I'm I think halfway through the game, I travelled back in time to get back the gold orb but man this story just hits me in the feels. When u go back to ur past self and tell him not to give up it made me sad and seeing your dad again.
This game just hits you in the feels with the amount of shit the hero has to go through, from slavery, to losing his wife to missing eight years of his children's growth, it's so tragic but at the same time when you get to know your kids, talk to Sancho and see how they grew and also going to see how your friends grew too (Prince Harry and his children and family) this game really knows how to pull at your heartstrings.
I've been playing the games in order and I must say I think this is the best one I've played so far.

Hello, I recently moved to a whole new place where I don't know anybody but have managed to make a few friends that I connect well with and attend the same community club together.
This place is the straight up countryside so there aren't that many people in general in the same age range as me (26 M), but I happened to meet a girl that I felt like I connected particularly well with. we haven't gone on any dates or anything but the few times we have been alone together I have a lot of fun and can be open with her. Her friend told me that she has a long distance boyfriend, but the friend and the girl herself has told me that he's not that great a guy and that she is having issues with him such as him badmouthing things she likes, the girl herself, and is overall just an immature guy when it comes to relationships (they've been dating for around 1-2 months now at this point.
The girl has told me that when he came to visit and stay at her place, she told the guy she wanted to break up with him, that he started to cry and beg for her not to leave and that he'll change and what not, and because shes just a nice person overall and felt bad, they decided to keep the relationship going but has told me herself that if feelings don't come back to her that she's going to break up with him.
When we are together, its very fun and it feels like she often flirts with me and laughs at my jokes even when they aren't funny. She comes close to me to look at my phone (like faces inches apart), puts her hand on my thigh when we talk, and very casual flirty skinship like that. But my problem is that she's still with her boyfriend and cheating is out of the question for me and something I promised I'd never do or make anyone do after my last relationship where my ex cheated on me. I'm planning to tell her how I feel, but in a way that doesn't put pressure on her and force her into a kind of decision where she has to choose between me and the other guy. I'm going to make it clear that if she wants me to give up any romantic feelings that I will and we can continue to just be friends that hang out together in groups, but if she wants me to wait for her to break things off with her bf, i will wait.
I want to think that I've already decided to do this, but I also wanted to anonymously post about my situation and hear what others have to say about this particular situation or any others that have been in similar situations.

TLdr at the end of post
I foundout that my bf of 5 months was on tinder after we fought and weren't talking for like 2 days a few weeks ago. He was on there because I made him feel neglected after an arguement we had. He didn't cheat, but it definitely messed with my trust. Now while he's away or asleep, I want to look through his phone to look through messages or see if he's talking to other guys due to tinder. This is the second time I've done this.
Well... he's still in contact with his ex... He was really attached to his ex and he wouldn't talk about him (because he was really hurt by him) until I found out about tinder. Anyways, I'm not comfortable with this. I don't want him to be in contact with his ex, especially given how he talked about him. He said he was very very very very deeply in love with him and was devastated when they broke up, and he was hesitant about dating me because he didn't want to get hurt again. He also has all his photos saved of them still..
I don't feel secure with him talking to his ex.. like it makes me feel he's not able to let him go. I don't want to be controlling and be like cut him off, but also, I don't want to accept this.
Also, I kinda feel sick for going through his phone. I don't want to be in a relationship where I feel I have to constantly check his phone to feel secure and trust that he's being faithful...
I'm not sure what to do, I mean definitely have a conversation with him about it but I'm not sure what to say..
Please any advice is appreciated 🙏
TLDR: Bf was on tinder, also still in contact with ex. I went through his phone twice since then, and I don't want to be in a relationship where I must snoop in order to feel secure. What do I do?

Okay backstory, so my bf(22m) and I (19f) used to do coke together at the beginning of our relationship, not everyday but weekends and occasions. He however would always do a lot more than me, and a lot more often, which wasn’t a problem for a while until I started wanting to cut down. We had a really big fight one night, basically I had said that I’d attend this event with his friends only if they weren’t doing coke, and that if that was the plan it wasn’t a big deal I just wouldn’t be there. He made a huge deal about asking all of his friends about giving it up for the night, telling me it was fine and I wasn’t intruding and told me 100% that no one we were with would be doing coke. Long story short, him and all of his friends were doing it and hiding it, and he didn’t tell me until I figured it out. We fought mostly because of the fact that he lied to me after making such a show about making me comfortable, but also because,,, why couldn’t he give it up for one night? When I specifically asked him? I considered breaking up with him, but left it at “if you lie to me again we’re done”. After that he told me he didn’t want to do it anymore and he never meant to hurt me, that he loved me too much for it to cause problems between us and would never lie to me again. That it scared him how badly he felt like he needed to do it, that he didn’t wanna be doing it forever, etc etc. It’s been about 5 months since then and he hasn’t done any.
Now here for the current issue: I thought we were on the same page about being done with it for good, I gave it up after that too, still have some but haven’t touched it since and the growing healing part of me doesn’t want to. Me and my friend were planning on going to a music festival and I invited him, told him we’d only be drinking and smoking. He essentially said that if he couldn’t do coke there he probably wouldn’t go. I pressed him about it, asked him why he wanted to so bad and if he really thought it wouldn’t be worth it without coke. His reasoning was “because I miss it and it’s fun” “I’m not gonna spend hundreds of dollars just to drink and smoke”. I understand substance issues and I have some of my own, but I’ve been in a relationship before where the substance issues bounce off the other person (terrible experience) and I truly can’t take that step back now that I’ve stopped, as much as I may want to sometimes. I tried to consider being okay with it, asked him thoroughly whether he’d keep using it after the festival or would be able to regulate, or maybe letting him compromise or something. The more I think about it though, I don’t know if i could handle the “fomo” I’d have if he was doing it and I wasn’t, in a bad way. I don’t think I could be okay with him doing it in any capacity. I don’t really see the point in starting again after you’ve already gone so long without. Obviously you want to, it’s addictive, but that’s something you have to work against, and actively steer yourself away from. I don’t know if he’s ready to do that.
I worry especially since he says he misses it that even if he’s fine with not going to the festival at all, he’ll just find another place or event to do it at. I know it may be hypocritical considering we used to do it together, but I don’t think I can be with him unless he’s fully commited to not doing it again. I feel like we’ve been together long enough to grow as people in that time, and I don’t want to do hard drugs anymore (only sometimes). I know part of all his reassurance on not doing it again was probably because he was scared of me breaking up with him, but I thought at least most of it was true. Am I wrong for thinking we were on the same page? I don’t know how to go about this and I don’t want us to break up, but I don’t want to ignore my feelings either.
note: I love my boyfriend so much, we have such a good relationship other than times like these he treats me well and we communicate well and I’ve never felt more loved by anyone, it would kill me for this to be the end of it, it’s not what I want at all. I just worry even if he accepts it, that he’ll just lie to me about it because he knows I’ll break up with him. Best case scenario, he accepts my boundary no matter how begrudgingly and won’t do it again. I’m looking for realism here though and I’m not great at that. I know I can’t magically make him not want to do coke ever again, but how do I go about this in a way that’s not attacking him? I hate to give ultimatums but it kind of is. Maybe it’ll be a simple thing maybe it won’t, I really don’t know. I’m just scared of losing him over this, even if that sounds dramatic.
tl:dr I’m worried my bf’s attitude towards coke is going to either cause problems or ruin our relationship.

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

Hey there! I have a question about move out cleaning fees. From my brief searching, it’s illegal to charge a tenant for professional cleaning.
However, my lease states we must clean basically everything before moving out. And: Landlord says she will charge cleaning fee no matter what, even if we deep clean, but it’ll be cheaper the better we do.
When we moved in we had to do a lot of cleaning ourselves - it was definitely not professionally cleaned. We have photos of it dirty on move in. We also had roaches that we got rid of mostly on our own and out of pocket, which the landlord knows about.
I’m worried I have no defense since we did sign a lease saying everything would be cleaned on move out and we’d be charged for anything not done on the list.
Im wondering if the standard for clean is spotless or based on how we moved in. I know my landlord wants it sparking clean but it was disgusting on move in. I don’t want to lose my deposit to cleaning fees when our apartment is already cleaner than it was when we got it. I also don’t want to deep clean an apartment that was given to us filthy if I don’t have to.
Thank you!!!

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

Greetings,
I'm a 25-year-old medico hailing from the colorful tapestry of India, standing tall at 5'11" with a heart as big as the cosmos itself. If you're scouring Reddit for a friendship that transcends space and time, then look no further, because you've stumbled upon the right post!
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Why is this med student turned aspiring pediatrician looking for friends on Reddit?" Well, my friend, let me tell you that the internet is a magical place where friendships can blossom in the most unexpected of ways. And hey, who wouldn't want to be friends with a guy who can converse in English, Hindi, Urdu, and even Klingon? (Okay, maybe I'm still a bit rusty on the Klingon part, but practice makes perfect!)
So, what's in it for you, you ask? Besides a quirky sense of humor and a knack for diving deep into the rabbit hole of fandoms, I bring to the table a plethora of interests that range from dissecting the complexities of the human body to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. Whether it's discussing the latest comic book releases or debating the implications of quantum physics, I'm your go-to guy for all things nerdy and beyond.
But wait, there's more! When I'm not buried under a mountain of textbooks or binge-watching the latest sci-fi series, you can find me lost in the pages of a good novel or battling it out in the virtual realm of video games. And hey, if you're up for it, we can even study together and conquer the academic challenges that lie ahead!
Now, let's talk about friendship. They say that friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and I couldn't agree more. Whether you're across the globe or just a few clicks away, let's embark on this journey of friendship together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As promised, here are a few friendship quotes and lyrics to set the mood:

1. "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis
   
2. "I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour." - The Rembrandts
   
3. "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." - Walter Winchell
   
4. "You've got a friend in me." - Randy Newman
   

So, if you're a fellow explorer of multi-verses, a lover of all things nerdy, and someone who believes that true friendship knows no boundaries, then what are you waiting for? Drop me a message, and let's embark on this adventure together.
Who knows, maybe we'll discover our own version of the Avengers or the Justice League within our circle of friends. And hey, even if we don't, at least we'll have each other's backs through the ups and downs of life.
Can't wait to connect with you..

My bf (M37) and I (F22) have been having intimacy problems in our relationship a lot recently. He has always made it known that he has a low sex drive and that past relationships have ended because of this very reason. I never wanted this to be the reason we didn’t work out. We’ve been together for 3 1/2 years, and in the beginning, it was never that bad. I went from being with someone that wanted to do it for 2+ hours everyday, to someone that only wanted to once a week. Once a week was great for me, especially coming from my last relationship. A little over a year now, I started to notice a decrease in his interest. I would mention it and he would say that me saying something would turn him off, so we would go even longer without anything. It would just get awkward and he would always tell me that I didn’t turn him on because I’m not sexy. Back in his youth, he was always going around, so he had tons of experience. I hadn’t been with a lot of people, so I didn’t have nearly the amount of experience he has. Around the same time I noticed the distance, I noticed he was watching porn while I was in the other room. I thought that because he had a low sexy drive, that he didn’t want anything at all. After I find this out, I start to notice that has was watching porn every single day. I found this out because he had a cum rag next to our bed, so I would look at it everyday to see if it has moved. Eventually, I finally brought it up to him. He would always say that it wasn’t my business, but I would tell him that it felt like he was cheating because he didn’t want to be intimate with me. Fast forward to last December, we get into a huge argument because I would continue to bring up his porn usage. We almost break up, but then he tells me that he loves me too much for this to be the reason we split, so he says he won’t watch it anymore to try to improve our intimacy. He even threw his cum rag away. For a while it was working. He would tell me that because there were no outside stimulants, he was able to find me more arousing. Over the last few months, he would go on and off from watching porn constantly to not watching it for weeks. The last month, I’ve noticed a really big change in his affection, so I asked him if he had watched porn and he admitted to watching it once this week. This was the fourth time since December that I had confronted him and he confessed. Today, I told him that I felt hurt that he continued to lie to me and we are right back at square one. He continues to say that his porn usage is none of my business and that these are my problems. He said that he uses porn to get off quickly and that it easy to find something to watch to get it over with. When he does it with me, he says that he has to put himself in the mood and that I don’t turn him on because I lack confidence. He told me that I need to sleep in the other room and to come to him when I have a legitimate solution, and if I don’t, then we’re done. Please help me. I don’t want this relationship to end. We were just talking today about how we’re going to get married this year and how happy we are in our lives. This is the only thing that keeps us apart. I just don’t know how to get over this or how to gain the confidence and be sexy. He’s not into lingerie, or aggressive kissing. I don’t know how to turn him on, and I don’t know how to let his porn usage go. How to I gain confidence/be sexy?

Key: for later in the story Older sister: Horse Younger sister: llama Me: Bunny My wife: Fox Creepy boyfriend: Leech
Anybody who has more than one kid in the family knows that one of them is a "pick me" child. Well I have one, my older sister. How do I describe her, you know the Pokemon Ditto? Yes just like that, a purple blob that mimics any Pokemon, she mimics anyone. She made my life a living hell. Get ready Reddit it's a long one. I will have to break this up into multiple parts.
Let's start with my childhood/teen years. So my older sister is a couple years older than me and our dad was married to her mom. Anyway our dad ends the marriage when he finds out her mother was cheating on him. A little bit after that my mom and dad got together and well ....they got married and then I was born. A couple of years later my little sister was born. My older sister's mom pretty much screwed my parents and had to take her every other week. God I hated those weekends because we had to do everything she wanted, buy the food that she could only eat, watch only what she wanted to watch, and she made my sister and I her own personal Barbie dolls. When I say personal Barbie dolls, she wanted to be a hairdresser when she was older and practice on us. She thought that she could get better -newsflash! -she didn't. One time she wanted to put curls in my hair so I let her when the curls came out I looked like bloody Shirley Temple. 😤
Adult years: It only got worse as we grew into adults. For some reason my older and younger sisters had competition between each other, which left me in the dark and that was okay, I was too weird for them. At this point I had gone through my own demons. Anyway, we are all "adults" The older sister still acts like she never grew up. In 2016, all hell broke loose my older sister got into sell mlms (yuck!). The only reason why she said that she got into selling mlms is because she was helping her friends, hmm yea no just wanted to be a part of a group. She was selling herbal life, a weight loss program, now she did lose the weight while on this program, but she didn't stick to it. Also at this time she was married to her husband of eight years. She then met her current boyfriend when her family moved to another town. After that her and the husband split up. Now reader ,I never said they got legally divorce so they are still married to this day while she is with another guy. In 2017, I met my lovely wife on Facebook. We had a long distance relationship for a 1.5 years. In 2018 they came over to the states and asked me to marry them and of course I said yes!! They came back over in early 2019 because we had an event plan and while they were here we had a big family dinner. Oh goodie, I would rather go to church then do this dinner. The day of the family dinner comes up and everyone is happy to meet my fiancee, Fox. Well let's get on with dinner. The whole family went and sat down, and even before we started eating, Horse insisted on saying a prayer, now I was raised Christian, but I am pagan and so is my fiancee. After that we went to the all you can eat buffet. Now my mom can't have the buffet because she has a seafood allergy (understandable) ,but Horse and Leech didn't go to the buffet because and I quote, " Oh Leech doesn't eat seafood and neither do I." In my brain I am "What?!? since when?!?" That was a lie 🤥!! She used to eat a pound of shrimp when we were the kids. As we were eating, we were talking to each other, Llama asked me, "Bunny where are you guys going to get married", and I explained that I was going to move to Ireland, (where I live now) and we are going to get married at the register office and later on we are...then Horse butt in and said, "Leech and I are getting married at the lake" All of sudden both Llama and I said,l: "Aren't you still married?!" That shut her up. Yes my reader she never got divorced , so legally she is still married. After that I finally got to say what I was going to say, "Going to have a vow renewal at Ren fest in Kansas City later on down the line." All of a sudden Horse said: "Oh there is no way Leech and I can go because Leech is a convicted CP." In my mind:" Wtf, you are my sister and you are picking a guy over my vow renewal ?!? After that , I lost all my respect for her. Like they say like mother like daughter. Would you like a part 2. Let me know!!! Thanks!!

TLDR: MY daughter dad showed up 2 years ago and has been inconsistent at best in these two years. AITA for wanting to block him and proceed as if he never contacted us?
AITA
This is gonna be probably pretty long and all over the place but I'll try and keep it straight and to the point.
So I have a daughter. She is 11 almost 12. For the first 9+ years of her life her dad had not been involved. ( She was a fortune product of a one night stand) When he showed up almost two years ago it was with some fabricated story that a child support case worker alienated him and threatened him with harassment if he pursued a relationship with his daughter. I did try to reach out a couple times when she was younger trying to encourage a relationship between them and all attempts went ignored. He says this is because he was afraid I was setting him up. Well up until this past December I took him at his word. He was semi involved until that point. In December he met a woman and all contact stopped minus a few check ins and multiple inappropriate messages to me considering he was in a relationship. Each time this happened I would lay a boundary. During one of these contacts he promised he'd send his child support and $100 for Christmas/Birthday gift for her. That did not happen. He instead sent me a dirty video saying he "hoped that made up for it" 🤮🤮🤮 at this point I lost my iiisssshhhhh on him and told him essentially he was in a relationship and needed to knock it off. I didn't want to see that and it was disrespectful to me and his partner.
He moved in with this partner within a month of meeting her. Red flag right?
Before he met her I was trying to help him find an apartment locally as he lives 200 miles away. I absolutely advocated for him to have a relationship with his daughter from the second he showed up because I've never been the type to keep my children from their father unless it was for good reason. He was supposed to get her a phone and pay for it so they could maintain contact. Never happened. I supplied the phone and the service and it was silent.
After he had sent me that video I had put him on restricted on FB so I didn't get any messages from him. I finally get a call from him on Valentine's day apologizing for his behavior and letting me know he was sending some child support that day.
Then at some point in March he reaches out again saying he was no longer with this girl and he was sorry for his absence and he'd do better. The following week our daughter's phone caught fire and I let him know (not that he was contacting her anyways). The next day he said his cousin had gifted him a phone and he wanted to send it to our daughter. Cool. Let's do it. Then he texts a few days later saying he would be in a town 45 miles south of me and could I meet him and said girlfriend to receive the phone and bring our daughter so he could see her. (At this point the last I knew him and chick had broken up). I said no thanks you can drop it in the mail and I would not be bringing our daughter to meet him with the on again off again girlfriend. I found that extremely disrespectful as he had stopped contact with our daughter when he met this woman and I did not feel comfortable bringing my daughter to meet her or even really dealing with her myself. They obviously have an unstable relationship. He called me petty, we had som choice words and again I didn't hear from him.
Two days ago our daughter was admitted to a psychiatric facility after I found some very concerning diary entries by my daughter talking about Una living herself.
Since coming into our lives my daughter has turned into a mean spirited person. She will fat shame her brothers, hit and push her you get siblings and is just kind of generally abusive to everyone around her. She's told me multiple times she's angry at him and very hurt.
Anyways, I figured he ought to know she's being admitted as this is pretty serious. His response was "we are trying to figure a way up there". As in him and the girlfriend were going to come up while our child was in crisis. I went off again. Telling him again he has chosen this woman over our daughter and how dare he think it's appropriate to bring this woman up here while outr daughter is in crisis. I told him it is up to our daughter if they are involved and just showing up ESPECIALLY with the person she feels (justifyibly so) that he chose over her while she's in crisis. He come back with he has no idea why I'm bringing it back to him and the girlfriend when we should be focusing on getting our daughter better. My stance is, he brought it up. He asked for eventually for us all to be able to be cool and again he implied he was going to try and bring her up here to visit our daughter in the hospital. I laid a boundary. And some how I am the one not focusing on our daughter right now.
This was yesterday and I have not heard one word from him. He has not inquired as to how our daughter is, what facility she is at, how he can contact her. Nothing. I am so irate at this point I am seeing red.
AITA for being so angry at him? In my state abandonment is after 6 months. He was gone for 9 years. He has been inconsistent at best especially the last 6 months or so. Would I be justified in just blocking him and continuing on with our life like he never showed up?

Vibe check! How’s your week been? What are you reading, watching, or listening to?
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So, how was your week?

in january i (f18) got into a relationship with my now ex (m17) and the first month was really good untill we started having sex a week before valentines day and right after valentines day happened he just completely switched up also throughout our entire three month relationship id ask questions about him and his ex because they just broke up right before we started dating (i had just gotten out of a relationship as well) but he promised me he was over her because they were off and on all the time and he was tired of that and i believed him she also lived in a whole different state because he just moved here so i really trusted him and i would also ask questions about her because once literally displayed in his closet i noticed letters that his ex had given him and i found pictures of them that he hid poorly and id notice stuff of hers around his room like gifts and whatever every-time id ask about it he would get so mad and so defensive and be like “well you and your ex this and that” and then two months into the relationship he just out of the blue one day said “if i ever get in a bad place mentally ill need to take a break from the relationship” obviously i was confused so we bickered about it and i tried ignoring it but after valentines day and leading up to that conversation he had been acting different and it only got way worse almost exactly a month later a week after prom he texts me “im in a bad place mentally” and “sometimes i feel like im not ready for a relationship” and he refused to admit that was him breaking up with me so the next day i had to do it and say the words for him literally a few days later he starts following his ex on social media and she never followed him back so he stopped following her for a second but now its been a month since we’ve broken up and now they’re following each other on both of their little secret accounts and he blocked me on everything and i know i shouldn’t be paying attention but it’s difficult to not stalk because his ex lives in a different state so thats my only source which i know isnt really reliable but im just so hurt because he told me be was completely over his ex when we started dating and i really “loved” him (whatever love means for an 18 year old) i gave a lot of me to him he was my first real experience with stuff and he also told me i was the one to take his virginity (even though he had a whole box full of condoms prepared??? like on our third date he was like “i have condoms in my room” (i should have known)) but him and and his ex we’re together for like three years sooo and he also said so many other things that i know now were lies and now i just know i was the rebound untill either of them were available again and i just feel so used because after valentines day we were having sex at least once a day every single day and before we got intimate i told him i wanted to wait a little but he kept pressuring me so i finally gave in and i got really attached like i’ve never had a connection like that with someone else before he saw me when i was most vulnerable and now i just feel so used and dirty i should have known what his true intentions were especially because the second we started having sex he changed and our relationship just went to shit but it hurts even more because what we did meant a lot to me but i know it meant nothing to him especially since i don’t think i was his first time even though he was mine i just dont know what im supposed to do i know i have to move on and whatever i know ill meet more people and whatever and im so young and dumb and this is all a learning experience but im so hurt how do i live with this feeling for now it hurts so much i feel so used he meant so much to me and i was just a body until his ex came back to him.

I Accepted a Job to Film on the Dark Web
Man, I am pumped to tell you chronically online content addicts my story. Wait is that too mean of an intro? Will this get taken down for harassment since I painted too accurate a picture of the people on this site? Sorry, everyone, I’m sure you all smell like an expensive bakery and have touched grass this morning. Anyway, I promise I have something interesting. It even involves the dark web you uncreative writers cream yourselves over! I mean, totally real people speaking about their strangely similar experiences. Okay, fine I’ll stop bullying you through the screen before you click off.
This all started when I was seven years old and my parents were killed in front of me in an anti-indigenous hate crime, but let's be real you don’t care. I’m just some annoying Cherokee kid with dead parents so I’ll skip to the good parts. I spent years in an orphanage, gradually becoming more interested in death and violence. As bad as it is, I went out of my way to expose myself to that content in the hopes of desensitizing myself. Which ended up working too well, since now I’m obsessed with causing and viewing pain, though I don’t find any joy in hurting myself.
I got adopted at twelve and after a few months of staying at my new family’s home on the reservation, I went with them to a state sweatier than the average Reddit user, California. Long story short, both of my caretakers, whom I referred to as Uncle and Auntie because they could never be my parents, died. Leaving me in the care of their older son, who I call cousin. I’m not stupid enough to give up any real names, so I’ll call him Brick, cause he’s as dumb as one. He was in his early 20s when he was tasked with taking care of me and is the world’s worst excuse for a babysitter.
I’m almost always alone at the apartment, with him only coming by to drop off supplies and stay for a few hours so the neighbors don’t get too worried. Unless I get in trouble at school, then he’d suddenly give a shit. It's useful because he doesn't about the gory stuff I look at, but some display of interest would be nice. Oh well, ninety percent of the population sucks so he’s just part of the majority. Now, with that said, you’ll be able to understand the perfect storm that led me here. During my time on the deep web, I found a particular website that caught my eye. They had new footage relatively consistently and they were the easiest for me to access since I didn't go too far into the dark web, especially with all the honey pots lying around.
I even bought a couple of files for myself to study and admire. One thing irritated me though, the cameraman. He was always sobbing, breathing, shaking, or some combination of those. It seriously killed the vibe of the killings. Something I commented on under many videos, often saying I would do a better job filming. A choice that in hindsight was me asking to end up in one of those recordings. I didn't think anything of it at the time. I was mostly the only one who commented but I was sure they wouldn't care. I was embarrassingly wrong.
I was staying up like usual, but it was past one AM on a school night, and back then that was a lot so I tried to sleep. Closing my eyes, tossing and turning, the works. I had just started drifting off when I heard the front door open. I remained calm but immediately found it weird since Brick never showed up this late. The thuds of the individual's feet grew louder as they got closer to my bedroom. I tried to convince myself it wasn't a stranger, especially since they got in with ease, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
They hummed as they opened my door. My dumbass had left it unlocked. I remained on my side, trying to look like I was asleep. They turned on the flashlight of their phone, shining it in my face. It was hard but I stayed still while they traced it over my features. I could tell they were smiling as they clicked their tongue.
“Heh, I knew it was a brat,” they whispered to themselves, pulling tangles out of my hair. Something I struggled not to groan from. They pulled up the hair over my ear and got so close spit got on my ear lobe.
“I know you’re awake kid,” they murmured, putting a blade to my neck. I let them grab my shoulder and move me onto my back, I knew how to fight but I wasn't about to take that big a risk with the position they had me in.
“You think you’re so cool saying you can do better than our guy.” they snickered, kneeling, their flashlight still shining in my face.
“Do you seriously believe that?” they questioned, moving the light away.
“Yeah, I do.” I stood my ground, they might have been intimidating but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from being honest.
“I wouldn't sound like I’m gonna piss myself every time it gets gory. I’m confident I could get better footage too, getting up close is something I’ve fantasized about.”
They clicked their tongue again and ran their finger over the bridge of my nose.
”Well, I know you’re a big fan of what we do, and you’re confidence makes me think you got something to back those claims up, so how’d you like a deal?”
I was surprised by how civil they were being aside from the touching and weapon against my throat.
“What kind of deal?” I asked, for all I knew this guy wanted me to lick their feet or some weird shit like that. They placed a finger underneath my eye, tracing a half moon with their nail.
“You have till this Friday to film a video of you killing an animal and put it on a flash drive that I’ll pick up here. If it impresses me and the crew we’ll hire ya with a handsome salary.” They began, moving their hand down to my cheek.
“But if you don't show, or it doesn't meet our standards, then I’m fucking up one of the parts of your face.” They warned, pinching my skin harshly.
“And if I say no to this deal?”
They put their hand over my mouth, scratching my lips.
“That’s cute, if you say no I’ll just slit your throat.” they grinned.
“Or rip it open with my teeth if you got a preference,” they smirked, before running their tongue across their sharp teeth.
“Okay, since I have no choice I’ll go with it, but I’m telling you now I can give you something way better than what you likely expect of me.” I prefaced, looking into their sunken eyes. They scratched my scalp, including the side of my head that was shaved.
“Good choice, I’ll be back to pick it up and if you're not here I’ll assume you don’t have the video. I genuinely wish you luck, because you’ll need it.” they removed the blade from my neck and walked away. I sat still for a few minutes in the dark, processing what had happened and wondering how they got into my apartment with such ease. I was confident I could blow their sniveling excuse of a cameraman out of the water, but I was worried about the people I was getting caught up with.
Sure, I had been on a lot of gore sites over the years but I was always just watching and occasionally commenting. Compared to most in the scene I wasn't much of a threat. I could defend myself and have contemplated killing for years but I hadn't murdered anyone or worse. Plus, I am part of way too many targeted groups to not be constantly at risk. Teenage, fem-leaning, two-spirit, indigenous kid with trauma? Yeah, I might as well be walking sign screaming “Hate crime me”.
So yeah, there was a lot to worry about. Regardless, I couldn't let that fear hold me back. I had a job to do and a group of sickos to appease. The next morning was rough, I got no sleep cause I’d spent all night brainstorming. I barely mustered the energy to change and drank straight mouthwash instead of brushing my teeth. Slogging onto the bus with drool on my cheek, I went to the back like usual. No one sat there cause, the seats were extra worn down, and I scared off anyone who attempted to with my active, rabies-infected bitch face. That day was different though.
I blanked on his name and where I knew him from, but I recognized his wavy hair and prominent curved nose. He glanced at each seat on the bus, before somehow settling on my area. He tried to give me space but ultimately seated himself beside me after realizing it was the only spot that didn't look like it would give him cancer. I glared at him as I did with everyone, but it didn't phase him.
“You know you could pick anywhere else right?” I murmured. He stared at the floor, then at me.
“I’m aware, but a few months ago I started a mission to sit on every part of this bus, and this is the last place.” he smiled, his lips softly curving at the sides.
“What’s the point of that?”
His mouth moved into a more neutral position, but his eyes kept smiling.
“I just thought it would be neat to see the same place from a bunch of different perspectives.” he took out his phone and snapped a photo from the point of view where he was sitting. Maybe my sleepiness made my bitch face less effective, cause he hadn't shown a hint of fear, which kind of annoyed me.
“That’s cool I guess, but I wouldn't do that if I were you. I’ve done some back here alone that would make your skin crawl.” in hindsight my attempt at unnerving him just made me sound like a pervert, which is probably why he held back laughter. Trying to hide a chuckle by clearing his throat.
“Hey, it's not my business what you do, no matter how Haram it is. It’s your life so that’s between you and whatever you believe in. Just don’t shake hands with me.” he joked, playfully putting his hands up. Strangely, I remembered his name at that moment.
“Oh shit, you’re Abdul! We have art together.” I sat up, haphazardly slamming my hand down on my leg.
“Uh yeah, I’ve seen some of your paintings, they’re pretty cool. I like the way you texture them, I’m trying to work on that.” he complimented, seeming more weirded out by my sudden energy than my accidental insinuation. I felt a little stupid for yelling his name but decided not to dwell on it.
“Thanks, you’re stuff is nice, and you’re good at shading.”
He stretched his arms while thanking me. We talked for a few more minutes, taking jabs at each other throughout. Turns out he was better at being an asshole than his artsy charismatic appearance made me think. The thing setting our insults apart being that you could tell he was a loving person underneath. It was the nicest conversation I had with anyone in a while. Though he could tell I was tired so he quieted down, letting me sleep, waking me when we got to school. We went our separate ways until the last two periods we shared. All that time, I spent my remaining energy plotting how I was going to handle the video. What I’d kill, record with, and how to dispose of the evidence. It was a lot to consider, but through three classes I devised a plan.
I’d find a stray around my apartment complex and take it out in my room. Record it on a portable camera since I broke the ones on my phone, no, I will not be answering how that happened. Then once I had my footage I’d put the body in a trash bag, throw it in the complex’s garbage, and clean the blood off my floor. It didn't seem like Brick would come by so he wasn't a factor I thought I’d have to consider. The plan was almost too easy, but I decided to believe in Occam’s razor. I got so lost in thought that by the time I reached Art, which was my second-to-last period, I didn't process that we were moving seats.
“She called your name,” Abdul reminded me. Our teacher placed us next to each other at our four-person table. The two girls sitting with us were already friends, so I didn't bother to say anything, but I was interested in talking to him more.
“So, what do you think of this assignment?” He shrugged, taking out his sketchbook.
“I’m not that good at drawing people, but the idea of combining two people’s faces into a portrait seems interesting. Any ideas on who you’ll pick?”
“Probably the members of the music duo Brain Tumor, they’re my favorite artists and they both look weird as hell.”
“Wow way to talk about your favorites, if that’s what you say about them I can‘t imagine what you have to say about me.” he joked, pulling up reference pictures.
“First, it’s not an insult, second I don’t have anything to say about you. Brain and Tumor have features and styles that make them stand out. Sure they’re ugly, but it just adds to their visual charm. Hot people are boring, there’s nothing to pick at.” I explained, unzipping my bag.
“Oh, so you’re saying you think I’m hot.”
His comment wasn’t serious but it kind of got to me.
“Shit, that’s not what I meant, I was trying to say you’re boring. All hot people are boring, but not all boring people are hot, okay?” I explained, flipping to a clean page.
“Alright, but if I’m so bland then why talk to me?”
I hesitated, contemplating how much of a dick I was gonna be.
“Because it means you probably need some spice in your life, which I can provide.”
He began sketching a head on his paper.
“I like spices, but I feel like you’re the kind of person to dump a cabinet’s worth onto me.”
I flicked my pencil over to his side of the desk, putting on a mocking grin.
“Aww, you scared I’m gonna get you into trouble?”
He picked up the pencil and started using it, putting his on my side.
“No, ‘cause I’m good at setting boundaries. I’m more concerned that you’ll get annoyed with how unafraid of you I am.”
I stared at him for a moment, I hadn't expected to hear that.
“Jeez, man you didn't have to read me like that.”
He shrugged, observing the red paint from past projects that lay on my pencil.
“It's not hard to figure out, just this morning you were trying to push me away on the bus. Lucky, or unlucky, for you I want you to have a friend and you seem like a fun person.”
“Wait are you saying I have no friends?” I squinted at him.
“Well, do you?”
I didn't answer.
“If your response is silence I suggest you take up my offer.”
I was stunned, to be honest. No one had offered to be my friend since 6th grade, and that didn't last long. Of course, I accepted it, but for the rest of the period, there was an awkwardness in my mind. As pathetic as it sounds I wasn't used to others genuinely enjoying my company like he did. Which was partly by design cause I get joy out of scaring people away, but still. I forgot how it felt to have conversations about normal things like art. He had such a nice smile too, usually when I see a grin I want to slap it off, but I liked his. His voice was also nice, it’s hard to describe what in particular but it was easy on the ears.
Okay, I’m starting to get off-topic. I’ll skip to the important part. Toward the end of class, he started talking about how he was interested in filmmaking and got a portable video camera as a gift at last year’s Eid. He didn't have it on him, but he showed me a picture.
“Heh, that’s funny, I bought the same one a month ago.” I pointed out.
“Yeah, it's a popular model, I’m still getting the hang of it though cause I’m so used to using my phone.”
“Well, maybe I could bring you over to my place or vice versa after school and I can help you out.” I suggested.
He smiled, putting his phone back in his pocket.
“I thought you said you’ve only had it for a month? You know I can always look up tutorials from trained professionals.” he reminded me with a notable smugness that I'd used with him before.
“Well those guys are stuffy and I’m a fast learner.”
He redirected his attention back to his page, picking his pencil up.
“Alright, I suggest we go somewhere public instead. You’re not exactly the kind of person I want to bring home to my parents right away. Plus they always need to meet my friends and their guardians before I hang out at their home.”
I gave an exaggerated sigh, stretching my back.
“Aw man, looks like we can’t get high in my murder pit during our first hangout.”
He didn't respond for a solid few seconds.
“Wait, you do know I'm joking right?”
He shrugged, the smile in his eyes appearing again.
“I mean, one of those things is a little less believable than the other.” he snickered, and I laughed with him.
We set up a time and a date, which is where I screwed myself. He ended up being busy with projects from his other classes and family which just left us with Friday, the same day I had to submit the video. Now, did I tell him I wouldn't be able to make it? No, of course not, because I decided to be stupid and even more overconfident. I said that I’d one hundred percent be able to hang out with him after school like I didn't have a mutilator who was going to drop by my place at an unknown time.
The rest of the day went over fine but that bad timing led me to feel like a dick later. When I got home I was able to write out my plan, even sketching a few specifics of what I’d do. It was more exciting than when I’d been brainstorming, but this is when the gravity of the situation began to set in. When I said I’d fantasized about killings I meant it. I mean my teddy with twenty-five stab wounds should say enough. Regardless this would be the first time real blood was on my hands.
It made me feel powerful, but a little afraid. I’ve heard stories of people thinking that it would be an awesome experience and then feeling like shit. I doubted I’d be one of those people but still. Plus, I didn't exactly trust the guy who gave me this job. There was a good chance that this whole situation was rigged and they’d kill me no matter how good the video was. Or worse turn me into the feds and expose my collection. Honestly, if that happened I’d probably eat a shot to avoid going to jail. Wait, can I say that on this platform? Okay to the mods, that was a joke, I want to live a long life. Ugh, I’m doing a terrible job of staying on track. The point is there was a lot up in the air despite it being a matter of life or death.
I knew I’d go through with it but it was still a lot less straightforward than it initially seemed. I wracked my brain to remember where most of the cats stayed and tried to come up with a good way to lure one without raising suspicion. This also proved harder than first thought because I didn't think to account for the cat man, an old guy who lived alone and fed all the cats in our dingy complex while also housing a few. Knowing how obsessive he was he’d probably notice if one of them disappeared. Then again not all the cats return consistently or at all. It makes more sense that he’d think one of them was run over rather than slaughtered. It was getting late again so I rested my head for a moment, a bad move cause I ended up falling asleep at my desk. Not even changing out of the clothes I’d worn before, I woke up late and barely caught the bus the next morning.
I went to my usual spot but Abdul had already taken it. He patted the area next to it, which he’d covered in a towel, a smart move knowing how nasty it was. People gave me a few dirty looks as normal, which I smiled at. I stretched, my mind slightly less out of it than the previous morning.
“Uh, you do realize that-”
“Yeah, I know I’m wearing the same clothes.”
Abdul looked me up and down, his eyes remaining soft, but with a mix of concern and judgment. He set his backpack down and took off his sweater handing it to me.
“Dude what are you-”
“Look I don't know what led to you not being able to change but I think you should at least have a fresh top.”
I was surprised he was offering me something to wear but I took it.
“Uh, thanks, I’ll change into it later.”
He nodded as I put it in my backpack.
“You know you didn't have to do that.” I reminded him.
“Well there’s a lot of stuff I don’t have to do, but I do it because I want to, and I wanted to help you out.”
He smiled, his face still warmer than an Arizona summer. I got a strange feeling in my chest at that moment, I still can’t tell if it was good or bad.
“Well, thanks, I'll give it back to you tomorrow.”
We talked a little more and he mentioned something that caught my attention.
“Have you heard about all the animals that have been turning up dead?”
My eyes widened with surprise.
“No, I haven't, when did you hear about that?”
He pulled on his long-sleeve shirt.
“My sister said her friend who works at a shelter noticed a bunch of animals were getting adopted by people around the same time, and since then gore videos with them have been showing up. She found out through her co-worker who was emailed it by some random creep.”
I covered my mouth and looked away to hide the smile growing on my face. He had just given me the perfect cover-up without knowing. Now if I killed an animal people had an entire violent ring to connect it to instead of me! I stayed quiet for a minute because I could tell he’d likely see through any phony sad sounds I made.
“Oh wow, that’s awful, do you think they’ll ever find out the people behind it?”
He sighed, running his hand through his wavy hair.
“I hope so, for now, all we can do is pray that no more animals get hurt.”
I couldn't contain my grin as he said that so sincerely like animals and people didn't die constantly and that taking down one group would somehow stop the issue.
“Is there some joke I don’t get?” he furrowed his brow.
“Uh, no, sorry I smile when nervous.”
His gaze softened again, and he didn't press further.
His bringing up the animal killings ended up being the exact push I needed to get my hands dirty. I’d spent the entire day before planning so it was time to put that plan into action. I stole some cat treats that the cat man had laid out and spread them around my apartment which was on the bottom floor. Waiting for one of them to take the bate outside my window was pretty boring but one of them came after a few minutes. A scraggly brown and black cat with a tuft of fur missing on one side of his head. It's messed up but I felt like a little less of an asshole for taking him in since he looked like he was already struggling. I scooped him up and he didn't attempt to fight back.
“Hey there buddy” I waved, feeding him some more food. His eyes had a lot of crust on them, it was kinda gross but I don’t have the right to say with how often I wash my jeans. After a minute or two he let me pet him. I knew making any kind of attachment was bad but I thought it was the right thing to do so he’d fall into a sense of security. I was just about to take him into my room when the door opened.
“Hey, I’m back with groceries!” my shithead cousin announced with two plastic bags in his hands. He looked down to see me with the cat, his eyebrows raising.
“Aw come on, you know we can’t afford a pet.”
He groaned placing the bags on a table and unloading them.
“I know, but he doesn't look like he’s got a lot of life in him I at least want to help him feel better before he kicks the bucket!”
Brick rolled his eyes, putting the cereal box on top of the fridge
“Jeez, did you even think about what diseases he might have? His eyes look puffy what if he has something that can get you sick?”
He had valid concerns which was surprising since he’s usually stupid, but I was still annoyed with him.
“I’m sure he’s fine, I’ll even try to wash him, just please let me hold onto him for a little.”
He folded his arms looking down at us.
“Have you even named him?”
I froze for a second, before using the first thing that came to mind, which ended up being pretty awful knowing my plans.
“Cash cow.” I blurted, awkwardly patting his head.
“Honestly that’s better than what I was expecting. I was sure you’d pick ‘Hellspawn Mcgee’ or something else corny.”
He meant to make fun of me but honestly, I would have named him that if I had more time.
“Ugh, anyway I got those dumb chips you like.”
He then pulled out a bag of the wrong chips.
“Dude those are the wrong ones, this is the third time you’ve mixed up the flavors.”
He threw them at me, scaring the cat slightly.
“Well, I pay for it so you shouldn't be so picky. Anyway, while I was in line I picked up something you might be into.”
He then tossed me a trashy teen magazine. One of my least favorite sorry excuses for an influencer on the cover.
“This is a joke, right?”
I couldn't believe my own adopted brother gave such little shit in my interests.
“I don't know, you decided to start being a girl for real this time so I thought the makeup tips on page ten would help you out.”
I scrunched my face at his comment.
“Dude I’ve been this way for years, just because I started wearing more makeup and dresses doesn't mean I’m more of a girl than when I didn't. I know you won’t get the two-spirit thing but come on.”
He shrugged, seeing me done with me even though he’d just shown up.
“Yeah well hey I’m trying. Anyway, just so you know a friend of mine is coming here Friday.”
My heart stopped.
“Wait why here? You live elsewhere why can’t you assholes go there or their place!”
He slammed his fist on the table.
“Will you shut the fuck up!”
He screamed with a phrase I’d grown numb to.
“I don't know, to be honest, something about wanting to move into this complex and this being a way to scout it out. I’m just letting you know now so you don’t act like a complete freak.”
“Jokes on you I’ll piss in whatever shitty beer you bring just cause you said that!”
I yelled back raising my voice higher than his. He face-palmed before putting the plastic bags in the drawer under the sink.
“Whatever, you and your ketamine-addict-looking cat have fun,” he told me while seating himself on the couch. I picked up the cat and walked into the bathroom to clean it. I closed the door and placed him in the dry tub. Using a small disposable mouthwash cup I got a little bit of water. I hadn't had a pet before so I wasn't sure how to approach the task. I dipped my fingers in the water and carefully pet it while pouring s small bit down his back. Any other cat would fight back but he just made pissed-off noises without doing anything.
I scrapped my old shampoo bottle and kneaded it into his thin fur. His skin was bumpy and dry beneath the hair so scrubbing it was uncomfortable. I made sure to avoid getting soap in its eyes but I did pull away some of the crust on its lids. His pupils were so clouded I was surprised that he could see at all, making me feel even more sure that he would be on its way out with or without me.
After drying him I set him on a beat-up shirt I wore when modifying clothes. He sunk his claws into it a few times, playing with a loose string. I ignored him for the rest of the night, hopping into the shower and changing for bed. His meows woke me up a few times but I tuned it out after a while, reminding myself that he wouldn’t be my cat for long.
The next day was Thursday and there wasn't a second that passed by where the weight of the murder I’d have to commit didn't weigh on me. I seriously shot myself in the foot by taking care of that scruffy, pubic hair pile. I was supposed to be hyped about killing it, after all, I’d dreamed and seen way worse than what I was going to do. Yet once I got home and started setting up I felt grosser with each step. I decided to record it in my bathroom instead of my bedroom so it would be harder to connect to me. I set down a few fabric scraps and a worn-out beach towel, placing it all inside a tub for easier cleanup later.
“Okay, I guess it's time,” I mumbled to myself. I brought the cat in and placed it down, setting up my camera once it was comfortable. I also wore my most generic clothes in addition to a mask, putting my hair in a bun for sanitation. When I saw the flicker of red showing that the camera was on I felt I was dreaming. I smiled, excited that I’d get to live out my violent desires. Yet, when I looked down at its pathetic frame and confused expression those urges left me.
I rationalized what I was doing, reminding myself how many animals die all the time and that I’d been forced into this, but it didn't help much in the end. I won’t get into it but under the pressure of impressing the group Cash Cow didn't go out as fast as I would have liked for a first task. Getting rid of the evidence was especially rough, the textures were pretty nasty, to put it mildly. It was surreal watching the blood go down the tub drain and gradually drip off my hands as I rinsed them. I couldn't conjure a single thought the entire time I cleaned it up.
Whether I was wringing out the clothes or putting the remains in plastic bags, it didn't matter. All I could focus on was the task at hand, with hints of disgust along the way. I ended up finishing at three AM. My hands were wrinkled and shook once I settled. I won’t deny that during the murder I didn't hate it. Slashing into something was fun and it made me feel strong. Still, it wasn't nearly as fulfilling as I expected it to be. Part of it was guilt, but it was mostly disappointment. I’d built it up for years and it wasn't earth shatteringly good or bad.
Overall, I expected to feel more, but it just left me hollow with an uncomfortable itch. There was no way I’d ever be able to see the tub the same way, hell I don’t think I’ll ever use it again. Luckily I almost always shower anyway so it's not too big of a deal. I watched a few horror game videos, trashed everything, changed and went to bed.
My scalp hurt like a bitch the morning since I kept my hair in that stupid bun. Despite getting less sleep than the past two days I held myself together a bit better in the morning. I brushed my teeth, changed, and had some fried bread before getting on the bus. Regardless I looked like complete shit and struggled to slump into my seat.
“Rough night?” Abdul asked
“Uh, yeah.” I quietly responded looking to the floor.
He frowned, looking at me with concern.
“You can talk about it if you're comfortable,” he assured me. I contemplated giving him a thinly veiled metaphor or vague explanation so he'd comfort me but stopped myself before my mouth could run a muck. He wouldn't be able to do much of anything and I don’t like opening up.
“Uhm, thanks but it's something I have to deal with alone.”
He nodded, respecting my boundaries.
“You know, I understand if you can’t hang out today it seems like you have a lot going on.”
I avoided eye contact with him as he spoke. For once I was feeling hints of guilt toward a person. I wanted to spend time with him, but I knew that I wasn't in the state to do that.
“Yeah, I think it’ll have to wait, I’m-” I cut myself off before apologizing. A fact about me that should surprise no one is that I hate apologizing. Even when I do feel kinda bad the act fills me with embarrassment.
“You what?” he asked, his eyes telling me that he knew what I was going to say.
“I’m emotionally not great.” I spat out in an admittedly poor attempt to get out of saying sorry. As always he remained calm but I could tell he saw through me.
“Okay, like I said I understand, whatever it is I hope you feel better.”
I told him thank you and we didn't speak for the rest of the day. At home I changed into more comfortable clothes and brushed my teeth. Unfortunately, I wasn't bouncing back from killing nearly as much as I expected.
“It wasn't even that bad! That thing was on its last legs anyway.” I grumbled to myself, smacking my forehead. I was feeling worse than when I did it which is weird. I ended up spontaneously decorating a ratty tie from the bottom of an accessory drawer to distract myself. It helped me get my mind off things, for a little. I had zero plan, just wanting to make something needlessly complex. Hours that felt like minutes passed and soon it was covered in patches, frills, and beads. I just tried it on when I heard the front door open.
“Man, that shit was wild!” I heard Brick laugh groggily. I didn't have to see or smell him to know he’d gotten lit. I rolled my eyes, closing my bedroom door.
“Hey, who’s there?” his friend asked, seemingly referring to me.
“Oh, that’s my little sis, don’t mind her she’s just on her emo shit!” he joked, which pissed me off for the petty reason that I didn't even listen or dress emo.
“Hey, that’s alright with me, I went through one of those phases,” they responded, their words less slurred than my cousin’s.
I fucked up and forgot to lock it when I closed it so they were able to swing it open, almost smacking my desk.
“Hey emo girl!” they waved as Brick haphazardly pulled them back.
“Okay, man, seriously I think she wants to be left alone.”
The way his friend looked at me made me uncomfortable. Like they’d snap my neck if I pissed them off. They clicked their tongue while stepping through the door frame.
“Alright, but I gotta say calling her an emo is inaccurate, they look like they watch gore and most emos just say they do.” they flashed a sharp toothy grin. At that moment I began to connect the dots.
“Easy, she’ll get pissy with you dude, now come on.” Brick warned tugging their opened button pushed him away. They looked me dead in the eyes.
“I don’t think she minds, in truth, I feel like we’ll have a lot to discuss later.” they smiled again, finally walking back into the living room. A chill ran up my spine when I saw them. The sharp teeth, New York accent, unsettling gaze, that motherfucker was the person who recruited me! They were able to get into my place so easily cause my dumbass cousin probably gave them a spare key or the opportunity to make one, and now they were a room away from me!
I dug my hands into my pillow as I contemplated what to do, no matter what happened next, I knew it was gonna be a rough visit.

I posted a comment saying Tara is the type to call ur bf her boy bsf and I was immediately flooded with annoying mfs asking how she was a pickme so I told them how (constant mention of height and trying to hard to be quirky) and they immediately started calling me a misogynist and attacking my style and looks, and insulting me 💀