Printable sample potluck dinner invitation

Invites went out. Best friend won’t come if 2 year old can’t come to child free wedding. Her and her family are silent until I cave. Uncle will have to have dinner elsewhere because of food request. Needs “bland food”. Two sisters are estranged and cannot be seated at the same table. And we’re just at 30/100 rsvp responses. What are your guest issues thus far? I assume I need to buckle up and brave the rest of this.

HELP! I Need advice. I was invited to my nephews wedding, which is on the West Coast and I am on the east. My sister wants me to go because I am basically the only family left except for my son which he doesn’t want to go and I don’t blame him because he’s not close with my nephew. I let him off the hook as I would have to pay for him to go as far as getting him a suit, airline, etc. Not to mention, I am not close with my nephew either. I wanted to just give a nice gift which was a substantial amount of money instead of going to the wedding which would cost me dress, hotel, air and the list goes on. But my sister really wanted me there, and since my son was not coming, she said to bring Wayne my significant other that I’ve been with for over two years. I was hesitant to do this as I felt he would not know anyone and since we are renting a car, he could just explore California on his own while I’m at the wedding for the day. Well my sister kept saying what is he gonna do stay in the room by himself, I finally agreed and told Wayne that he could go to the wedding. At least I’d have someone to be at the reception to dance with and eat with because I basically don’t know anyone else and everyone will be couples. Wayne was fine with either way. Well I just learned that the wedding was overbooked in other words, they invited 170 people hoping that 120 would show. I am sorry, but this is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. restaurants over book or airlines but you don’t overbook for a wedding if you invite 100 people you should expect 100 and maybe a few won’t show but plan for 100. That’s how I see it, I was told that since they’re overbooked, I can’t bring Wayne. I didn’t want to go to this wedding from the beginning, but didn’t want to cause trouble with my sister. I need advice what you would do and how you would handle this. My sister does not want to talk to the bride and my nephew just tells my sister to ask Janelle (his fiancé) as she is the planner. I believe my sister is afraid of her and doesn’t wanna cause a commotion. In My mind I’m angry because my sister did not stick up for me and on top of that has only a very few coming. there are many others from other sides, I am her only sister, and basically the only person left in her family. Lastly this is a weekend wedding. Rehearsal dinner Thurs., Wedding, reception and party all day Fri., brunch on Sat and pool party on Sunday. I am not going to rehearsal dinner as I am pissed and as of now just going to wedding on Friday which is at another location from the hotel. I will be stuck at that location all day, unless I have Wayne pick me up after ceremony and we can be on our way but I will be by myself and I was only replacing one body with another. TIA

I graduate college soon and I want to have a dinner instead of a party. My mom is throwing a party just to state that she did something for me when all I really want is a simple dinner with my immediate family.
I told her that since she wants to throw the party I don’t want certain foods(i.e. my grandmothers cooking). I don’t even like her cooking like that so why should we bother.
She then proceeds to say how she’s wants the people I invite to bring a dish….A DISH. This isn’t a potluck. What’s the point of having a party if you’re just gonna have people bring the food?
Then to top it all off my boyfriend offered to grill the meats at the party and bring burger meat ONLY. She wants him to buy the chicken, ribs, and burger meat by himself. I told her that you should be happy that he is offering to buy the burger meat and grilling for you and she told me that that’s my man and it’s his just to provide.
Please let me know what I need to do at this point. I already told people about my graduation date but I’m thinking about telling them that the party is not gonna happen because of the bullshit my mother is suggesting we do.

I'm 20 years old in college home for the summer, and I can't do this.
I have first-gen, incredibly strict Indian parents. My high school experience with them was awful. Think of all the cliches--needed to be the best academically (ended up being valedictorian of my school and getting a full tuition scholarship), no freedom at all (curfew was 8pm, no leaving the house more than 2x a week even if it was a club, they didn't think clubs or extracurriculars were important), no driving (even though I got my license at 17), physical and mental abuse, threats, etc etc. To make matters worse, I ended up losing all my friends my senior year. The only person that stuck with me was my boyfriend (secret, of course), and we're still together (4 years now).
College was the best experience for me. I made all new friends (except they all live 2+ hours away from my home sadly) and my bf and I are making long distance work. Coming home last summer was fine because I was only there for a month because I got accepted to this research program which I begged them to let me go to, and they did.
This summer, it has only been 1.5 weeks and I'm losing it. My bf just came back and I always make an excuse to see him, that I'm seeing my old "friends" and they don't question it too much but my curfew is still 9 PM. I came home last night at 9:35 PM and I got yelled at, slapped twice, and screamed at about how I have been spending too much money. I literally worked 2 jobs in college last year and have a virtual summer internship. This is MY money. I'm still not allowed to drive, despite having had my license for 3 years now. When I am allowed to drive, it's only like 3 select locations (all no highway) and I have to use our small, crappy car. I need to do shadowing this summer because I'm a pre-dental student, but I'm not allowed to literally drive to do my shadowing hours. My mom takes the small car to work (she refuses to drive anything else) and my dad works from home so we have the big car completely free but I'm just not allowed to drive it at all.
These are just the recent things but there's so many things that I can't do. I've missed out on trips with my friends, concerts with them, etc. My friends (like a group of 15 people are going) recently invited me to this concert in one of my friend's hometowns 2 hours away and offered me a place to sleep but ofc I can't go! I even tried asking and reasoned out how I would get there via public transit and I just got laughed at. It's all my money, too.
The worst part is, even though I've had the best college experience (because they go to bed at 9-10 PM they don't check my location that late, so I've been able to party and finally have that taste of a normal life) and met the most amazing people, none of them can understand this at all. Most of my friends are Indian/Asian and I know a lot of people but everyone I'm close to just doesn't have this problem. I feel bad ranting to them because they don't know what to say or do. Even when they do try, it's things like "try to sneak out" (cameras, motion detectors, etc) or "better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission" like they don't fundamentally understand how bad it could get if I did that.
I'm just stuck. I don't know what to do. I don't know when I can go out with my bf next. I even have to ask permission to go on a walk/run around our neighborhood and need to be back my dinner and can't stay longer than 1 hour on the dot (dinner is at 7:45 PM).
I don't know what to do. I can't get a job because first of all, even though they complain about money to me all the time, they wouldn't let me get a job because it's too much freedom and driving. Secondly, I'm studying for the DAT (Dental Admission Test) this summer and I can barely even concentrate at home because the second it turns 3 PM the TV starts blasting and they're always yelling at each other. I tried to ask if I can go to the library to study and focus, but again they yelled at me about the car thing and then how it would be a waste of gas money and how I can study at home and how I should be waking up at 6-7 AM to study if the house gets loud around 3 PM.
I hope someone on here can understand, even partly, my frustration. I wonder oftentimes what I have done wrong to make them treat me like this. I have talked to them about all of this countless times, and I am currently ignoring them both (only saying yes/no) while also trying to do everything "perfectly" so they don't have anything to yell at me about because they're mad about me coming home at 9:35.
Please help. I just don't want to live like this anymore. I fear this will be my forever.
If I get into my state dental school, my dad said he would want me to commute because it's cheaper but I would be living at home. I would end myself probably. I can't even think about that right now.

I'm 20 years old in college home for the summer, and I can't do this.
I have first-gen, incredibly strict Indian parents. My high school experience with them was awful. Think of all the cliches--needed to be the best academically (ended up being valedictorian of my school and getting a full tuition scholarship), no freedom at all (curfew was 8pm, no leaving the house more than 2x a week even if it was a club, they didn't think clubs or extracurriculars were important), no driving (even though I got my license at 17), physical and mental abuse, threats, etc etc. To make matters worse, I ended up losing all my friends my senior year. The only person that stuck with me was my boyfriend (secret, of course), and we're still together (4 years now).
College was the best experience for me. I made all new friends (except they all live 2+ hours away from my home sadly) and my bf and I are making long distance work. Coming home last summer was fine because I was only there for a month because I got accepted to this research program which I begged them to let me go to, and they did.
This summer, it has only been 1.5 weeks and I'm losing it. My bf just came back and I always make an excuse to see him, that I'm seeing my old "friends" and they don't question it too much but my curfew is still 9 PM. I came home last night at 9:35 PM and I got yelled at, slapped twice, and screamed at about how I have been spending too much money. I literally worked 2 jobs in college last year and have a virtual summer internship. This is MY money. I'm still not allowed to drive, despite having had my license for 3 years now. When I am allowed to drive, it's only like 3 select locations (all no highway) and I have to use our small, crappy car. I need to do shadowing this summer because I'm a pre-dental student, but I'm not allowed to literally drive to do my shadowing hours. My mom takes the small car to work (she refuses to drive anything else) and my dad works from home so we have the big car completely free but I'm just not allowed to drive it at all.
These are just the recent things but there's so many things that I can't do. I've missed out on trips with my friends, concerts with them, etc. My friends (like a group of 15 people are going) recently invited me to this concert in one of my friend's hometowns 2 hours away and offered me a place to sleep but ofc I can't go! I even tried asking and reasoned out how I would get there via public transit and I just got laughed at. It's all my money, too.
The worst part is, even though I've had the best college experience (because they go to bed at 9-10 PM they don't check my location that late, so I've been able to party and finally have that taste of a normal life) and met the most amazing people, none of them can understand this at all. Most of my friends are Indian/Asian and I know a lot of people but everyone I'm close to just doesn't have this problem. I feel bad ranting to them because they don't know what to say or do. Even when they do try, it's things like "try to sneak out" (cameras, motion detectors, etc) or "better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission" like they don't fundamentally understand how bad it could get if I did that.
I'm just stuck. I don't know what to do. I don't know when I can go out with my bf next. I even have to ask permission to go on a walk/run around our neighborhood and need to be back my dinner and can't stay longer than 1 hour on the dot (dinner is at 7:45 PM).
I don't know what to do. I can't get a job because first of all, even though they complain about money to me all the time, they wouldn't let me get a job because it's too much freedom and driving. Secondly, I'm studying for the DAT (Dental Admission Test) this summer and I can barely even concentrate at home because the second it turns 3 PM the TV starts blasting and they're always yelling at each other. I tried to ask if I can go to the library to study and focus, but again they yelled at me about the car thing and then how it would be a waste of gas money and how I can study at home and how I should be waking up at 6-7 AM to study if the house gets loud around 3 PM.
I hope someone on here can understand, even partly, my frustration. I wonder oftentimes what I have done wrong to make them treat me like this. I have talked to them about all of this countless times, and I am currently ignoring them both (only saying yes/no) while also trying to do everything "perfectly" so they don't have anything to yell at me about because they're mad about me coming home at 9:35.
Please help. I just don't want to live like this anymore. I fear this will be my forever.
If I get into my state dental school, my dad said he would want me to commute because it's cheaper but I would be living at home. I would end myself probably. I can't even think about that right now.

I, 33F, have been married to my husband 43M for 3 years now, together for 5 years. His daughter (22F) has HATED me since day 1. For context, I’ve never once tried to mother her and have only tried to be a supportive adult. In the beginning I tried everything to extend an olive branch, I financed a car for her in my name, I added her as an authorized user on my credit cards to help establish her credit after she turned 18. No matter what I did there was always open hostility and blaming me for anything that went wrong in her life. She gets pulled over for a DUI? It’s my fault because I must have called the cops on her and told them. She loses something? It’s my fault because I must have stolen it from her. The examples are endless. It got to the point where she told my husband that he had to choose between us and when my husband stood by my side, she didn’t attend our wedding and went no contact with us for a year and half. She resumed contact when she wanted his help, but it’s always with the caveat that I am not around. She throws fits whenever I am involved even if it’s as simple as we invite her to dinner. She is always asking for money since resuming contact since she refuses to hold a job. He ended up paying for her rent, gas, groceries, and fun money for over a year. Well he finally cut her off financially and only gave her the opportunity to earn money by cleaning our office. He started the business and I work with him. We had previously closed the office down and went full remote but we recently opened a new office and he’s hired his daughter to do the cleaning, which was supposed to be during business hours a set day each week. I was planning on doing hybrid work and taking an office, but I recently learned that he’s going to let her have a key and come in when she’d like, unsupervised. I am extremely uncomfortable with the thought of her having any unsupervised access to any space that I call my own considering her continued hostility towards me. WIBTA if I tell my husband that if she’s allowed to clean unsupervised that I will stick with working fully remote?
Edit to add more context: Mom and dad were together for 16 years but had been divorced for 3 years before I met my husband. She was originally NC with her mom but then chose to go between parents to get to be able to do what she wants. She dropped out of high school in 10th grade and hasn’t even tried for her GED. Mom has been married for 4 years and together with her husband for 5 years and they have 2 year old twin girls together.
Also I don’t want to work at the office since I would be worried about what she possibility do to anything that I leave there as she’s been pretty vindictive in the past.

So I don’t love the term friendzone, but I’m going to use it here as it’s the best applicator
I’ve known this girl for 4 years, though we’ve only been close for maybe a year. In that year we had what I’ll refer to as a 3 month long “talking stage” where I turned down an offer to hookup due to me moving and wanting a relationship. After this we had a strained friendship for a few months. Once it turned out I wasnt moving, we reconnected, I asked her out again, and she said she got over her feelings for me. Cue a month later, she starts treating me like her pseudo boyfriend, where she’s calling me every day, inviting me over every other day to cook together, watch tv, etc. I asked her if she was interested in a real date, as I was feeling mixed signals, she rejected me, I told her we were still friends, but for me we were emotionally crossing some boundaries that I wanted from a partner, and if she wasn’t interested we needed to tone it back.
To her credit, she did. My issue now is she appears to be trying to “force” back the friendship through her friends? She’s part of a group of about 5 girls, whom I’ve all met, but not close with. I haven’t talked to these women in a few months, most of whom I’ve only met once or twice.
Suddenly, they’re all reaching out to me, separately, inviting me to events. I didn’t think much of it at first, maybe just looking for new friends and thought of me, but every single time it’s turned into the following:
One girl asked me to get drinks with her and her bf to catch up, I agreed, and the girl who rejected me (call her Sally) arrived as well, and basically turned into a 4 hour long dinner double date. I walked sally back home and left. Then two days later a different friend invited me to a dinner party. I arrive, it’s all the girls and Sally, and I’m the only guy there. Now a 3rd girl is inviting me to hang out, one who I didn’t even have her number, so she had to get it from one of the other girls, and is asking me to get drinks with her and Sally.
My feelings haven’t changed, I haven’t been rude or ghosting, just minding my own business and not inviting Sally out anymore since we aren’t dating. But still friendly and everything when I have seen her. But it’s increasingly obvious to me that these girls are doing some weird game or something. Like I went out with one of my guy friends, and one of the girls when I ran into them, my guy friend left, and we started casting music, and she had 20+ texts pop up on her phone from Sally asking about me and what was happening. Meanwhile Sally and I haven’t talked one on one.
None of these women seem interested in actual friendship with me (not necessarily, we’re on good terms! But if I was like “hey let’s go do X”, they would immediately invite out Sally)
I would understand if we had been best friends before, but we weren’t. We were “besties” during our short talking stage stint, but other than that more like acquaintances
I feel like I’m being forced into having the closer friendship with Sally than I want or am comfortable with, but don’t know how to communicate it. We all share tons of mutual friends, so idk how to keep the peace and react: but I’ve never had someone work this hard to “friendzone” me before, and it’s weirding me out. Is there a good way to communicate this without it coming out accusatory?
TLDR: girl rejected me, but is now using her friends who I wasn’t close with to contact me and try to remain friends in a weird way. Not sure how to communicate this makes me uncomfortable

I, 37F was involved in a car accident senior year of high school after someone hit me going 56 in a 45 zone when I was driving to my part time job. I overall wasn’t hurt badly, I had just broken my arm and had bruises. I had texted my boyfriend at the time, who was a freshman in college, who was home what had happened and that I was fine. He came to the hospital about 40 minutes later. My mom had called the school and told them about my accident and a few staff members were talking about it in the office, where my friend who I will call b to respect her privacy, was grabbing something for a teacher. She overheard, and went to tell our friends and then left school to come visit me. A teacher gave everyone a free period to make cards or play a game. By the end of the day, everyone had found out and some people had came and visited. Towards dinner, my mom had left to go pick me up dinner and my dad had left to go pick up one of my sisters from a track meet and my other sister up from soccer practice. So it was just me, my boyfriend (now husband), and my friend b. For about 10 minutes we sat around talking, my boyfriend, who I will call M talked about his recent baseball game, b talked about her latest crush, just normal stuff. Until two guys came and started “playing around”.
The Addams family had come out a couple years ago during this and I had dark hair, a “big forehead”, overall I just looked like Wednesday Addams. So the two guys started calling me Wednesday, other rude names, while I lay in a hospital bed. It hurt to move so all I could do was sit there and take it, but sometimes I would say something to make fun of them. It was usually to one guy who played football and had fat fingers. B screamed curse words at them, while M sat there and stared at them. Eventually M stood up and screamed at them both words I probably shouldn’t say here. B left to go get a nurse or security to get the two boys out. That’s when M punched the one who plays football in the face and knocked him over. He then went to the other one and punched him. And went between the two.
My parents, sisters, and friends stood in the door way, while security pushed through them and broke it up. I loved watching this to be honest, they finally got what they deserved. Security escorted the two boys out and let M stay because I had begged. He didn’t even have a bruise on him. I had actually had a crush on M since 7th grade but didn’t get the courage to ask him out until 10th grade. Everyone hugged M, and my dad made him invite his parents over to the hospital to tell them what M had done. Most of my friends, my family, and M sat around across the room eating pizza from my favorite pizza spot, and even though I was hurt, that night was one of my favorite nights I’ve ever had.
M had played baseball all through college, and I played softball once I was better and clear to play. We got married when I was 24 and he was 25. We had a set of identical twins a year later, who are 12, two sons, 10 and 6, and a daughter who is 4. The night he fought for me I will always remember.

I (24M) came out to my cousin (31M) and his gf on Saturday and it was the best coming out experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been having been having a tough time lately with my mental health so he and I got together at his place to grill out, drink some beers and smoke some weed. I’ve always loved my cousin, but he’s a big time hunter, stereotypical redneck type so I’ve always been nervous about telling him.
I wasn’t necessarily planning on coming out but there was an in in the conversation and I told him I was gay. Other than my parents and my sister he’s the first person in the family to know. Normally people are like “oh well that’s cool” or “that’s ok with me” but he was the first person to be genuinely excited for me. He immediately responded with “dude that’s awesome” and asked me if I was seeing anyone and how everyone else had taken it. I told him I have been seeing someone and that my parents know I’m gay but don’t really want to know about my dating life or anything. He said “well shit, bring the guy you’re dating over here and we’ll have dinner and chill and hangout.”
Earlier in the night we had talked about a bonfire that he was planning at his place where most of the family would be invited and he said to bring him to that if I wanted and if anyone had a problem with it he’d personally tell them to fuck off. He was so supportive and kind about the whole thing. He also said that if I wanted to come out to any other family members (including his parents) he’d be willing to sit with me while I did so.
When I left for the night he hugged me tight and told me that he loved me. It was the sweetest moment I’ve had in a long time. I’m still smiling from it four days later.

I (24M) came out to my cousin (31M) and his gf on Saturday and it was the best coming out experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been having been having a tough time lately with my mental health so he and I got together at his place to grill out, drink some beers and smoke some weed. I’ve always loved my cousin, but he’s a big time hunter, stereotypical redneck type so I’ve always been nervous about telling him.
I wasn’t necessarily planning on coming out but there was an in in the conversation and I told him I was gay. Other than my parents and my sister he’s the first person in the family to know. Normally people are like “oh well that’s cool” or “that’s ok with me” but he was the first person to be genuinely excited for me. He immediately responded with “dude that’s awesome” and asked me if I was seeing anyone and how everyone else had taken it. I told him I have been seeing someone and that my parents know I’m gay but don’t really want to know about my dating life or anything. He said “well shit, bring the guy you’re dating over here and we’ll have dinner and chill and hangout.”
Earlier in the night we had talked about a bonfire that he was planning at his place where most of the family would be invited and he said to bring him to that if I wanted and if anyone had a problem with it he’d personally tell them to fuck off. He was so supportive and kind about the whole thing. He also said that if I wanted to come out to any other family members (including his parents) he’d be willing to sit with me while I did so.
When I left for the night he hugged me tight and told me that he loved me. It was the sweetest moment I’ve had in a long time. I’m still smiling from it four days later.

So Me 23(m) and my buddy, let’s call him Robbie 19(m). We are hanging out he comes over and helps me cook dinner. We are having a good time and we are attracted to each other, but things are kinda weird. Some how we end ho talking about Grindr and invite a 3rd over. We are in a miltary town, so everyone is basically a top or has a fetish for the feminine side of things, so the hunt for a bottom is hard. He brings up this guy who he met once. He said the sex was ok, but the guy like confessed his love for him earlier in the day. So I’m down to fuck him with Rob, because Rob made it clear he didn’t want a relationship with the kid, let’s call him Jose(19).
So my place is kinda far out of town, but this kid comes over in like 10 minutes tops. Me and Rob are in the bad kinda just talking having a good time, Jose walks in. Rob says hi introduces me and the whole interaction feels weird. Like he tried to hug Rob, and Rob didn’t want that and just shook his hand. Jose didn’t even seem to wanna talk to me, yet he is at my house and came for a threesome. After we talked for a bit and Jose leans over Rob and kiss his cheek and whisper shit in his ear. Now I’m just sitting on the other side of my bed talking to Rob and he clearly looks uncomfortable. Jose then starts like putting this finger in Robs mouth and Rob is verbally and physically saying stop. Jose begins to ask him about other guys in his phone and read his text as he is scrolling through. Me and Rob engaged in more intense conversation, so Jose rolls to the foot of the bed and is holding Rob hand hostage. I mean death gripping with both hands as he is falling asleep. Rob and I then begin texting and Rob is telling me he has to go and I need to kick him out. So I say something like “yeah I have work at 4 tmr and it 10 yall like got to go” Rob’s like yeah ok and Jose just ignores me and talking about how he is tired. I reply “well you’re not sleeping here” he is like “ I know”. I text Rob and say I’m just going to make out with you, we will act like he doesn’t exist and he will hopefully get the message and leave.
So I lean over and kiss him. (Side note him and I only made out once prior to this, and he is such a good fucking kisser) As we are making out, I kinda forget it was planned and fell into it a bit. So I’m kissing as hard as I can, and enjoying it too. While we are in the middle of making out Jose climbs on top of him and kinda tries to get Robs attention, but me and Rob are enjoying the moment. Jose then gets pissed and move my head to kiss Rob it, it last maybe 5 secs before Rob pulls away and is like “why do you to make out with I make it clear I am not longer interested in doing anything with Jose. Honestly watching Rob kiss him kinda pissed me off. Rob is then like I have to pee and Jose is like, “no you, don’t you lying” and after 5 minutes of him explaining it he finally lets his hand go to pee. Rob comes back and pretend to get his stuff to leave and the guy walks out my door and pauses for a second to wait for Rob bc he is still in my room. He leaves so Rob locks the door and we are talking about how stupid that dude is, and how Jose acted like he didn’t know he was coming over for a threesome but instead came to see Rob. We look out my window to see him park in my yard throwing a tantrum in his car. He leaves then blocks the both of us on Snapchat, then proceeds to text a friend of Rob’s and talk shit on him and says he going to tell him his what Rob is doing.

So for context we met in high school and ended up dating my senior year. I moved across the country to go to college with him, we dated for almost a year but broke up because he was a porn addict also going on tinder and other dating apps while I was sleeping at our apartment messaging girls disgusting things.
The night I found out we were both drunk and got in a huge fight. I was 17 and the time and he grabbed my phone out of my hands and locked himself into the bathroom. As a drunk younger teenager, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it and I was so upset I broke down the door and got it back. His family found out and he blamed everything on me so he wouldn’t get in trouble.
A couple years later I moved back across the country for him and school and we got back together when he started living in my apartment. The same problem happened again where he would be messaging other girls trying to cheat. Eventually things got better and he’d take me out to dinners, invite me to hangout with his friends, have me over at his place for most days out of the week. The issue is he NEVER wants me around his family. Doesn’t invite me on trips, won’t mention me to them, even told me the wrong date for his graduation just so they wouldn’t see me. He tells me he loves me and wants to be with me but continues to hide me from his family.
When he’s drunk he gets really drunk and messages girls from high school specifically one he had a crush on but never dated “i really miss you” and calls her. Then when I get upset he tells me to just leave and says awful things to me that make me feel worthless and like i’ve wasted years of my life. When he sobers up he apologizes and says he didn’t mean any of it he was just hammered and is really nice to me the day after. It exhausts me always having to be vigilant to make sure he’s not cheating, I’m constantly stressed out and sad in the back of my mind.
He is my best friend and I love him to death which is why I want to make it work. When it’s good it’s really good and when it’s bad it kills me. I don’t know how to get through to him so he realizes I’m not trying to start fights I just want to have a normal relationship where I’m included in family events and not cheated on
TL;DR My bf cheats online and hides me from his family after incident above. How do I get him to understand my POV without thinking I’m just starting an argument

The title. I was nervous to go on a date with this cute guy which to which I made the genius decision to drink more than I should have on our dinner date. This resulted in me getting very inebriated very quickly. After he invited back to his place where I passed out in his bed, I awoke to an unmistakable sensation. Myself, his bed, and the pants he let me wear to bed was soaked in…pee. I freaked out on the inside but figured it was probably best to wake him up and come clean. He was actually nice about it, changed the sheets and gave me some clothes to change into. He said he would like to see me again but I can’t tell if he actually meant it or if he’s just being nice🥲 In retrospect it could have been worse but I’m so embarrassed about it. If anyone has any similar stories to make me feel less like an idiot I would greatly appreciate it! TL;DR: Had a little too much to drink on the first date, slept over at a guys house and wet his bed.

https://nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-public-comment-on-plans-for-mars-sample-return-campaign via #NASA_APP

This just happened today and I'm still fuming. I had a sales rep come to my home to give me a quote on refacing my kitchen cabinets. I told him from the beginning (and several more times during the visit) that I was not planning on having the work done until next spring. The kiosk rep had told me that I could get a free estimate and lock in a price for twelve months. The visit itself went fine, he showed me the materials and took measurements. He gave me the estimates for a 12 month locked price, but explained I would save money by buying in 30 days (not much, mind you) and that everyone gets that. I told him again that I was not interested in doing the reno that soon, I was only interested in the 12 month locked estimate. He said he thought I meant this spring. He then asked if I would pay for the gas it cost for him to come out here. I laughed in his face and said "Why would you ask that?" And then he muttered that his wife and him won't eat dinner tonight because he didn't make a sale. I told him that I needed to pick up my daughter from school and that he needed to leave. He quietly packed up his sample and left, but not before pointing out that I probably had to pay a lot for the new flooring.
I kept my cool until he left but I was completely floored by this guilt trip. It's not like one of those overly friendly salesman who become jerks when you turn them down; he was even-keeled the whole time but then made those stupid remarks. He only travelled 30 min to get to my house, and it's not my fault if you can't feed your family. And I never said no, I just wanted to get my 12 month estimate.
The AIO part is that I called his company to complain about the encounter and they were also floored that it had happened. They told me that the sales rep was immediately suspended from sales calls, pending an investigation. He's an older gentleman, and I know he hasn't been with this company long, so he's likely in hot water now. The company offered to send me a gift in the mail but I turned it down, saying that would be inappropriate. So, did I overreact in potentially jeopardizing this man's employment? Honestly, he reminded me of Gil from The Simpson's.

So for context we met in high school and ended up dating my senior year. I moved across the country to go to college with him, we dated for almost a year but broke up because he was a porn addict also going on tinder and other dating apps while I was sleeping at our apartment messaging girls disgusting things. The night I found out we were both drunk and got in a huge fight. I was 17 and the time and he grabbed my phone out of my hands and locked himself into the bathroom. As a drunk younger teenager, I wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it and I was so upset I broke down the door and got it back. His family found out and he blamed everything on me so he wouldn’t get in trouble. A couple years later I moved back across the country for him and school and we got back together when he started living in my apartment. The same problem happened again where he would be messaging other girls trying to cheat. Eventually things got better and he’d take me out to dinners, invite me to hangout with his friends, have me over at his place for most days out of the week. The issue is he NEVER wants me around his family. Doesn’t invite me on trips, won’t mention me to them, even told me the wrong date for his graduation just so they wouldn’t see me. He tells me he loves me and wants to be with me but continues to hide me from his family. When he’s drunk he gets really drunk and messages girls from high school specifically one he had a crush on but never dated “i really miss you” and calls her. Then when I get upset he tells me to just leave and says awful things to me that make me feel worthless and like i’ve wasted years of my life. When he sobers up he apologizes and says he didn’t mean any of it he was just hammered and is really nice to me the day after. It exhausts me always having to be vigilant to make sure he’s not cheating, I’m constantly stressed out and sad in the back of my mind. He is my best friend and I love him to death which is why I want to make it work. When it’s good it’s really good and when it’s bad it kills me. I don’t know how to get through to him so he realizes I’m not trying to start fights I just want to have a normal relationship where I’m included in family events and not cheated on

we’ve been friends for 1 year now. i invited her to my birthday this march and we had an amazing time . we have been doing everything together. her birthday was yesterday and she had a birthday dinner yesterday and they did matching pajamas ( i seen in her close friends on instagram) and i feel so hurt i thought we were close but i guess not im so confused. we do everything together all the time

Notes: This is more of a venting but I need advice post. Also a lot of story telling for background info.
TLDR; My friend/crush hasn't responded to my texts for 2 weeks after he said he missed me. He's been online but is leaving me on delivered. Everything has gone positively and perfect up until now. And I am nervous for the worst case scenario. What do I do?
I (20'sF) have been friends with this guy (20'sM) for 5 years. We have a lot in common. From religion to music to overall interests. We can agree on a lot. I had a huge crush on him when we went to school. But he had rejected me because he didn't want a relationship. In which he has stuck to for the 5 years I've known him. After school he joined the military and I'd hear from him once or twice every couple of months. Which was okay because it gave me time to relieve my crush on him. But overall he was the ideal guy, I find him highly attractive, super intelligent, and overall a great person.
I never truly got over the crush, but I just let it sit in the back of my head.
We both went on with our lives, I had my first boyfriend. But it never worked out. But last summer he came home and asked if I wanted to go out. So I was excited to agree to it. We spent all day together, just talking about random stuff and catching up on life. He asked me to hang out again the next day so we went to a movie. It all went fairly well, it just felt like we were reconnecting and we became stronger friends.
After he left I went on with my life as he went on with his. I had gone out on one date with a former classmate from high school. And it didn't work out because there wasn't a connection. But when November came around, my friend had text me and asked if he should come home. In fact, his reasoning of coming home was to see his family and because he had missed me.
We had only talked 2-3 times a month between him leaving and him coming home again.
He came home in December and he had text me to make plans. He wanted to go ice skating and so he took me for the first time. He had insisted on putting my skates for me because I was struggling. And he wanted to hold my hand so he could protect me from falling. After that we went to a mall and he bought me a candle (and one for himself). Then we went to a pho cafe and had lunch. I got to hear his fun stories from when he had pho as a kid. It was so fun just listening to him be excited about what he likes. Although he isn't a talkative guy, he's always been known to be really quiet and introverted.
Later after that, we went back to my house and spent some time talking. He found interest in my rings and asked about them. He was just sitting next to me and ASKED if he could kiss me. I have never really heard of someone asking first. But I am also inexperienced in kissing, so that explains it. We had kissed and then we went up to my room and cuddled. We just appreciated each other's presence, kissing, holding hands, laughing, playing with each other's hair, all of that.
A couple days later, I saw this car rolling up my street slowly while I was out walking my dog. It happened to be him and his parents. They knew about me and wanted to see where I lived. So I got to meet his parents. Later on, my friend would text me and ask various questions his parents had for me.
I invited him over a couple days before he left for his home. I made him dinner and we had a drink or two. After that we went to my room again to watch tv and cuddle. We basically did what we did the previous time and some other things. The next day, I was just hanging out at home and I heard a car door outside. It was my friend. He stopped by to say goodbye before he left to go home. He said bye, kissed me once more, and then got in his dad's vehicle and left.
When he got home we talked almost everyday with maybe a 3-4 day break in between talking. Which was a huge step. He'd complement me, say that he thought I was really sweet, he wished me happy birthday 4 times (yes, 4 times. He was also the first to say it), and things of that sort. I returned the complements and so on. He even joked about us getting married. Which was so sweet. We've talk about how we missed each other several times and how we can't wait to see each other again. Talked about when he'll come home and that I'd be one of the main reasons he'd come home. Everything is great. Although he didn't want a relationship until the future. Which is okay, because he has stuck to that for the years I've known him. But everything still went fairly smoothly. It feels like a fresh breath of air.
I would always ask him how he is doing. Or he'd just tell me about his day before I could even ask. If I was delayed in response, I'd always apologize and he'd say there was nothing to be sorry about. He'd constantly reassure me. Which is a great sign, friend-wise and potential-partner-wise. He is such a great guy personality wise, highly intelligent, very kind, likes to listen but is generally a quiet person, always tells the truth, has a good sense of humor, and so on. He's also always happy for me when I talk about something like a job offering or something big in my life. As I'm always happy for him when he has something exciting going on. We're always supporting each other and hoping that we're in the best shape.
All the way up until 2 weeks ago, everything went incredibly well. I have never had a guy actually treat me like this. I mean, things could still be well, but who knows.
He had texted me one morning like usual. So I responded when I was able to (maybe an hour later). And I haven't heard from him since. I get that life gets in the way or he may have to prioritize something differently. But it is unlike him to just drop out. I've occasionally noticed that he had been online. So why isn't he responding? I know well that he isn't seeing anyone. Since he sticks to his word. Plus his last words to me were: "I miss spending time with you" (we were talking about something he missed from back home and that he didn't know when he'll get to return). I texted him after not hearing from him for a week and still nothing. I am afraid he is ghosting me although I feel like he wouldn't do such thing. I just get scared of that from past experiences. So, maybe he is just busy? Maybe he has something high-priority going on? Maybe he is just being his introverted self and kinda keeping to himself? We are just friends for now so it shouldn't bother me too much. But I still get worried for him. (although when I mentioned a few years ago that I got worried for him, he had said that he hopes I didn't worry too much). I understand that it would be difficult for us to date and that maybe right now wouldn't be a good time to date since neither of us are in a position to date (we're both still trying to find a balanced routine, calm down, take care of ourselves, and navigate being adults lol. plus I am just starting in a professional workforce so I am trying to balance life with that too).
What do I do? Does anyone have a take or any advice on this?
Note: please do ask questions incase I come off in a wrong or weird way. thank you!!!

Hi there, long time lurker (since DDay last december) here but first time poster! Before I make this post, I want to clarify that I will be using the correct jargon and abbreviations for this subreddit, although I am still not sure wether my story belongs here. So here goes!
Me (31F), the BP and my WP (30M) have been together for 4 years now. December 2023 I caught my WP in what I believe was a starting EA. I had suspicions for while though, since it started in May 2022. Things were odd in my opinion, but I've also found it wasn't anything like most stories i'd read of EA's and nevee thought it was just me being silly.
WP was finishing his degree and he had half a year of a curriculum to follow still, with a new school and classmates. He found a friend group (all around 19/20 years old) there that he enjoyed hanging out with. Total of 4 guys (including him) and 2 girls. The curriculum ended with a 4-day schooltrip, after which he started acting weird. He was glued to his phone and distant. So much so that he ruined our anniversary dinner. He was completely distant, and when i suggested annoyingly that we might as well just leave, his response was "sure." And so we did.
I got tired of this behaviour and confronted him with it. It then came out that it was because it was a very emotional trip, where he revealed some traume about himself to his classmates, and didnt know how to reveal it to me and was afraid. I found this very strange as I did not see the connection to his distant behaviour in that. I won't go into detail but i personally did not find it anything to be ashamed of. As far as I know nothing happened there (though now, I will never know I guess), only that it was very much some teenager frat party for the entire trip.
Over the next 1,5 years from that trip in May 2022, WP and this group of friends stayed in contact. It wasn't much, and they'd see each other every 2 or 3 months, but WP did have considerably more text conact with one girl (AP), although it wasn't as much as most EA stories I read, like once a month (much more right after the trip though). Whenever he'd meet the friend group, WP would make it a thing to avoid inviting me. I'd seen them only twice in that whole time. He would either inform me a week before the meetup he was gonna go there, without invitation, or let me know right before or not at all (i later found in text messages, on meetups that never happened). It was always with the group though.
Don't get me wrong, I probably would've declined invitations anyway as they were way too young imo, but that fact he went out of is way to not include me was odd. Besides that i absolutely believe its healthy to also have friend alone time besides partner. But still, it struck me as strange.
This went on until he told me beginning of last december he was going for a weekend away with them at some point. His behaviour was beyond weird and awkward, as if he was asking his mom something he knew the answer was gonna be 'no' to. Thats when, a week later, i needed his phone for something, and it urged me to check messages with AP.
There it became apparant they had a much closer bond, albeit the little contact. There was mostly joking, but also some flirtation, mostly from her side. I found it during the 4 day school trip she had been telling him that people were gossiping because she supposedly was in love with him, and looking at hime alot and asked him if he minded the gossip. WP's response was "pff i dont care, ill look back at you like im in love, let them talk". There was also alot of venting from her about her bf, and him being the support for it all. I used to admire WP's need to help others, now it just makes me wanna vomit.
In the more recent convo's between them she was telling him to ask my permission for a weekend away, which is strange imo as friends, to do that. She started joking abouy skinny dippinh after. After that she was venting about the break up between her bf and her, how she was so "sex deprived" after a week, WP was happily joking along🙄 until she suggested that she'd get her fix with WP. WP's answer was ambigious, in our language it could equally mean "too bad for you I am taken" or "unfortunately I am taken already". AP reacted somewhere along the lines of "im only joking you know that😘😘😘". WP replied "i know babez😘"
Had read most of it at this point and had enough. I confronted him 2 weeks later. What followed was me yelling and crying, and him trying to explain everything with logic. Not once did he reassure or comfort me. Not until I asked him to. He didn't cut contact with AP immediately, but did so a week later. He decided that on his own and decided to do it when we were both at work. It was another stab in the back because it felt like he just wanted to control the narrative. I did check his phone at this time and he started deleting stuff, he also wasn't fully aware what I knew at this point (mind you he never deleted stuff before and phones were always open for each other) I asked him multiplie times if he wasnt deleting and lying about stuff, in comes the TT, lying and denying🙄. It wasn't until i mentioned, multiple times that I knew he was deleting and lying about stuff. His response "ohyeah, no i remember i did delete some stuff". He never fully aknowledged his betrayal, nor his TT and lying. He did fully block AP, went NC, as well as with the entire friend group, but he has done nothing to fix this. He keeps saying "he doesn't know how to fix it", even though he shows remorse and says he never wanted AP or meant anything with it, i guess throwing away our relationship meant less then "anything" then if thats the case. I feel like it's not my problem to fix, he has google and other resources to try and find a way but he just doesn't.
I am hurt, humiliated and angry. He has done nothing right in this proces, i feel. He has been rugsweeping, not been transparant, went NC with AP by blaming himself and coddling her. blocked her. Unblocked her again and then blocked again. Ofcourse no visible messages, but i cannot no for sure there werent any. AP's last message to WP was "i hope ill talk to you again at school XYZ". So apparantly they had discussed going there together next, something i knew nothing of while I was trying to help him find a good next school (which he was always dismissing, now i know why). I feel my resentment for him grow, even though he has been more sweet to me lately. I feel he has not even acknowledged the gravity of what he has done to me. The only thing he did 'right' was voluntarily telling me he gave AP a neck massage once at one of these meetups, I did not know at all. Apparantly she messaged him after rather flirtasiously afterwards, which was deleted.
We are not in IC or CC, as our workschedules don't allow it, though, to be fair he has not initiated it either and I also refuse to do it myself. Sometimes i even doubt this was an EA and it's in my head, but the pain is very very real. Advice is welcome, thank you and sorry for the long read<3
EDIT: I forgot to add that WP did explain his avoidance behaviour and clingyness to this group, he felt like he could finally be the center of attention there, since he couldnt with me and my friends, especially since im an extrovert and WP is an introvert. Thats why he never wanted me with these meetups. Also because he moved from pretty far to my place and these where the only friends who werent 2 hours away

How It Ended
by Ethan O’Driscoll
A thrilling Post apocalypse story
Intro
HRV-1
22 July 2024
Dr Olivia Warren Head of Biotech NARU
This is my latest report on the HRV-1 Virus we were instructed to design by the Russian Government.
The HRV-1 is an incredibly viral and infectious Retrovirus similar to HIV. Changes have been make on a genetic level to provide the request modes of transmission and symptoms.
Those symptoms are:

• Profuse bleeding from the mouth, eyes, lips, gums and pores of the skin
• Confusion
• Coma
• Total organ failure leading to death
• Reanimation after death and post-mortem hypo-aggression

This all included in a highly infectious package
The infection vectors are:

• bodily fluids
• contaminated area
• ANYTHING that has come in contact with infected bodily fluids
• airborne droplets

This is by far the most dangerous diseases we’ve ever designed. I pray to god the Russians only want it as a means of deterrent because if they use it I have no doubt it will end the world. The first sample should be ready to ship next week.
Chapter 1
The Outbreak
1 January 2025
Dr Olivia Warren Head of Biotech NARU
I can’t believe the bastards used it. The first cases came in from Kiev in December from there it spread like a wild fire through Europe the death toll now sits at 65 millions. The hordes rampage through city after city by the millions. There is no way to stop this. What have I done.
NATO forces have established a quarantine of Europe but I can’t help but feel like its too little too late. My estimate is that all infected nations in Europe will be consumed within the next month or two. The Corporation has started the construction of a company safe haven for us higher ups. All we can do is hope the construction is complete before this thing breaks quarantine.
15 February 2025
Dr Olivia Warren
The world is ending. Europe is gone. The quarantine is broken. We’ve got cases in Asia, South America, Here at home in the US, Australia and Africa nowhere is safe. I did this.
Infection number right now:

• Africa 100 Million
• Europe 890 Million
• Asia 250 Million
• North America 250 Thousand
• South America 120 Million
• Australia 24 Million

There is no hope
The safe zone is complete at least we are planning on moving all operations and personal within the week. I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself. Dixie is my only saving grace and at least she’ll be safe. I pray for the soul of all those my creation has killed.
20 March 2025
Dr Olivia Warren
Dixie is at the Safe zone.
I can’t live with myself any more. 4 billion people dead
Chapter 2
A New World
My name is Dixie Warren. Daughter of Dr Olivia Warren. Not that I’ve seen her in 15 years. I remember like it was yesterday. She told me to get on that NARU helicopter that she’d meet me at the safe zone. Those were the last words she ever said to me. I was 8 when the world ended.
Its been 15 years since the Outbreak. There isn’t really anything left of the old world. NARU still exists and turns out they created the virus and my mom was the head of the department that did it. They sold it to the Russians hoping they wouldn’t use it but they did.
It was specifically designed to spread and destroy as fast as possible and it did. I left the safe zone 2 years ago after I learned this information. Now I just spend my time wandering from town to town. My training on the NARU security team helps. At least I know all the best places to shoot a Freaker. That's what we call the infected and for good reason. Most of the time you’ll find them wondering around in groups of 5 to 10 if the group gets too big they turn on each other and form a pile of bodies devouring each other. They moan and scream to communicate and once they see you they will hunt you till you kill every last on of them or you get far enough away. They can run and are abnormally strong if there bodies aren’t damaged they’re a bitch to kill but I’m pretty good at it.
Right now I’m outside Richmond I’ve been stuck here for a week waiting for a large horde to move through. I’m hoping to hunt some of the stragglers and re-up on some supplies. A big horde like this usually leave a few hundred behind. My new AR has been waiting for some fun, I’ve got a new red dot and laser so I should be able to pop headshot after headshot but for now I should go find something to eat.
I’ve made it to a small department store outside the town. It looks like the horde is almost gone. Tons of freaks roaming around though. I can hear a few in the store. I’m going to try getting in through the back and take them out.
Made it back home and wow that store was a gold mine. I got food, water, bullets and even some whiskey. I’m going to enjoy the night then its time to hunt some stragglers. Then I’m thinking of going further south maybe New Orleans heard there might be a small settlement out there from another traveller, might be able to get another courier job or at least I’ll be able to stock up on supplies properly after all these years there isn’t much left in the cities to scavenge.
I better get some rest got a long day of freak killing and walking tomorrow.
Chapter 3
The Road to Home
I left Richmond yesterday. It’s a long road to New Orleans I wished I lived in the days when cars worked. NARU are the only people with working vehicles left and they aren’t exactly the sharing type. Its so lonely out here its been weeks since I last saw another living person the only things you see out here in the ruins are freaks by the hundreds. Its hard to believe the whole world was reduced to nothing by something my mom created. I remember her being the kindest most caring person in the world to think that she could create something so destructive is unbelievable. I’ve still got a long way to go the first city I should have to go through is Raleigh.
I’ve been walking for about a day and I can see the ruins from here. Its always so surreal to see the cities now, so desolate so empty. I remember growing up in Seattle, the city lights, the noise it was always so alive and busy. Now they’re all empty husks or mostly empty at least can’t forget about the freaks. Must’ve killed a thousand of them on my way here almost got bitten when one jumped me under an overpass about 10 miles back. Luckily my machete seems to be as good as ever at cutting up freaks. I should make it to Raleigh within the day.
Made it to Raleigh and its a mess, thousands of freaks I could hear the moaning and screaming from a mile away. I’m going to try finding my way around the city no point in trying to fight my way through a wall of freaks.
Heard crying coming from a house I walked past I decided to check it out and I found a young boy name Richie hiding in a bathroom with what looked like his infected parents trying to break the door down. I took both of them down with a clean headshot. The look on his face when he saw them dead breaks my heart. He says they’ve been hiding out in this house for a month or two after there homestead was overrun by freaks. Its a sad story but it gives me hope that people are at least trying to survive and rebuilt. He’s only 16 yet he’s seen so much and has nowhere else to go so I asked him if he wanted to stick with me and he was elated so I guess I’ve got a sidekick now. I’m not complaining should make the long lonely road more interesting. He’s got no combat experience but he can shoot a pistol so I gave him one of my backups at least I always carry extra. We’ve decided to hunker down for the night and do some scavenging before we leave for Charlotte tomorrow. I’ll be nice to have company for once I’ve been alone for so long.
I woke up to a gunshot and Richie screaming in the other room. When I got there I found Richie pale as snow and a little girl that was clearly infected shot lying on the floor. When I asked Richie who it was he replied in a cold distant voice “My little sister”. It was a heart breaking moment in less than 24 hours Richie had lost everyone. That was a feeling I knew too well my mom was all I had my dad died when I was really young and all I knew after the Outbreak before I left the safe haven was NARU but that wasn’t the best place to build personal connections just a bunch of science types that destroyed the world. Not exactly the most social lot and the security forces were just a bunch of military types that didn’t like the fact that as a teenager I was doing better than them in every metric except raw physical strength but even in that I was better than a lot of them. It’s almost time for us to get going I should pack up and make sure Richie’s okay.
We decided to stop by the old gun store on our way out of Raleigh. Richie mentioned seeing it when him and his dad went out to scavenge one time. He says it looked all locked up meaning there’s a good chance that there might still be something left to take. When we arrived there Richie was right it was locked tight it looked like there might be a way in from the roof so we decided to climb up when I got up there I was jumped by a freak that was just waiting but this one was different smarter in a way it heard me climbing up but instead of screaming and jumping off to get me it decided to hide and wait. In my years of freak killing I’ve never seen one that waits and ambushes. I hope this isn’t a sign that the infected are getting smarter. Anyway Richie popped it in the head and we got in to the gun store and what a find it was. I managed to get a brand new Glock 9 with a torch attachment and extended mag to replace the pistol I gave Richie. Speaking of Richie he decided on a 12 gauge pump with a tube extension and a AR-15 with a suppressor, extended mag and front grip. We also found enough ammo to keep us stocked even if we have to shoot our way to Charlotte now that we’re locked and loaded its time to leave this shit hole and start walking to the next shit hole at least for once I won’t be alone.
Chapter 4
The Road to Charlotte
We’d been walking for 60 miles before we were jumped by a gang of thugs. I caught a round to the leg before I knew what was happening Richie was more awake than me and managed to put a round through the bastards chest before his friends jumped out from behind two cars in front of us we managed to take cover behind a ruined car and we returned fire. I could see the thugs had no skill they just fired randomly in our direction while we were in cover I waited till they had to reload and tossed a molotov at one of them burning the bastard to a crisp. Richie rushed the other and unloaded some buckshot into his head. My leg hurts like a bitch. Richie bandaged it up for me he’s really starting to get used to life on the road. Looking at our map it looks like there is a gas station about 10 miles away so I guess I’ll limp my way there so we can hunker down while me leg heals. I still can’t believe I let the bastard catch me lacking but it won’t happen again
We made it too the gas station. The place looks almost perfectly preserved except the group of freaks that were shuffling around outside nothing that we couldn’t deal with. There is a lot of food and water here and we should be safe here while my leg heals. I hope we don’t run into any more problems till then. I trust Richie but he’s still learning and I’m not sure he’d be able to deal with any major problem on his own.
Its been 4 weeks since I took that shot to my leg and I’m feeling a lot better. Richie managed to find some painkiller so he was able to get the round out and everything healed nicely. He really is an amazing guy young and naive but he really is a good person. I don’t know how I did it without him for so long. It nice not being alone any more. I think I’m ready to get moving again we have about another 100 miles left to go before we get to Charlotte so we better get moving.
We’re about 20 miles from Charlotte, the roads been peaceful we ran into a group of survivors living on a pretty well fortified farm about 25 miles back. They were having issues with some freaks hanging around their water pumping station so we dealt with them for them in exchange for some antibiotics to help with an infection Richie got in his leg where he cut himself jumping a fence while a freak chased him before I could dome it. Only god knows how I didn’t get an infection in my leg after getting shot but he did from cutting himself on a rusty fence guess I’m just lucky. After helping them back we continued on our way. Nothing else interesting happened and Richie is looking a lot better and his cut is basically healed. We should get to Charlotte within the day but I want to stop on a hill on the Outskirts to set up base and get a look at the situation in the city because the farmers mentioned that a horde had passed through recently and they usually get held up in cities they should have moved on by now but better safe than sorry
Chapter 5
Charlotte
We made it to the hill outside Charlotte and the place is infested millions of freaks. I’ve never seen so many of them in one place and I think I know why. In the middle of the city is an old NARU emergency treatment centre. A place where all of the cities first infected were sent. A good plan till there were to many of them and quarantine was broken then all it was was a collection of infected right in the middle of the city which lead to the whole thing being infected much faster. I’m guessing this caused most of the freaks to pile and the smell was attracting more. Oh I forgot to mention the smell imagine a pile of thousands of rotting corpses that’s the smell I’m talking about. There’s no chance we’ll be able to get through the city but I need to get to that NARU site. There might be some old documents or something about my mom I need to find out what happened to her. I’ve spoken to Richie and we both agree that we should try and divert the horde away so we can have time to get to the NARU centre.
Richie has volunteered to draw the hordes attention away while I get to the NARU building. The plan is he triggers an explosion at an old gas station on the other side of town while I get to the building and look for information about the virus and what happened to my mom. All I know is that my mom created the virus while working for NARU. I need to find out what happened to her. I hate putting Richie at risk but it needs to be done.
I just heard the explosion and it works thousands of freaks started moving like a tidal wave of flesh towards the sound I hope Richie is on his way to the meeting place at the abandoned NARU checkpoint on the south side of town but I don’t have time to think about it now I’m almost at the NARU centre I need to be as fast as possible
I made it to the NARU centre and it’s covered in bodies there’s no way I can get in it looks more like a pile of living human corpses than a building I’m guessing the freaks all turned on and consumed each other till they were all stuck and fused together. I’m making my way to the NARU checkpoint I hope Richie is already there and safe.
I made it to the NARU checkpoint and reunited with Richie. He was covered in blood and gore. He had to kill hundreds of freaks to make it here. He says he was almost bitten a few times. I can’t believe I risked his life for nothing. I’ll never do it again. While exploring the place I found this.
20 March 2025
Dr Olivia Warren
Dixie is at the Safe zone.
I can’t live with myself any more. 4 billion people dead
The final communication between my mom and NARU it turns out she couldn’t live with the guilt and decided to kill herself. I can’t blame her I would probably do the same if I was the reason the world ended and killed billions of people but it still breaks my heart. I am happy to know she’s dead and not infected lumbering around somewhere.
Richie is exhausted and so am I were going to take a brake here and continue on to Atlanta tomorrow.
Everything is packed up and we’re ready to go. Last night was rough I kept watch while Richie slept I hate to admit it but I think I’m falling in love with him. I never really had a first love I live for 13 years at NARU but I was the oldest kid there by far by the time any of the boys were close to my age I was already jaded and thinking about leaving so I didn’t pay any attention to them but Richie is different when I found him he was so helpless and lost now he’s strong, confident and he’s so loyal to me. I don’t want to speak to soon by I think he might feel the same way I guess time will tell we still have a long road to walk together. Speaking of walking Atlanta here we come.
Chapter 6
Road to Atlanta
We ran into a group of survivors hiding in a shed on the outskirts of Charlotte on our way home two parents and a little girl they were all bitten and waiting to turn they begged us to put them down before they turned so I did but I think it took a toll on Richie. He’s been almost silent since it must’ve reminded him of his parents and little sister I hope the day never comes that one of us get bitten and the other one has to decide whether or not to do it but if it does I hope Richie has what it takes to put me down if not I hope I get to do it myself before I turn but I shouldn’t be thinking about things like that. Thinking about your own death is a pretty sure-fire way to make it happen.
We ran into a pretty large group of infected must’ve been about 20 of them but all of them behaved the same as the one that jumped me on the roof of the gun store back in Raleigh. I guess that confirms that it wasn’t a once off thing but I still wonder what causes it maybe I’ll find out one day. We took them all down and continued on I hate to admit it but I really enjoy killing freaks call it therapy I guess. Richie is running low on ammo for his 12 gauge. There should be a gun store in about 30 miles so we should be able to restock there. My ammo supplies are also running a bit low only got about a hundred rounds per gun left. I know that sounds like a lot but with all the freaks on the roads it barely enough after Raleigh I had about a 500 per gun. Lets hope we don’t run into any large hordes till we get to the gun store.
We made it to the gun store just to find it controlled by 2 less than friendly guys. They opened fire as soon as they same us. We returned fire and we’re about to enter the store. Richie kicked the door down and I rushed in I let of two shots taking down the one guy the other was a second away from filling me with bullets from his Uzi but luckily Richie put a round through his chest and another through his right eye before he could. Thank god. I don’t know what I would do without him. We’ve decided to rest tonight and continue tomorrow morning.
Dixie: “Hey Richie”
Richie: “Hey Dixie”
Dixie: ”How you feeling buddy”
Richie: ”Oh you know always OK”
Dixie: ”That’s good buddy”
Richie: “Hey Dixie thank you for everything you really are the best thing that ever happened to me”
Dixie: ”Don’t mention it buddy I love you”
We’re almost 20 miles away from Atlanta and I’m not hopeful judging by smell. I’m guessing its going to be a lot worse than Charlotte but we’ll have to wait and see.
We’ve made it to the outskirts of Atlanta and its as bad as I thought there are hundreds of body piles almost the size of buildings. The living freaks move around the city streets like blood through the veins of the body. Some of them are engaged in massive fights with other groups ripping each other apart.
We’re going in tomorrow but for now Richie’s hunting while I scope out the area. I hope he brings some venison anything but rabbit. I’m sick of rabbit meat. When he comes back I want to try and cuddle up to him and see what happens
Richie and I have eaten and we’re getting ready to sleep. I asked Richie if I could sleep in his sleeping bag with him. He looked at me like I was crazy but once I insisted I was serious I could see the joy on his face so we cuddled up for the night and went to sleep
Wow it felt so amazing sleeping in Richie’s arms and today everything feels different but in a good way everything just feels more intimate we had an amazing conversation about life this morning and it feels like our bond is on a whole new level. Its time to go explore Atlanta there should be an old NARU field hospital on the North-side of town but we’ve got a whole city to get through before that.
Chapter 7
Atlanta
Atlanta is a nightmare right now we’re stuck in a pharmacy bunch of freaks trying to get to us. I’m busy wiring up a pipe bomb while Richie holds the door then when I’m done BOOM
Richie Move....
BOOM....
Well that’s one way to deal with freaks. Always hate being covered in gore though. We’re near the city centre now and its as bad as we thought the place is infested with freaks every building, street and alley we’ve been fighting for every mile we’ve been moving basically carving our way through the city leaving streets flooded in blood but its worth it I can see the NARU hospital and it looks like I might be able to get in this time.
We’re Exploring the NARU hospital and its a goldmine I found a bunch of old documentation on the virus and even some reports of small towns keeping quarantine for years after the Fall. There’s also apparently an old supply and weapons depot nearby so were going there next.
Richie has been opening up a lot his little sister was out playing when a freak got her. Her parents couldn’t put her down so she turned and bit them he hid in the bathroom for 2 days before I got there and put then out of the misery. I wish I could understand how he feels because I never had anyone except my mom and I lost her so young so it never really affected me. I love him so much. This would be so difficult without him.
We made it to the NARU supply depot and it basically empty I mean it make sense Atlanta was one of the first city to fall due to vast number of infected that moved in from the nearby NARU detention camp. That was a bright idea locking up a bunch infected in one place and expecting the place to last. So the city fell to chaos pretty quickly and NARU withdrew most likely taking everything with them that or it was looted after the city fell doesn’t matter now its almost night and we should get some rest we’re going to camp on a nearby rooftop.
Sitting on the roof with Richie and a fire I can’t help but feel like life isn’t that bad yeah its not what it used to be but I mean I have food and freedom and someone I love what more could someone want from life. Looking out at the desolate streets full of freaks well except the streets we pushed through I see the death of the old world and the birth of a new one.
I should get to sleep we got a long road to Birmingham tomorrow. Its so warm and cosy pressed up against Richie.
Chapter 8
The Road To Birmingham
On our way out of Atlanta we ran into a huge freak and I mean a huge motherfucker must’ve been at least 10 feet tall and covered in muscle it looked like it was made of at least 5 other freaks. He tossed Richie against a car and knocked him out I managed to chop one of its arms off before it threw me 10 feat in the air and I crashed down on my back and passed out when I woke up Richie was putting round after round in the things chest and it still wouldn’t go down to I ran jumped on its back and used my machete to chop the freaks head off and burnt the body with a molotov just to be sure the thing was dead
Richie was pretty beat up and I’m not going to lie so was I my back hurts like a bitch but we keep on going no matter what because we still have each other. Still I wonder how those freaks got combined into that thing. Maybe that’s why they pile the way they do so they can combine into something bigger I remember something in one of the NARU document mentioning the virus being able to cause “cellular recombination” so I wonder if that’s not maybe what happened and if it is it means things are about to get a lot worse and a lot more dangerous.
We’re about 50 miles always from Birmingham now. The road has been pretty quite only the occasional group of freaks and the group of raiders we ran into outside a gas station awhile back but this time we got the drop on them and not the other way round gave all three of them a new hole in the head Richie was worried that they might be survivors till we found Sandra tied up in the gas station bathroom turns out the bastards grabbed her from her family farm during the night a few days ago and have been taking turns on her over and over since then. We agreed to take her home its the least we could do after everything that happened to her. When we got her home we found the place burnt down and her family butchered outside. I’m guessing after they grabbed her the bastards came back to finish the job. She’s decided to stick with us she’s a lot older than me and Richie. She used to be a nurse before the Outbreak she dealt with some of the first infected until NARU took over the hospitals. When things really started to go bad she moved back to Alabama to her old family farm to live with her parents they managed to set everything up before the Fall and have been living there since well till recently. She’s pretty shook about the whole situation but she should be okay in a day or two. We’ve all lost something in this new world.
We’ve made it to the outskirts of Birmingham and the place is a fortress looks like remnants of the US military and NARU have fortified the place they have watch towers, auto-turrents and armed patrols. Also looks like they have a lot of military hardware. I know better than to approach the main gate NARU has a shoot on site order for all there quarantine zones no reason to assume this place would be any different. Still I have to get a look inside. Tonight while Richie and Sandra set up camp I’m going to look around and see if I can find a way in. I have to know what’s going on here.
I’ve taken a look around and I’ve found a way in through an old sewer pipe running into an old factory from there I should be able to sneak into the city and have a look around maybe they have some new information on the virus or at least I should be able to find some weapons for Sandra
Chapter 9
Birmingham
Richie and Sandra are waiting for me back at camp while I go explore the city. I left most of my kit behind except my Glock and combat knife. I’m not planning on getting into any fights and if I do I want the finished as quickly as possible. I’ve made it to the sewer pipe it should lead me to the sewer grate I saw on the other side of the fence from there I should have free reign over the city as long as I avoid the NARU patrols and don’t draw to much attention to myself.
I’ve made it into the city and it looks like something out of a George Orwell novel. Security cameras on every street, I’ve seen security forces beat a man to death and another group drag a young women kicking and screaming into an abandoned building. I hate to say it but I think life is better outside with the freaks than in here. Can’t say I’m surprised there’s a reason I left the NARU security forces and the safe zone. Lets just say civilian life and happiness has never been on their priority list. I can see a NARU supply depot I should be able to get a uniform and standard load out last I remember NARU doesn’t have a way of removing employees from the database so my security id number should still work.
I was right NARU never changes I just used my id to get a brand new NARU-P-2a NARU's home grown assault rifle basically its everything the AR-15 is but better its literally a gun made for killing freaks and you can feel it. I always wished I stole one when I left but I guess better late than never I also scanned through a few of the latest security reports and it seems like big guys like we fought back in Atlanta are becoming more common as well as a new faster infected with razor sharp claws that hunt and ambush their victims. We haven’t ran into one of those yet and I hope we don’t any time soon. I hope Richie and Sandra are okay, they should be we have no shortage of fire-power but I still worry. I’m going to keep taking a look around and maybe find out how they’ve maintained quarantine for so long
Well I got my answer and its not a good one. The NARU higher ups here basically outlawed being sick. Anyone with any symptoms that might be HRV-1 are immediately executed and burnt without exception I guess that’s one way to maintain quarantine but I can’t help but wonder how many thousands of innocent people have died to maintain it.
I think its about time I get out of here and back to Richie and Sandra.
I made it back to camp. I’m so happy to be back with Richie. He went out hunting and brought back a nice fat wild pig for dinner. Sandra is looking a lot better as well she still has that distant look in her eye but that should go away soon
Next stop Montgomery Alabama.
Chapter 10
The Road to Montgomery
I still can’t get it out of my head. The freaks are changing getting more dangerous, if I understand correctly the longer they are infected the more unstable the virus gets leading to mutations. I hope this doesn’t mean that the longer we survive the harder its going to get but there’s no point in worrying about whether or not the freaks are going to be stronger in the future as long as we make sure we get stronger too it should work out just fine. Richie and I are doing really well our love kinda makes everything a lot easier. Gives us a reason if that makes sense Sandra on the other hand is kinda dead weight if I’m being honest but its not her fault. She’s been through a lot Richie and I do our best to look out for her and take care of her. I just wish she’d start to adjust to life out here she still winches every time we take out a group of freaks or thugs and she’s a bleeding heart. Yesterday as we were going past a little abandoned convenience store we heard a little girl crying when we asked what was wrong she said they were trapped and needed help. It was obviously a trap we could see the store was fortified and the little girl looked too happy for a kid whose parents were stuck and dying but Sandra insisted we go in and help and what do you know the kids parents are perfectly healthy and holding us at gun point luckily I’m pretty quick on the draw and managed to put two rounds through the fathers chest and Richie tackled the mom. I walked up to the big dude and put one through the head to make sure the mom learns her lesson. We agreed to let her and her daughter live as long as the promised to stop robbing travellers. Sandra couldn’t handle the fact that I finished the dad off even though I think that was better than leaving his family to watch him bleed out because there was no way he would have survive I shot him through both of his lungs they would have filled up with blood and he would have chocked to death I did him a favour by putting him down but she didn’t see it that way even threatened to go it on her own until Richie and I told her to go ahead if she really thought it was the best thing for her. She then decided to stick with us
We’re nearly at the outskirts of Montgomery, we just passed the old civil rights monument. The roads been a bit too still I have a bad feeling about what we’re going to find when we get there