at my watch again, only to find the time glaring back at me: 3:19 pm. It couldn't be right. There was no way it had been that long since I last checked. Panic seized me, and I called out for Lily, my voice tinged with urgency. She appeared beside me in a matter of minutes, her expression mirroring my concern.
"What's up, Ror? You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"How long would you say it's been since you put the last camera down?" I inquired, my heart pounding in my chest.
Lily's brow furrowed as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Uh, I don't know, thirty minutes?" she hazarded a guess.
I held up my watch, displaying the time: 3:20 pm. Lily fell silent, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was never great with time, but missing almost three hours of our memory was unprecedented.
"There's no way. Your watch must be—" Lily began, her voice trailing off as she checked her own watch, only to freeze in shock when she found it displayed the same time as mine.
"Lil, something is going on," I stated, my voice tight and apprehensive. I glanced up at the sky, my stomach churning as I noticed the clouds darkening and rolling in from all sides of the valley.
The sky closed rapidly, ominous clouds obscuring the sun as thunder rumbled ominously against the mountains.
"Mark? Mark, where are—" I began to call out, but before I could finish, Mark emerged from behind a wall, appearing as if he'd been too frightened to venture far on his own.
"We have to get inside!" Mark exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with fear.

Ok so I'm sorry this is super long but I really hope someone reads this because I could really do with some advice.
So basically it started when my boyfriend (then fiance - together 5 years engaged for 2) cheated on me back in December. I won't go into too much detail but it was a pretty rough time and he did some fucked up shit I never expected him to do. One of them being he came home one night and said he is entitled to half of this house, to which I responded by giving him our whole shared savings (about 7k) just so he didn't go down some legal route.
We broke up end of December and he left (which I thought was for good because he made it v clear at that time he didn't want the life we had together). When I told my parents this they set the wheels in motion to get his name off the mortgage and they were pretty stressed about it all.
I should mention as well - the house is my grandparents house which was gifted to me and my two brothers a few years ago from my mum, because I owed a third though that the mortgage was only ever for my two brothers share and my dream has always been to keep it in my family and one day pass it down to my kids, it's my dream home and I don't plan on moving ever.
Anyway, skip to February, after he's spend January with his new girlfriend and I've spend January in the biggest depression of my life, he comes back and basically says this is worth fighting for and wants to give it another go, so we agree to try and reconcile. It's not been perfect since then though - I am still struggling with being depressed, the cheating effected me more than I ever expected, my self esteem and confidence is pretty much none existent at this point. And since then he's got in a motorbike accident and will be off work sick for months meaning he's been in a pretty rough place too. We talked about the mortgage a few months ago and it didn't go down well - I wasn't happy that I was having to go through with it anyway - but I felt like he caused this, but ive paid my mortgage advisor and hes spend months on this so I dont want to be wasting anyone's time.
Yesterday a letter arrived address to me and my mum (her name has to go on it because I can't afford it on my own on paper) but she's signed a bunch of shit to say she's not getting anything out of it. He sees the letter and goes crazy. He's furious, thinking I've forged his signature behind his back or thinks my mum is out to get him - either is not remotely true, my mum isn't ever the type to do that and neither am I. God, even when he cheated on me I never said he had to leave the house, we took it in turns staying at our parents.
He's angry because he sees this as I don't trust him, he sees the mortgage as a representation of our life together and thinks the worst. Yesterday he said something like "yes I didn't know what I wanted 6 months ago but that doesn't mean it should cause issues now" whereas it wasnt "he didn't know what he wanted", he literally had a new girlfriend and had left for good.
I see it as a piece of paper and its not going to change any of my day to day life or what we do together - as long as the mortgage is paid I don't really care who's name is on it, and I would never in a million years throw him out with nothing. The current mortgage is up by the end of this month and he's demanding his name is put on it - but the offer is already in place and accepted and I don't have time to change it now. I can't see us coming to an agreement, the easiest thing for me to do is just go ahead with it at this point and I just want an easy life, but at the same time I know he won't back down. It's a two year mortgage- the shortest term - and I've said plenty of times if he still wants this by then of course he can go back on it. I see it as fair - if the only consequence for his actions is to not be on the mortgage for two years I think that's a fair price for what I went through, he does not see it that way at all.
So yeah, it's long and I hope someone reads this because I need all the advice I can get - AITAH?? And if I am - please help me understand because we both really can't understand the other sides pov.

I had a huge crush on somebody at my school last year, since we were seniors I decided to try to talk to them before the school year ended. we actually did talk before as classmates so I decided why not? Fast forward, we’re talking and we have a lot in common, they told me how they recently just broke up with there gf and so I asked them out. He told me that he would take things slow which I understood. but long story short it ended with love bombing, playing with my feelings, he was a pathological liar, and struggled with empathy. He cheated on his gf too. (He admitted that) But also I was playing along so I’m not any better. I knew we were hurting each other but I kept going. Honestly, I just wanted to try to fix him. Realistically I should’ve just said this isn’t gonna work. But I kept going.
He had blocked me after this. So I got another number, I contacted him again. He never reached back and I genuinely thought the number just didn’t go through, so I found his tiktok through my contacts, I texted him and nothing. I thought well he probably is never on the app. You know what I fucking did next? I made a letter and walked to his house, and dropped it off like it was normal. He never gave me his address btw. (I only knew where he lived because he said what street he lived on and showed me photos of his house, but still creepy)
About a few days later, it finally hits me how fucking disgusting my behavior is. This was the only time my limerence got so bad that I was now hurting others and potentially making someone feel unsafe. The letter had nothing, no threats, a thank you letter specifically but nonetheless I deleted everything off my phone so I couldn’t do anything else potentially. I’m actually afraid to be in public, in fear I may accidentally run into them or there family and he might think I’m still stalking him. my town is quite small.
I genuinely didn’t want to hurt him but in the moment I wasn’t thinking how crazy this all was. I’m not excusing it. I’m a bad person. I want to just hide and avoid mirrors because the shame is eating at me. I can’t look at myself. Or sleep. I feel as though this was a wake up call. I’m currently trying to seek a therapist. I’m contemplating on confessing to the police because I just can’t live with myself.
If you are somehow reading this, I’m genuinely sorry I’m just crazy and I’m trying to get help. If you are concerned I might come back to harass you, that won’t be happening because I’m getting a new number and moving states soon.

We have a 11 yr old colli and live on a farm , he is a rescue and has so issues with other dogs, loves people. Amazon delivery driver claims “chips” bit him on the leg First we got a visit from the police to our property, but I was a work with my dog then a letter to all the neighbours and us about the alleged incident (I’m raging) We tried via email and phone to contact police who had contacted us but no response Then a recoded delivery letter that next door signed for addressed to the occupier It was the start of a claim apparently we didn’t respond 6 months later Iv just refused another recorded letter I am so annoyed I’m 100 percent that my dog didn’t do this And the claimant is a 18 yr old part time Amazon worker Any advice

TLDR; Do I have to fill out a recertification application before or after my phone interview? If it's before, I can't find the recertification application online. Just an option to start a new one. I'd call them and ask, but it's impossible to get a hold of anybody and they do not accept in person visitors. They literally have the door blocked off with a barricade and a security guard.
Howdy! I'm disabled with a horrendous memory. I'm pretty sure last year, I went on a website that I don't remember, recertified my application, and then had my phone interview and everything was fine from there.
However, this year I got the letter stating that my phone interview is scheduled in July, and on the bottom of the paper it states that "NJ SNAP office will accept a mail in or fax application only if it contains x, y and z". But there's nothing directing me to the usual online portal where I'd recertify. Instead, there was a paper attached directing me to a new website called "myNJhelp.gov", where I had to make a new account, with seemingly only an option to submit a new application. Nothing about recertifying an existing account. Am I missing something or is this the new process?

Hi. I was issued a letter by a couple of officers at my doorstep a few days ago to make my way to the police station very soon. There was a cheating case that had my identification involved but of course I personally had no involvement in it.
More details: On January I fell victim to a job scam. Went looking for a side job and found the ad on a pretty reputable telegram job group. Contacted them and gave them all my details. This is definitely my error. I wasn’t cautious enough to stop myself from giving away access to my Singpass when asked. After I gave that away I got very suspicious that the person did not reply me after they said they’d get back to me soon. After multiple failed calls, I dug a little deeper and found out that the contact was part of a scam and I only realised it after everything was done. I did all I could to retract all of my documents from the contact and lodged a police report. I called all the banks available to shut down any accounts that were made in my name. Even followed up with the officers until they called to inform me that no further action needed on my end. Fortunately I did not lose any money to the scam but I strongly believe that they were after my identification more so than my money.
Fast forward and now I’m being called to the police station. I’ve no experience in this at all and have a clean record. No criminal past. Would like to know if I should be aware of certain things or what I will need to prepare for. Have already prepared all the evidence I could get my hands on regarding the scam. Thanks for the help.

I [27M] was with relationship with girl [24F] from 1 year. We have been doing long distance with occasionally meeting. This has been the best feeling and relationship for both of us and I cant thank to god that I was blessed by this girl.
She recently went do do her MBA degree and while I was able to get attention before that, I couldn't acclimatize the new change of getting less attention and time in conversations while she was trying to do her best. I had some insecurities which were not addressed yet in the call.
This Thursday morning, I was feeling very low, depressed and lonely. There was a team party at my office at evening, but instead I went to home to drink alone as I got off early. Now after drinking, my emotions hightened and I could't stop crying after feeling low from morning. I checked here FindMy location and saw she was out, and bursted into her that why doesn't she has time to resolve and address my insecurites and questioned with whom she was. She wasn't picking calls and I paniced in that state and called her several times. When she finally picked up, I yelled her to fuck off and blocked her from socials. Cried after that. After an hour or so, I unblocked her and called her since I wasn't high now. I knew what I had done was very wrong and I tried to ammend things but she didn't want to talk with me that night.
I coudln't sleep that night and wrote texts trying to explain what happened from my end. In morning she came online and I called her as she was getting ready for her college. She had this numbing tone in her voice like she gives 0 fucks now.
From that time till now I have been regretting my action for what I have done. I have called her, Face timed her several times to ammend things and give me a second chance since all of this happened in me acclimitizing to this new changes. I dont blame her, I blame myself and situation for this.
I promised to her I will improve and I am learn from this mistake. But she needs space from me as her heart was broken by what I did. She is in long distance and I am trying to do everything possible to make it up to her. I have realized my mistake, all I am asking is one chance to make things right.
I have a feeling she won't give in and given the overwhelming cirriculum of her college, I led her to this break-up.
Mind you that I have never dis-respected her in this way and it was the first time I did, which she is not able to understand. I take full responsiblity for my actions but I just needed one chance to make it right.
Now I dont know how to make it up to her while being far away. I feel that I have lost her. I just needed a place to get an advice to fix this.. not break it and make it worse. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I [27M] was with relationship with girl [24F] from 1 year. We have been doing long distance with occasionally meeting. This has been the best feeling and relationship for both of us and I cant thank to god that I was blessed by this girl.
She recently went do do her MBA degree and while I was able to get attention before that, I couldn't acclimatize the new change of getting less attention and time in conversations while she was trying to do her best. I had some insecurities which were not addressed yet in the call.
This Thursday morning, I was feeling very low, depressed and lonely. There was a team party at my office at evening, but instead I went to home to drink alone as I got off early. Now after drinking, my emotions hightened and I could't stop crying after feeling low from morning. I checked here FindMy location and saw she was out, and bursted into her that why doesn't she has time to resolve and address my insecurites and questioned with whom she was. She wasn't picking calls and I paniced in that state and called her several times. When she finally picked up, I yelled her to fuck off and blocked her from socials. Cried after that. After an hour or so, I unblocked her and called her since I wasn't high now. I knew what I had done was very wrong and I tried to ammend things but she didn't want to talk with me that night.
I coudln't sleep that night and wrote texts trying to explain what happened from my end. In morning she came online and I called her as she was getting ready for her college. She had this numbing tone in her voice like she gives 0 fucks now.
From that time till now I have been regretting my action for what I have done. I have called her, Face timed her several times to ammend things and give me a second chance since all of this happened in me acclimitizing to this new changes. I dont blame her, I blame myself and situation for this.
I promised to her I will improve and I am learn from this mistake. But she needs space from me as her heart was broken by what I did. She is in long distance and I am trying to do everything possible to make it up to her. I have realized my mistake, all I am asking is one chance to make things right.
I have a feeling she won't give in and given the overwhelming cirriculum of her college, I led her to this break-up.
Mind you that I have never dis-respected her in this way and it was the first time I did, which she is not able to understand. I take full responsiblity for my actions but I just needed one chance to make it right.
I am not looking for any judges here, I just wanted to vent and share.

I [27M] was with relationship with girl [24F] from 1 year. We have been doing long distance with occasionally meeting. This has been the best feeling and relationship for both of us and I cant thank to god that I was blessed by this girl.
She recently went do do her MBA degree and while I was able to get attention before that, I couldn't acclimatize the new change of getting less attention and time in conversations while she was trying to do her best. I had some insecurities which were not addressed yet in the call.
This Thursday morning, I was feeling very low, depressed and lonely. There was a team party at my office at evening, but instead I went to home to drink alone as I got off early. Now after drinking, my emotions hightened and I could't stop crying after feeling low from morning. I checked here FindMy location and saw she was out, and bursted into her that why doesn't she has time to resolve and address my insecurites and questioned with whom she was. She wasn't picking calls and I paniced in that state and called her several times. When she finally picked up, I yelled her to fuck off and blocked her from socials. Cried after that. After an hour or so, I unblocked her and called her since I wasn't high now. I knew what I had done was very wrong and I tried to ammend things but she didn't want to talk with me that night.
I coudln't sleep that night and wrote texts trying to explain what happened from my end. In morning she came online and I called her as she was getting ready for her college. She had this numbing tone in her voice like she gives 0 fucks now.
From that time till now I have been regretting my action for what I have done. I have called her, Face timed her several times to ammend things and give me a second chance since all of this happened in me acclimitizing to this new changes. I dont blame her, I blame myself and situation for this.
I promised to her I will improve and I am learn from this mistake. But she needs space from me as her heart was broken by what I did. She is in long distance and I am trying to do everything possible to make it up to her. I have realized my mistake, all I am asking is one chance to make things right.
I have a feeling she won't give in and given the overwhelming cirriculum of her college, I led her to this break-up.
Mind you that I have never dis-respected her in this way and it was the first time I did, which she is not able to understand. I take full responsiblity for my actions but I just needed one chance to make it right.
I am not looking for any judges here, I just wanted to vent and share.

Content Warning: This story contains themes of mental health issues, suicide and physical violence.
Prosopagnosia v. Cotard's Syndrome
My new doctor - a bright and friendly guy named Sarbjit - took the time to explain his diagnosis to me. He told me my condition was mental, not physical, but it was hard to pay attention to everything he said because my left arm was numb and rotting from the inside out. I smiled and nodded and then when I got home I looked up Cotard’s Syndrome online. Here is what Wikipedia had to say on it.
“Cotard's syndrome, also known as ‘Cotard's delusion’ or ‘Walking Corpse Syndrome’, is a rare mental disorder in which the affected person holds the delusional belief that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying, or have lost their blood or internal organs.”
I don’t know. Sounded extremely strange to me. I just knew my left arm was dying. Maybe my liver too. I used my right arm, the good one, to open my mail. Most of it was just the normal stuff but when I saw the letter from the Supreme Court of the State of New York I got a little worried. I was here legally - a citizen for almost ten years now - and I knew my rights but being summoned to testify at this criminal trial was a bit unnerving. I didn’t like it. I just try to do my best in this life and mind my own business and not cause problems for others.
When my trial appearance date arrived two months later I took the subway downtown and left my assistant, Stavvy, in charge of the office that day. I sat there on a hard wooden bench in the courtroom all morning listening to the testimony of other witnesses but I wasn’t called to the stand until sometime after we returned from lunch. Eventually, the lawyer for the defense called my name.
She mispronounced it of course - people here always mispronounce Albanian names - so I wasn’t surprised when she called me Mister Shka-Rell-Eee. My surname is Shkreli, after the place where my family comes from, and the proper pronunciation contains only two syllables - Shkrell-Eee. I was trying to hold my left arm in place when she asked her opening question.
Where was I at the time of the murder?
“Well, Miss Anderson” - I pronounced it Ahnd-REE-Sawn, drawing out the first and last syllables while placing too much emphasis on the middle one, intentionally - “I am not entirely certain. That was over a year ago and I travel all around this city on a daily basis for my job. I work in computer repair and IT support and I have customers in all five boroughs.” (This wasn’t exactly true. I wasn’t really willing to travel to Staten Island.) We had spoken four months earlier when she informed me of the questions she intended to ask at trial but I was fairly oblique then and I intended to remain so now. I had bigger problems. Could these people not see that my left arm was rotting away?
She looked at me with a furrowed brow and briskly walked back to the defense table, picked up a leather-bound notepad and opened it.
“Mister Shkreli, when you and I spoke on June 18th you confirmed that you were just leaving a client’s office, TRG Commercial Realty, located at 223 Broome Street here in lower Manhattan at approximately 3:30pm that day, shortly before the incident at issue took place less than one block away. Is that not correct?”
I turned up my native eastern European accent a bit and repositioned my left arm in my lap. I could barely feel it at that point. What was wrong with these people?
“If you say so. Like I said, that was over a year ago and it was just another workday for me.”
She stared at me for a beat or two longer than necessary and then flashed a quick look towards the jurors before continuing.
“Well yes, Mister Shkreli” - again it was Shka-Rell-Eee - “You did tell me that and I do have a recording of our conversation, which you consented to before we began, if the court would like this to be entered into evidence?”
She looked at the judge and the judge looked at me.
“Mister Shkreli,” - he too pronounced it Shka-Rell-Eee - ‘Are you refuting the testimony that Miss Anderson is referencing during your preliminary deposition or can we just move on at this point? If counsel for the defense claims to have this recording I am fairly certain this is true. Will it be necessary to enter this recording into evidence at this time or are you willing to acknowledge Miss Anderson’s claim?”
I repositioned my left arm in my lap and nodded.
“That’s fine, Your Honor. As I said, it was just another workday for me but if Miss Anderson says that is what we discussed I am sure she is probably right.”
The judge nodded back at me. “Very good. Let’s proceed then.”
Miss Anderson walked back to the defense table and dropped the leather-bound notepad before continuing with her final question for me, looking annoyed.
“Picking up where we left off, Mister Shkreli, can you please describe for the court what happened immediately after you left the offices of TRG Commercial Realty at 223 Broome Street on the date in question, October 22nd of last year?”
I didn’t like the way that she was trying to fence me in but I wasn't particularly concerned. I had bigger problems.
“Well, like I said, I don’t really remember that day. There was nothing memorable about it. It was just another day.”
She stared at me for a few seconds then flashed a quick look at the jury box with her eyebrows raised before returning her attention to the judge. “No more questions, Your Honor.”
I was dismissed from the stand but asked to remain in the courtroom as she called her next witness; a small, frail woman from Queens about my same age named Maureen Stewart. She had an odd, twitchy nature about her. I wanted to get home. I wanted to relax.
“Miss Stewart, can you please tell the court where you were on October 22nd of last year at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon?”
The witness looked down for a moment and then glanced towards the judge before removing the slightly confused look from her face and responding in a semi-automated tone.
“Yes, Miss Anderson. At that time, I was just leaving my day shift at the FedEx Office Store (she pronounced it ‘Staw’ in her thick New York accent) on Broome Street and I was walking towards the station for the Six Train to begin my ride back home.”
The attorney for the defense took a momentary pause and then asked her next question.
“And can you please tell us what happened then?”
The witness looked down again and then looked back at the judge, then the jury and, finally, at me. I didn’t like the way she looked at me.
“Yes, as I was leaving my workplace I crossed the street and I remember walking past the entrance to a narrow alleyway where I heard a commotion taking place. It made me stop and look for a second or two but I didn’t want to get involved so I just kept on walking towards the subway and I didn’t think too much about the whole thing until the Homicide detectives contacted me a few days later after they pulled the security camera videos. I came down to the police station the day after that and gave my statement. That was just over a year ago.”
Miss Anderson took a moment to stare at me. I didn’t like that either. I adjusted my left arm in my lap. It was completely numb.
“Thank you, Miss Stewart. Can you please be a bit more specific about what you saw occurring in that alleyway?”
Again, the witness looked down at the floor and then her eyes shot all around the courtroom before she responded.
“Well,” she said, before taking a brief pause. “At first I thought it was just a little scuffle but when I saw the shorter man in the black jacket punch the tall man in the belly a few times I saw some blood starting to spread on the side of his white button-down shirt and I saw what looked like a small knife or something in the shorter man’s hand. The tall thin man looked like he was starting to fall. I remember looking around for a police officer but I certainly wasn’t gonna do anything about it by myself. I mean, what could I do? When I didn’t see no one who could help I just kept on walking towards the subway. I guess I should have done more but I was scared and I just wanted to get back to Forest Hills to pick up my daughter from daycare before five o’clock.”
I glanced at the defendant seated at the table on the left. He looked both hopeful and nervous at the same time, but in a subtle way, like he didn’t want to appear to be either. He kept his head down and never once glanced towards the jury box. Miss Anderson asked her final question.
“Thank you, Miss Stewart. And do you see the man in the black jacket who stabbed the victim, Mister Baronston, on that day last October here in the courtroom now?”
Again the witness looked down at the floor between her feet for a moment and then looked back up, right at me. I felt my blood stop flowing through my veins, or at least through my left arm and the top of my right leg, when she raised up her hand and pointed her index finger at me.
“It was that man, there,” she said.
Miss Anderson nodded and paused for a moment, satisfied, letting it sink in for the jury members. I was stunned. The stylish defense attorney in the toney, expensive clothing began walking back in my direction and she too pointed an accusatory finger.
“If it pleases the court, let the record show that Miss Stewart has identified Mister Jack Shkreli as the attacker who she witnessed in the-”
Just then the witness on the stand, Miss Stewart, pointed her finger at the judge without really looking at him and suddenly blurted out, “Or him. It might have been him too. I’m not 100% sure...”
Miss Anderson paused, clearly nonplussed, and just stared at her witness. The judge also looked baffled for a second or two and then leaned over and whispered something to his court assistant and the two of them shared a quiet smirk.
Then the witness pointed at one of the jurors, a man in the front row about my size.
“Or him. It could have been him. I’m just not sure...” Then she went silent, as did the rest of the courtroom for a few moments. The State’s Attorney, a heavy-set bald man, broke the silence pretty quickly as he rose to his feet.
“Your Honor, the State would like to move to dismiss this witness along with all previous testimony.” He paused briefly and took a deep breath, choosing his next words.
“While we appreciate Miss Stewart’s willingness to appear at trial today, I think it’s clear that her recollection of events is…uncertain at best.” He glared at the defense table for a moment, then added “I’d just like to remind the court that Mister Shkreli” - and God bless him, he pronounced my two-syllable surname correctly - “is not on trial here and if this witness cannot distinguish the man she saw that day from yourself or a random member of our jury panel I don’t think we can accept this testimony or any further testimony from this witness.”
He hung his head respectfully, with the tiniest little smile on his face. He already knew he had won this argument and the judge quickly agreed, telling the jury to disregard what they just heard. Miss Stewart was dismissed from the stand and the defense had no other witnesses left to call. Less than two hours later the jury returned a guilty verdict against the defendant on all counts and the courtroom was cleared. The sentencing hearing would take place at a later date and I was not required to be there. My right leg was starting to feel numb by then but I still managed to get back to the office in time for Stavvy to head home at the end of his shift to make dinner for his kids. His wife was killed in a car accident two years earlier. He was a hard worker and I really liked him.
That night, back at my apartment, I did some research online and learned about a rare mental disorder known as Prosopagnosia. Here is what Wikipedia had to say.
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is a cognitive disorder of face perception in which the ability to recognize familiar faces, including one's own face (self-recognition), is impaired, while other aspects of visual processing (e.g. object discrimination) and intellectual functioning remain intact.
It all sounded pretty strange to me but if the doctors say it’s real who am I to argue? Apparently it is well documented in the DSM-5. I don’t know if this is the reason why I was able to walk away from the courtroom without consequence at first but I think it is the most likely explanation. I only know that when I left my client’s offices at TRG Commercial Realty on that day just over a year ago and hailed a cab I was stunned and confused when Mister Baronston, a complete stranger with a hostile face, suddenly attacked me, claiming that it was his cab and not mine.
He was bigger than me, tall and thin but strong, and I would have just given up the cab and caught the next one but he was clearly already very angry about something. When he backed me towards the alley, shoving me and then punching me around my head and neck, my backpack tumbled open and I saw my wallet and phone and some other items come crashing out onto the pavement. It was just a stupid and unnecessary altercation, the kind of thing that probably happens on the streets of this city every day, sadly. Too many people, not enough space. I did my best to fight back and protect myself but he was a good deal bigger than me.
Then I was getting punched some more and thrown against the alley wall as people passed by, disinterested, and I just instinctively reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the pen knife that has been attached to my keychain for years. Before I really knew what was happening it was open and then my right hand was growing warm and red and slick with his blood. Then I was moving again, not looking back.
What an odd thing. I remember seeing Miss Stewart stopping there on the sidewalk to look from the mouth of the alley that day. Of all the passers-by, she was the only one who paused to look at us, at me, right as I desperately punctured Mister Baronston’s rib cage for the fifth or sixth time with my little penknife and he began to drop, but she averted her gaze after a few seconds and moved on and then I was rapidly heading in the opposite direction. This is a huge city and I never expected to see her face again. Fortunately, she was apparently never really able to see mine.
Anyway, I have more important problems to worry about at this time. Stavvy received a letter from the Manhattan DA’s office yesterday ordering him to appear at a grand jury hearing next month related to my involvement in Mister Baronston’s death. He showed it to me. More importantly, my left arm is just about gone now, my right leg is quickly starting to feel the same way and in just the last day or two I have begun feeling that strange tingling sensation in the tips of the fingers on my right hand. I know my liver is failing. It won’t be long now.
I scheduled a meeting with my lawyer in the morning to legally put the business and the rest of my assets in Stavvy’s name in my will. I have no family here anyway and almost no relatives who I remain close with back in Albania or Montenegro anymore. Stavvy is a good man and he has kids to feed and I have already lived a full life.
So yes, I will just leave it all to him and after that’s done I think I will get the old Ford minivan that we sometimes still use for the business and drive it out to the George Washington Bridge while I am still able. I know that when I stop it and get out and leave it there on the center-span I will screw up traffic badly and inconvenience a lot of people but I can’t worry about that. I have to do what I have to do. There’s no point in waiting for this to get worse. I can barely feel the fingers on my right hand and I don’t have much time left.
Maybe I should have told the truth at the trial. I don’t know. I think I was just too distracted by all of my health problems. I didn’t really have any choice at the time. I don’t have any choice now. I’m actually surprised that I lasted this long. I was certain that I would already be gone a few months ago but I feel I have done my best with this life.
As my people back in Albania say, Mos pyet si vdiq, por si rrojti!
“Do not ask how he died, but how he lived!”
THE END