Slingblade birthday cards

I met a woman at work several months back. She's a lot like me, introverted, thoughtful. We're now close friends, we've talked about a bunch of places she wants to go, and there's a tension between us, but I've been too worried to act.
It's getting to the point where I know I need to take my shot because some days she's been distant like she's tired of waiting and about to move on, if my hunch is right that she likes me too.
Her birthday is this week. I was thinking of A) giving her an origami note (she likes origami) and in the note would be a message and my number or B) a birthday card
Is this idea good, to let her decide if she wants to reach out? Also, I didn't want to ask out loud since there's a lot of people around us all the time, there's no private moment to ask her.

My best friend’s son is having his 11th birthday. He really loves games and is such a sweet kid. His mom and I are asking for help on a gaming computer within a 5-6 hundred dollar range. He’s never had one. We know he really wants to get into gaming. He loves Minecraft and we really want him to be able to play anything he desires. I understand with the budget being limited we’re not going to be able to get the best. But we want him to have something good for him to at least get started. Can anyone please maybe post us links or tell us what would be good to get him started? Even if I gotta maybe get him more up to date graphics cards and things like that. I would just really like to know.

Hamish, my feline family member, is turning seven on the 29th of May.
He's FeLV+, and according to his vet it's very unusual that he has lived to be so old. So, I want to REALLY celebrate his existence and (relative) old age!
Any kind of card-based solidarity would be great (Hamish doesn't read, so there's no need for *actual* birthday cards).
Some Hamish facts:

• He is the kindest, most forgiving cat I've ever known. He's incapable of carrying a grudge.
• His zen demeanour is likely due to the amount of exercise he gets: running laps every morning, chasing the laser whenever he can convince us to operate it, and doing frequent bicep curls to lift & drop his robot feeder in hopes of some kibble spilling out.
• He is a champion cuddler, allowing unlimited head-kisses and frequently adopting the position of "little spoon" when one of his humans is sleeping.
• Like many cats, he imitates the sounds of other creatures- clicking at bugs, chirping at birds, and meowing at humans. His human speech is eerily low-pitched and raspy, and often scares first-time visitors. He understands conversational back-and-forth and will carry on long conversations with us.
• He's a sort of love/affection transformer: for every unit of affection you give him, he returns four units back.

Looking to take myself to Disneyland again for my Birthday, solo trip, while my spouse is at a conference in a few weeks. Just looking for everyone’s thoughts on new merch that might be worth checking out. I don’t think I’m ready to build a saber yet, and I’m close to buying a legacy one. I think I want something rebel specific, or something I’d use frequently (I’m a music teacher).
I already have/done: mouse droid popcorn bucket, sporks, the nice copper set of silverware (only one set), built an R series droid (I might be interested in building a second but probably not this trip), Vader and Ashoka tshirt, puffer pig, the mystery droid boxes (may get one of those) and mystery dok boxes (forget what they are called, got Mando’s helmet already), Bo Katan Black Series helmet, chewie socks and the Star Wars lounge socks with the what to watch list on them, Yoda saber key chain, and some additions for my droid.
Been trying to see everyone’s hauls to see if I want to look for something specific.
Edit: I also have the spire gift card.

I (51F) have been dating my boyfriend (52M) for 7 years. We're both divorced. I have kids - mostly grown. We live in a house that I own. We have no shared property and he would never consider marriage. He is very private, independent, and quirky. I have no access to his finances. He gives me money for bills. We get along well, don't fight, and have enough in common to enjoy time together. He has never been romantic and doesn't like giving gifts or celebrating much. We both have decent jobs. We had a healthy sex life. I was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer in January. It had spread to multiple organs. I asked him if he wanted to walk away before I told my friends and family I had cancer. He chose to stay and said he would never leave me. I had some initial surgeries and it was made clear that he isn't a good caregiver. He couldn't check on me, manage meds, bring food and water. When I started chemo I arranged for other people to take me and set up a meal train to feed us. He did drive me to a number of appointments when I strictly needed a ride. I've lost all my hair. I'm tired, slow, and sick often. I had my birthday in April and my boyfriend did not give me a card or gift or do anything for me. His birthday is 3 days before mine and even though I'm sick I ordered him a gift from Amazon, bought dinner takeout, and made him a cake. Ever since he blew off my birthday I have lost all my investment in the relationship. Chemo has been successful. We've known all along that if chemo worked I would have a major operation in mid-May. I got scheduled for an open hysterectomy and cancer debulking surgery on May 13th. It has a 4 week recovery time. As my surgery was approaching he scheduled himself for a knee procedure 2 days after my surgery. I expressed to him that this was bad timing and he said he didn't have a choice. He said his knee pain had suddenly grown unbearable. His knee has bothered him for the entire 7 years that we have dated and he decided that being on crutches after my surgery wasn't a conflict in his eyes. He took the week before my surgery off work and went camping and hiking. He did not take time off work to spend with me when I was recovering from surgery. He worked while I was hospitalized in another city. Then he had his knee procedure. I came home to him on crutches from an elective surgery unable to care for himself let alone me. My family and friends have been here caring for me. He asks me to do things for him when I can barely care for myself. His Aunt called me to wish me well before my surgery and express her concern that he shouldn't have an elective procedure at the same time. She said that she believes he is having PTSD because his mom died of brain cancer when he was a teen after many years long of surgeries and treatments failed. His aunt raised him after his mom died and she said this behavior is out of character for him and she is so surprised by it. I've lost my warm feelings for him. I think we should go our separate ways or just be friends but I feel guilty. I'm being very detached from him now and I don't like my own negativity.

u/addisonellison X2 - I agree with you. This is great for relieving stress. Things are ok on this coast. Still looking for a job with a decent boss. Decent being the key word. The last guy had a few links missing lol
u/reasonable_ad1688 - that bottle cap windchime you made sounds cool! u/ninajyang - your complaint has been lodged. I love the postcard you picked. It’s like a charcuterie board! God bless spell check for knowing how to spell that word lol
u/wabisabi_sf - how was your trip!
u/kk6321 - you’re very right that I love the weed stickers.
u/gothwitchofbrooklyn - thanks for the complaint!
u/snerdboff - ❤️ an Obama card. Just seeing him brings a sense of calm & peace.
u/rennbrig X2 - thanks for the motivation! Also the card with the handmade paper… did you make it yourself? I feel like I hand made paper once but it wasn’t anything you could really write on.
u/-random_ness- - I didn’t realize you had native Americans down there in Virginia but I guess it makes sense!
u/rosiealeo1 - awful I know. But like yeah those cards were too positive for me! Sorry you’re funky now
u/raspberrypoppyseed - thanks for the Star Wars card
u/travel4me22 - thanks for the card. The cheesy places are the best to me!
u/cswl X9 - thanks for the story & complaints :) I didn’t realize loupaper made cards with foreign countries featured on them so that was especially cool to see! Also I’ve tried heated floors before. Some hotel I stayed at had them. Loved them. Did you know Holland Michigan has heated sidewalks all over town that melt snow as soon as it falls? I love how you saved up a ton of complaints & sent them all separate. Always great to get mail from you!
u/altrusticsubject95 - thanks for the card. My job with the doctor actually didn’t work out. He didn’t have enough patients to necessitate a second medical assistant. Turns out he hired me to spite his current MA - no joke. So I quit after two days. Back to you though. It sounds like you’re a good nurse, doctors are trained to document & work on charts now. Not work with patients & build relationships. I’m not a fan of young doctors. Knowing they’re the future of medicine scares me.
u/zkhg - thanks for your complaint. Without outting your life story… I personally don’t want kids. But I’ve known that for a LONG time. At least a decade. I don’t wanna be responsible for anyone but me. Also I too am 34.
u/practical-tangelo22 - thanks so much for the drawing. I absolutely love it!! It is exactly what I’d expect from someone living in your area! u/daeneryswon - thanks for your complaint. My thing with longer trips is it wears you out more to the point you need a vacation from your vacation. But I get wanting more time to take a slower pace.
u/mute_writer - thanks for the card & stickers. The ice maker has actually been working ok for once!
u/penhand1 - thanks for the vintage postcard. Love it!
u/stillsheryl - thanks for the card. It’s interesting your complaint is about allergies. I actually got off my two allergy meds the last few months. I was taking them for maybe 8 or 9 years. Turns out I never actually had allergies. The urgent care doc from a long time ago was wrongo!
u/ngocburin - I agree with you that Vietnamese coffee is amazing. I have these powered packets of it that I use that I get from the local Asian market. So good
u/keqani - thanks for sending a card for pop pop!
u/appropriate_power392 - thanks for the birthday card for my father :)
u/pierresgirl - thanks for all the complaints. I totally agree with the part about people buying more car than they can afford!!
u/t3ctim - I absolutely LOVE the drawing you made for me!
u/luxuryjerky - thanks for the mushroom card!
u/iz-a_bee - I hear your complaint which is also a complaint of mine!
u/josanne916 - thanks for the card!
u/disney-ghettas - to say I simply love the design on the card you sent me would be an understatement.

u/ngocburin Thank you for your super cute ice cream postcard! I also love the adorable stickers you included for me! <3
u/thepandapost Thank you for your lovely postcard! I love the art :)
u/ericadarling Thank you for your Bryce Canyon National Park postcard! I’m so happy to add this one to my collection :D
u/pretend_constant4266 Thank you for your stunning art postcard, it is soo gorgeous! I’ve never heard of the Men I Trust band, but I will surely check them out! Also, I appreciate the kind words you sent me, keep spreading love <3
u/dianapenpal Thank you for your “nostalgia” themed postcard! I totally see it and it also reminds me of trick or treating when I was a child! :)
u/shebuena20 Thank you for your lovely city view postcard! I’m glad your kids’ birthday party went well!
u/tinawebmom OMG! Thank you for your amazing handmade crafters card! It’s so cute! I also adore the little inspirational cards you included :)
u/melhen16 Thank you for your beautiful handmade “happy” card and the uplifting message you added! I also can’t wait to use the stickers you included <3
u/wabisabi_sf Thank you for the stunning Loupaper postcard!! The hike sounds amazing, and I adore the Lunar New Year stamp!

I (25F) and my husband (26M) have been married for nearly half a year but we’ve known each other for nearly two years. Since being married my husband has not been able to do nice things for me including gifts, dinners and acts of service. We’ve spoken many times before and always coming to the agreement that when we are financially stable things will change. This annoys me as both of us have decent paying jobs for our age and have a household income on close to £70k. A couple of months into our marriage it was my birthday, I expected a gift and an obvious dinner, nothing too extravagant as it was Ramadan,I would’ve even accepted a hand written card. Unfortunately I received nothing. I was so heartbroken as before being married my family and friends would go all out for me on my birthday. My husband was aware that my birthday is a big day for me and yet was ill prepared. He didn’t even say Happy Birthday until I reminded him. Since that day I see my husband differently and I’m having a hard time accepting the course of this marriage so far. I’ve only received flowers twice and once was out of pity and the other after an argument. I know this might all seem small to someone else but I don’t think my husband is putting in any effort to care about the things I care about. I’m struggling to be a good wife because I feel as I am not seen or heard. I work the same hours, maybe more, cook and clean and yet I do not get the same effort back. I know people say the first year of marriage is hard, but I don’t think I’m supposed to be feeling like this. My husband gives me nothing and cannot even spare some money to buy me clothes when I’ve asked in the past. I’m not a materialistic person however all the things I’ve mentioned I would like for him to do for me, I already do for him. I’m constantly thinking about my life before at my family home and I want to go back as my life was nicer. I was treated with care and would always be seen and heard by my parents and siblings, and now it feels as if I’ve left that life to struggle. I’ve spoken to my mum and she tells me to speak with him, but I have and nothing changes. We also argue once a week because of stupid things like not speaking to my for hours or him expecting me to do too much after being tired. I love him more than anything but since being married, he treats me differently. Am I expecting too much too quickly?

Part 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, & 3 sale are still available here- Part 8, Part 7 , Part 6 , Part 5 , Part 4 , Part 3
*** Due to limited Characters anything left blank in the "Condition" Section is *Brand New, Sealed*
The Figures are all 100% Authentic.
- Shipping within the US, with Free shipping with orders $100+. I will pay for the PayPal fees.- Willing to ship Internationally as long as buyer can cover shipping cost.
*Discount Sale* If... - [5/+ figures = 5%] - - [10/+ figures = 8%] -
Images to the figures -<1-10><11-20><21-30><31-40><41-50><51-60><61-70><71-80><81-90><91-100><101-110><111-119><
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Name	Manufacturer	Condition	Price (USD)
1. Huyao Xiao Hongniang - Tushan Honghong - 1/7 - Wan Shui Yi Shan Ver.	Solarain		$200
2. Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja - Mira - 1/7	Kadokawa	Includes Blu-ray	$130
3. Yosuga no Sora - Kasugano Sora - 1/7	Alphamax		$145
4. Arknights - Texas - 1/7 - Elite 2	Good Smile Company		$230
5. Azur Lane - St. Louis - 1/7	Alter		$160
6. Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu - Shera L. Greenwood - B-style - 1/4 - Bare Leg Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$200
7. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata fine - Sawamura Spencer Eriri - 1/7 - Maid ver.	Revolve		$140
8. Azur Lane - Illustrious - 1/7 - Owaranai Ochakai ver.	Kotobukiya		$150
9. [NSFW] - Valhellio - Iris Hartley - Skytube - T2 Art☆Girls - Seikai no Lorelei - 1/6	Alphamax	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
10. Fate/Stay Night - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Saber, 10th Royal Dress ver.	Aniplex		$130
11. [NSFW] - SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - 1/4.5 - Summer Vacation ver.	Orchid Seed		$200
12. SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - 1/7 - Jogging Ver.	Kaitendoh		$300
13. [NSFW] - SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - 1/7 - Pisces Ver.	Amakuni	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$290
14. SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation - Sonico - 1/7 - Racing ver.	Max Factory		$190
15. [NSFW] - SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - 1/7 - Libra Ver.	Good Smile Company		$240
16. Girls' Frontline - HK416 - 1/7 - Black Cat's Gift Venue Exclusive Ver.	Hobby Max		$120
17. Choujigen Game Neptune: The Animation - Nepgear - 1/8 - Neoki Ver.	Broccoli		$190
18. Shining Blade - Xiao Mei - Shining Beach Heroines - 1/7 - Swimsuit Ver.	FREEing		$130
19. Girls' Frontline - UMP9 - 1/7	Funny Knights		$90
20. Girls' Frontline - Suomi KP/-31 - 1/7	Funny Knights	Brand New, Sealed. Box is damaged check for more photos *HERE. The figure is fine	$90
21. To LOVEru Darkness - Konjiki no Yami - B-style - 1/4 - Bare Leg Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$220
22. Toradora! - Aisaka Taiga - B-style - 1/4 - Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$190
23. Machikado Mazoku - Chiyoda Momo - 1/7	Medicos Entertainment		$90
24. SSSS.Dynazenon - Minami Yume - 1/6	Pony Canyon		$160
25. Overlord - Shalltear Bloodfallen - Shibuya Scramble Figure - 1/7 - Swimsuit Ver.	Alpha Satellite		$300
26. Ganbare, Douki-chan - Douki-chan	Union Creative International Ltd		$90
27. [NSFW] - Sonico - Character's Selection - 1/6 - Clumsy Office Lady Ver.	Native	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$280
28. Fate/Grand Order - Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) - 1/7 - Kuraki Homura o Matoishi Ryuu no Majo	Licorne		$380
29. A-Z: - [S] - 1/7	Myethos		$220
30. A-Z: - [B] - 1/7	Myethos		$220
31. To LOVEru Darkness - Mikado Ryouko - 1/6 - Darkness ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$130
32. [NSFW] - To LOVEru Darkness - Lala Satalin Deviluke - 1/6 - Darkness ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$130
33. To LOVEru Darkness - Lala Satalin Deviluke - B-style - 1/4 - Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$380
34. Card Captor Sakura - Kinomoto Sakura - 1/7 - Stars Bless You	Good Smile Company	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$290
35. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Kasumigaoka Utaha - 1/7 - Swimsuit Ver.	Good Smile Company		$110
36. To LOVEru Darkness - Konjiki no Yami - White Trance ver.	Union Creative International Ltd	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
37. To LOVEru Darkness - Kotegawa Yui - 1/6 - Darkness ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$120
38. [NSFW] - To LOVEru Darkness - Nemesis - 1/6 - Darkness Ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$120
39. [NSFW] - To LOVEru Darkness - Lala Satalin Deviluke - 1/6 - Pastel Co-de ver.	Alter	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
40. To LOVEru Darkness - Lala Satalin Deviluke - 1/7 - Dress Style	Ques Q		$220
41. [NSFW] - SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - Dream Tech - 1/7 - Bikini Style	Wave		$200
42. GOOD SMILE Racing - Type-Moon Racing - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Racing Ver.	Good Smile Company	Brand New, Sealed. Box is damaged check for more photos *HERE. The figure is fine	$100
43. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Kato Megumi - 1/7 - Swimsuit Ver.	Good Smile Company	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
44. Fate/Grand Order - Ishtar - 1/7 - Archer	Aniplex	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$250
45. Choujigen Game Neptune: The Animation - Purple Heart - 1/7 - Dress ver.	Wing		$140
46. [NSFW] - Zettai Junpaku♡Mahou Shoujo - Nitta Yui - Creator's Collection - 1/4 - Bunny Ver.	BINDing		$330
47. [NSFW] - Fault!! - Saeki Ai - Skytube - T2 Art☆Girls - 1/6 - Black Wedding ver.	Alphmax		$140
48. Choujigen Game Neptune: The Animation - Noire - 1/8 - Nightgown Ver.	Broccoli		$170
49. Fate/Grand Order - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Saber, Heroic Spirit Formal Dress Ver.	Good Smile Company		$120
50. Girls' Frontline - DSR-50 - 1/7 - ~Spring Peony~	Phat Company		$130
51. To LOVEru Darkness - Konjiki no Yami - 1/8 - -Trance of Darkness	Aquamarine	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
52. [NSFW] - Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Sawamura Spencer Eriri - 1/7 - Okigaechuu	Alphamax		$130
53. To LOVEru Darkness - Tearju Lunatique - 1/6 - Darkness ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$150
54. [NSFW] - To LOVEru Darkness - Kurosaki Mea - 1/6 - Darkness Ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$110
55. Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki desu ka? - Oosuki Mamako - 1/7	Kotobukiya		$180
56. THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls - Shibuya Rin - 1/8 - Triad Primus Ver.	Alpha X Omega		$80
57. Girls' Frontline - QBZ-97 - Juushou Ver.	Flare		$140
58. Sword Art Online - Leafa - Shibuya Scramble Figure - 1/4 - Negligee Ver.	Alpha Satellite		$240
59. Sword Art Online - Asuna - Shibuya Scramble Figure - 1/4 - Negligee Ver.	Alpha Satellite		$240
60. Sword Art Online - Sinon - Shibuya Scramble Figure - 1/4 - Negligee Ver.	Alpha Satellite		$240
61. Sword Art Online: Alicization - Alice Zuberg - 1/7	Wanderer		$190
62. Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou - Shea Haulia - 1/7	Kotobukiya		$180
63. Sword & Wizards ~The Emperor of Sword & Seven Lady Knight~ - Felicia von Flamberg - 1/7 - Bunny Ver.	Kotobukiya		$120
64. [NSFW] - Sword & Wizards ~The Emperor of Sword & Seven Lady Knight~ - Yukishiro Fuyuka - 1/7 - Bunny Ver.	Amakuni		$150
65. No Game No Life - Shiro - 1/7	Kotobukiya	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$65
66. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu - Emilia - 1/7	Good Smile Company		$170
67. Girls' Frontline - K2 - 1/7 - Before the Dawn ver.	Apex Innovation	Brand New, Sealed. Box is damaged check for more photos *HERE. The figure is fine	$140
68. Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari - Filo - KDcolle - 1/7	Kadokawa		$90
69. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Kato Megumi - 1/7 - Lingerie ver.	Alter		$100
70. Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA 3rei!! - Illyasviel von Einzbern - 1/6 - China Dress Ver.	Phat Company		$120
71. Gekijouban Fate/stay night Heaven's Feel - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Saber, British Travelogue	Stronger		$120
72. Maoyuu Maou Yuusha - Maou - 1/8	Kotobukiya		$110
73. Bikini Warriors - Paladin - 1/7	Alphamax		$170
74. Fate/Grand Order - Scáthach - 1/7 - Lancer	Plum		$90
75. Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse - Takamura Yui - B-style - 1/4 - Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$450
76 Muse Dash - Rin - 1/8 - Bunny Girl Ver.	Apex Innovation	Brand New, Sealed. Box is damaged check for more photos *HERE. The figure is fine	$150
77. Dungeon Travelers 2 Ouritsu Toshokan to Mamono no Fuuin - Mefmera - 1/8	Alter		$130
Unavailable	Phat Company		$120
79. [NSFW] - TSF Monogatari - Musashino Takumi - 1/6	Rocket Boy	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$380
80. Fate/Grand Order - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Santa Alter, Rider	Alter		$150
81. IS: Infinite Stratos - Charlotte Dunois - B-style - 1/4 - Bare Leg Bunny Ver.	FREEing		$190
82. Overlord III - Albedo - so-bin ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$130
83. Date A Live III - Tokisaki Kurumi - 1/7	Kadokawa	Includes DVD	$180
84. Date A Live - Tokisaki Kurumi - KDcolle - 1/7 - Bunny Ver.	KadoKawa		$150
85. Date A Live - Tokisaki Kurumi - 1/7 - Lingerie Ver.	Alphamax		$80
86. Diamond to Zirconia - Yuki Itoguchi - Skytube - 1/6	Alphamax	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$170
87. Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka - SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - 1/7 - Hestia ver.	Genco		$250
88. SSSS.Gridman - Takarada Rikka - 1/7	Alphamax		$110
89. Pocket Monsters - Huuro - Swanna - Pokémon Center Original Figure - 1/8	Kotobukiya		$220
90. Sword Art Online: Alicization - Alice Zuberg - 1/8	Genco	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$90
91. Date A Live - Kyouno Natsumi - 1/7 - DX Ver.	Bell Fine		$150
92. Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken - Rimuru Tempest - Shion - 1/6 - Swimsuit Gravure_style	Orca Toys		$180
93. Date A Live - Tokisaki Kurumi - 1/7 - Fantasia 30th Anniversary Ver.	Kadokawa	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$180
94. Fate/Grand Order - Altria Pendragon - 1/7 - Saber, (Alter), Casual ver.	Kotobukiya		$80
95. SoniComi (Super Sonico) - Sonico - White Cat Ver.	Union Creative International Ltd		$150
96. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu - Emilia - Puck - KDcolle - 1/7 - Birthday Cake Ver.	Kadokawa	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$110
97. Fate/Stay Night - Tohsaka Rin - 1/7 - Type-Moon Racing ver.	Stronger	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$170
98. Fate/Extella - Altria Pendragon - Nero Claudius - 1/7	Alphamax		$180
99. Yon Megami Online Cyber Dimension Neptune - Purple Heart - 1/7	Ascii Media Works	Preowned, Excellent condition. Displayed in dust free case, smoke free environment	$150
100. Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai - Sakurajima Mai - 1/7 - Water Gun Date Ver.	Chara-Ani		$100
101. Girls' Frontline - UMP9 - 1/7	Funny Knights		$90
102. Beatless - Lacia - 1/8 - 2018 Black Monolith Deployed Ver.	Good Smile Company		$130
103. Sword Art Online - Asuna - 1/8 - Knights of the Blood ver.	Good Smile Company		$110
104. Atelier Ryza ~Tokoyami no Joou to Himitsu no Kakurega~ - Reisalin Stout - 1/7	Wonderful Works		$140
105. Shin Jigen Game Neptune V II - Next Black - 1/7	Vertex		$320
106. Kantai Collection ~Kan Colle~ - Murakumo - Wonderful Hobby Selection - 1/8 - Kai Ni	Max Factory		$120
107. THE iDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days - Mochizuki Anna - 1/8 - Happy Merry Christmas Ver.	Good Smile Company		$80
108. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Kato Megumi - 1/7	Max Factory		$150
109. Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata - Sawamura Spencer Eriri - 1/7	Good Smile Company		$110
110. [NSFW] - Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata ♭ - Kasumigaoka Utaha - 1/7 - Okigaechuu	Alphamax		$150
111. Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet - Juliet Persia - 1/7	kotobukiya		$140
112. A.I.Channel - Kizuna Ai - 1/7 - Hello, World, Blond Hair ver.	Stronger		$130
113. Teacher Teacher - Maeda Shiori	Union Creative International Ltd		$100
114. Kidou Sentai Iron Saga - Teresa - 1/7 - Bride	Animester		$160
115. Atelier Sophie ~Fushigi na Hon no Renkinjutsushi~ - Sophie Neuenmuller - 1/7	Alter		$150
116. [NSFW] - Original - Toraware no Elf	Eighteen		$150
117. Darling in the FranXX - Zero Two - 1/7 - For My Darling	Good Smile Company		$190
118. Senjou no Valkyria 4: Eastern Front - Riley Miller - 1/7 - Swimsuit Ver.	Bell Fine		$90
119. Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai - Sakurajima Mai - 1/7 - Bunny Girl ver.	Aniplex		$120

​

Hey, it’s me. It’s been a while since we last saw each other, I hope you’re living your best life and that your friends and family are well.
Last time I tried to reach out to you I still wasn’t thinking clearly, I wasn’t being entirely honest when I was asking for closure- I’m sorry. After the breakup, I was still healing, hoping in my heart that if I gave us a little bit of time and space, we would meet up, work things out and get back together. I had the best intentions at heart and I just hope you know that.
I still have so much that I want to say and I wish I could say it to you without anymore miscommunication and fumbling on my words so here it goes.
When I first met you at the coffee shop, I was taken aback by this gorgeous girl who was funny, a little shy, hardworking and caring. I believed that you were exactly the person I was waiting for…and you were absolutely worth the wait. I couldn’t wait to see you again, when we met again my feelings for you grew stronger, I still remember you hiding your face in your scarf, I thought it was so cute and I was falling for you more and more.
I still remember our first kiss like it was yesterday, I eased into you, I felt secure feeling you close to me it was like a dream.
The next date was also incredible, meeting your friends was also great they’re such amazing people and I hope they’re well by the way. Walking around the town, seeing all the Christmas markets, grabbing a drink at that arcade bar, you whooping my ass at table hockey, and who could forget about that mini pouch of Tropicana at the pizza place (didn’t need a glass for that one haha). What I remember the most was how you cuddled up to me on the way back in the train.
Before we knew it, I made us official the next time we went the dessert shop. I was awkward as hell haha but it was the best decision of my life because it led to so many amazing memories I will cherish forever on top of the ones I just listed:

⁃ You meeting my parents- I felt so much pride and I was so glad when my parents loved you ⁃ Coming round on Boxing Day- it was an amazing day ⁃ New Year’s Eve- welcoming the new year with you, hoping our relationship continued to grow ⁃ Our games of Bowling- you really whipped my ass ⁃ Our games of mini golf- always loved them, you won the best of 3- fair game ⁃ Valentine’s Day when I gave you that bracelet and that cheesy card haha, you gave me a lovely picture of us both and a lovely meal ⁃ The meals round mine- dad makes amazing pizzas ⁃ That night at the bar- I’ll admit cocktails are great 

And the night I’ll never forget. I feel like that night, I’ve never been closer to you, our lovely meal when we were laughing together like there’s no tomorrow, having a drink at bout to show you some moves. Going back to the room, was the strongest I felt for you, that moment we shared together was beautiful and that was when I was truly in love.
I still felt so strongly for you, I missed you every day on that trip to and I thought of you each day. Coming back, everything changed and I felt like we were drifting apart. I was blaming myself so hard for what happened on my Birthday seeing you hurt- I felt like I was to blame. I still do now.
The day we broke up, still feels like a bad dream, it hurts knowing that’s reality. It hurts more knowing I was fighting for us whilst you were drifting away from me, it broke my heart, I felt like you gave up on me. I know we agreed but honestly I wasn’t happy, I thought ending things amicably was better for both of us but I guess it only really helped you. I’m not blaming you, that’s not fair to do that, you had your reasons and I understand completely why you weren’t happy with me no more.
The reasons why we didn’t work out: the communication, not understanding your job and the fact we weren’t moving forward. I’ve had time to self-reflect and I now understand why I was the way I was.
I was always hard on myself when it came to, well everything namely my job, my college work, my future, etc. I always questioned whether I was doing enough, whether I’d reach my full potential and being afraid of making mistakes. Those insecurities invaded the relationship and it’s why sometimes my communication was poor and why I sometimes was silent. It’s cause I stressed myself out over something that wasn’t a concern. That’s also why I would forget things or struggle listening, since I let that go I’m now much better.
When it came to your job, I did understand that you had to work different shifts compared to my job and I knew that. I guess because I stepped up on my communication I guess I was expecting more from you whether it was unrealistic or not.
Now I won’t lie, I guess I was also dissatisfied with some things with you and I felt frustrated at times.
I knew that you were awkward with physical intimacy and I understood. I did try my best to still show you my affection and make you feel loved. I felt rejected at times whenever you would shrug me off when it came to hugging or holding hands whether it was in front of my parents or even between us, when you didn’t reciprocate, it left me feeling uncertain at times.
Your sarcastic sense of humour did sometimes rub me the wrong way, I guess I just didn’t understand the jokes sometimes or I didn’t see it as such.
I did think sometimes you were a bit selfish too, like on your Birthday weekend. I did feel left out and like you didn’t really want me there, I absolutely understand your family should be your priority but I felt like you made it my responsibility to secure my place there and I felt it was unfair. I always considered you for every plan I made whether it was my Birthday or a future holiday.
Introducing you to my parents was also a huge step for me, I did that because I was sure about you. When you didn’t do the same despite everything I did, I felt like you were keeping me at an arms length and like you were trying to keep me out of your life.
Maybe you were also a bit unforgiving towards my struggles with listening. I reckon working around loud machinery all day, every day has affected me a bit and I’m sorry about that.
Despite those things, I still wanted to be with you and I was hoping with time we’d be the perfect couple. I was always eager to plan our next date, future plans for us too: holidays, events and I was also hoping I’d meet your family one day. I suppose it wasn’t meant to be but it still hurts knowing we’re not together no more, I still feel like I had so much more to give.
I feel like what we had was something special, it came at the right time, we are both definitely the right people and we had something amazing. I wished the problems we had didn’t push us apart, I feel like we could’ve overcame them. If you lost feelings for me, I get it but it still hurts and I hope you understand.
I’d give anything to talk to you again, simply just be with you again. I still hope, in my heart, that one day we’ll see each other again, that this isn’t really the end. Whether it’s at a coffee shop, a concert or in town, I still wish to see your face again, we pick up right where we left off. If we need to take it slow, I just hope we find our way back because things like us only happen once in a lifetime. I still miss you, your gorgeous smile, your laugh, simply just you.
If not, that’s ok. I know you’re happy now, I’m happy for you too, I wish nothing but the best for you. I just wished you could be your best with me. I’m ok though, no need to worry about me, I’m living my best life too and everything is looking up.
I hope this isn’t goodbye but if I don’t see you again, I hope you have an amazing life.
I’m glad you heard me out, eventually haha, and I’m happy knowing I got everything off my chest.
Thank you for everything and take care

Hey, my brother got big into balatro a few months back and got me to pick it up too.
His birthday is coming up and I think it would be awesome to get him some physical cards to display.
Any tips on how to do this, where to get the images and where to print them?
I've seen some posts of people with cards but haven't seen much detail on doing it.
Thanks!

ik im stupid. i went to return everything they have given me from a birthday card to gas $ and gifts i got for my bday. i went to his job to end things. my goodbye. but then he texts me being backhanded how its good for me he's leaving.he makes me sane. a better person. inspires me. he offered me to help me in the past, didnt go through it for xyz reason idk. offered to be there for me yet cant be. pisses me off but makes me laugh. how the fuck can i tell him i love him? and this isnt fair cuz i didnt ask for it? that now i cant even go to see my favorite band cuz i am AWARE he'll be there? how the fuck is this fair for me when he's not choosing me ever but keeps me as a friend? how can you get along with someone so well that you forget why ur angry cuz its nothing really important besides wanting to be next to them?why tf do i care? i shouldnt. i shouldnt fucking care i shouldnt humiliate myself asking for his support. i shouldnt care if he ate or slept. its not fair i choose to leave and he texts me and i respond and im ignored like always like im nothing like im not important.

Tl:dr. Being lumped into rest of family instead of being directly approached. Am I being too sensitive?
Invites and thank yous
I’ve (61f) spent most of my life as an autonomous human being. Unfortunately, my dad died (81m), and I needed to move in with family to save the house (at 58). I’ve lived all my adult live in San Francisco so was never able to afford my own house.
My niece (29f) and her husband (30m) have gotten, engaged, married, had a later reception, gotten pregnant, had a baby shower and had their son’s one-year birthday party. They live in a separate house.
I do not get an individual invitation. It’s an evite to all of us that I never see because it goes to my brother (53m) who I live with and who is her father. I do not get an individual family photo celebration or Christmas card. I do not get an individual thank you for all the gifts I’ve given. I am lumped into all my family that lives in the house I’m helping them keep. Mom 82f), brother (53m) and nephew (26m - autistic).
As an autonomous person, this pisses me the fuck off. I am not “The xxx family.” I’m am my own damn self.
I’m so not confrontational. I’ve always been afraid I’ll make people mad and they’ll abandon me (can’t have that!).
I’m getting to the point where I’m bitter about participating, even though I love them. I think they may just be lazy and incredibly entitled.
Argh!!!

I made a post about this a week ago and was informed she was emotionally abusive, but I still have no idea what to do
I love this girl so much. She's incredibly attractive, intelligent, funny, and we have the same sexual interests, life aspirations, and educational/career goals. We've been together for almost a year and a half now.
I'm in University and do a lot for her, I drive 100 miles round trip to see her and bring her flowers weekly. We haven't cuddled or had sex since January, and I desperately miss it. I bring it up to her and she gets defensive, telling me to stop bringing it up and that we'll have more time in the Summer when we both don't have school. For her birthday, I got her some lottery tickets, her favorite energy drink, home-made cookies in the shape of hearts, flowers, and a hand-written card with a love letter and cute drawings of us and her cat on it.
She didn't like it. She was mad it seemed like "last-minute" and the cookies were terrible (they were honestly, I fucked up). She said I ruined her birthday and in a fight called me a r*tard, childish, immature, and claimed I don't care about her. I had a nervous break from other extreme stressors in my life and sped off, making a scene with my tires squealing and getting uninvited from an end-of the academic year trip with her and her mom.
I texted her about how I felt afterwards, and she told me some reassuring things. She goes through some periods in her life where she lashes out, that she just needs to work through this and it'll be better when we can finally spend more time together, that shes disappointed how hurt she made me feel both then and over the past semester with me feeling unwanted, saying its a bad habit she wants to get rid of because she knows how it hurts. We agreed that open communication was the key to fixing it, that we love each other and that is more than enough to fix any issue. She told me it was really nice talking to me like this, and that she appreciated everything I did for her. She did nice things for me like giving me cute cat stickers and sending me recipes so that I could learn to be a better cook.
I told her I wanted to talk to her in person about it, and we did. I envisioned a long drive where we talked for a while, she spent 5 minutes telling me she appreciated me for putting up with her, that she knows shes hard to deal with, and she loves me, and she wants to spend more time together in the future/summer when it'll be better. Then she moved on.
I wasn't ready to move on, and later on in the short drive back, she got mad at me for communicating too much. She didn't think I had anything else important to say, that I was repeating myself (Its hard for me to get words out when I'm interrupted and stressed sometimes), and that I ruined it because we were on a positive note and then I turned it into a negative note by bringing up somethign that we already talked about. She got mad and refused to move on when I offered that, remaining mostly silent. She asked what my parents thought and if I told them about the argument we had on her birthday. I did, she dropped me off and gave me an I love you.
She left for her trip yesterday. Last night texted that something went wrong, and she might be coming back today. This morning she texted me that she doesn't appreciate me sharing everything about our argument with my family/friends (and the internet via this throwaway account, but she doesn't know that). That she values privacy and I'm victimizing myself after ruining her birthday yet again, and that she "just can't". I can't either. I feel stressed and like I can never do anything right to make her happy. She makes me feel like a bad boyfriend when I don't think thats the case.
I know its emotional abuse by now. I have a therapy meeting on Thursday to discuss this. But I don't think its intentional on her part, this is her first relationship too and she has had a whole life of being emotionally/physically abused so shes used to this. Not to justify it. I want her to change with how much I love her and how perfect she is in so many ways. That said, I don't see how it can be done if she doesn't want to communicate with me.
I don't even know how to respond to her texts this morning. I'm tempted to write a big letter of how I love her and how I feel and why, but I'm scared shes just going to get mad at it and me. I dont think she knows how much shes hurting me, and I'm not sure if I'm to blame at all. What is love without communication and improving to be better for each other? I'm also terrified that if I leave her as everyone I ask for advice from is telling me to, I won't find anyone better. She's just so perfect for me in so many ways. I'm heartbroken our relationship has deteriorated to this, and the only way I can see it getting better is through mutual communication and acknowledgement of faults which is proving difficult.
Any thoughts or opinions/reassurances would be deeply appreciated. Thank you
TLDR; girlfriend verbally abuses me when she's mad, apologizes, does nice things for me, then "solves" the issue on her own through communication and gets mad at me when I'm not done communicating and bring up the issue already "solved" by her and ruining the high note it left on. I love her more than anything and know I shouldn't tolerate this treatment, but I don't think she realizes how wrong it is. I want to inform her in a nonjudgemental way and help her to get better, but I don't know how. I'm terrified of leaving her. I feel like she truly loves me and our relationship can get better, but only if she acknowledges something is wrong and we work through it together, which we are having trouble with.

Hi, I know some of you have been interested in Joost’s written stuff, so this is one of them. It’s a short story that Joost wrote for Boekenweek voor Jongeren (Book Week for Young People) in 2019. There’s more info about it here (in Dutch) https://www.vice.com/nl/article/qvgzpv/joost-klein-schreef-een-kort-verhaal-over-een-wilde-nacht-in-berlijn and there was also this promo video for it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx7wxnpxps0. It's been translated from Dutch - maybe not the most perfect translation but it's readable. Original in Dutch here. Enjoy

"How come he suddenly has cash?" I looked at Gurb, but he avoided my gaze. Louis never had money and yet he was buying another round. Meanwhile, a Moby song was playing and nothing made sense. "If he has money for drinks, he can surely pay me back, right?"
Just a few hours ago, I was alone in Berlin. Now, ten hours later, I'm standing in some obscure techno club with my best friends. Loud rock music with drunken shouting. "Hey, Miss Murder, can I make beauty stay if I take my life?" I woke up that day with a mild hangover from the lonely yet people-filled night before. Perfect conditions for a 20-year-old dropout.
The Hard Rock Café was the most beautifully ugly place in Berlin. Gurb had driven for seven hours straight in his mother's car, but we didn't notice. An iconic black Mini Cooper. Your body leads your mind, the beat never stops, and you can conquer the world. Louis threw in another crazy dance move. We were happy.
"Do you want another drink, brother?" Gurb asked me, half shouting. An evening filled with rhetorical questions. He saw me dancing and already knew the answer.
Gurb always had money. Louis, on the other hand, never did. Louis was also the youngest of us three. He had just turned 18. I wouldn't call him a cunning fox. More like a jack-of-all-trades. Like the time he made a lot of money on a Wadden Island with a group of boys. They sold large blocks of hash.
"Crazy dude!" I shouted at him. He yelled something back.
"Do you remember back then?" Louis said.
"Back then? Back then? Yeah man, of course!" I had no idea what he meant. "Do you mean the party?"
"Do you mean the party, he says! This guy. When I look at you like this, it makes me happy. The exact same kid is here letting loose just like back in high school!"
We knew each other from secondary school. He joined when I was in the second grade. He was very intelligent. Too young, too much knowledge of the world. His mother is from Brazil. We often went to his mother's place to play on the Playstation Louis and I had bought together.
I lived everywhere at that time. In the crisis shelter where I stayed for a while, for example, I wasn't allowed to have a Playstation. So we set it up in an accessible place, near school. It was always fun with Louis. Going together to the Apple Store. Taking all kinds of photos with all the webcams, posting them on Hyves, and then leaving. Louis always knew how to cheer me up.
"Aaaaaaaaaa!" There was Gurb with five drinks in his hands. Gurb was wearing a blue checkered shirt. Two buttons undone. Hair slicked back. "You look good, brother!"
"You look fresh too! We all look fresh!" Gurb said enthusiastically. Louis was wearing a completely white outfit. We quickly bought this before going out. He also bleached his hair.
"You look like the Brazilian cousin of James Dean in these clothes," I said. Louis laughed. "Let me take a picture."
Suddenly, the DJ switched to some kind of techno. "Ah, here Berlin briefly takes off its mask." I was fine with it all. Louis was talking to a lady.
Voluptuous breasts, I thought to myself. He gave her one of his two drinks.
"He's with a girl and he's thinking with his dick," I said to Gurb. "Let him be, tonight Berlin is ours!"
The bass kept pounding. "I simply don't have the patience for the club," I said to Gurb. He looked surprised. Like a sweet dog, tilting his head. "I'm just waiting for tomorrow. Can't do my thing here. Don't have patience for the already known. I want adventure and I want it now!"
Gurb started laughing. "Patience is a virtue." Yes. Patience is all well and good, but I think it's a waste of my time. Gurb grabbed my shoulder.
"I think it's time for another beer."
Louis and I were walking through Leeuwarden a year ago when suddenly a red Ford Ka stopped in front of us. It was Gurb, casually driving around the city. He invited us into his car. We hopped in. Since that afternoon, the three of us were together. A few months later, Louis got a tattoo on his ribs in honor of our friendship. It was the name of our group chat. Braddar Force Indigo.
There were also days when Gurb would take me for a drive around Friesland. He reminded me how beautiful Friesland is. The world doesn't spin there. The newspapers I threw away in the Stiens forest in 2011 could still be lying in the same spot, so to speak.
Just before midnight, I found myself in line for the restroom. My eyes fell on a pair of striking shoes. Cigarette smoke invaded my nose for the fourth time. "Müssen Sie eine Zigarette haben?" a female voice spoke to me. I felt like Tom Hanks in the final scene of Angels & Demons, where the new pope first steps onto the balcony. The curtains opened. There I was, witnessing an important moment in history. I was just told how I was sent by God, but my ears didn't want to hear any of it. At least that's how I felt. My mouth was empty. I had no words left. That's when I knew for sure. Berlin might really be as crazy as literally everyone says.
Dark blond, silky hair. Was this real beauty then? She wouldn't look 40, but I think she was. A true woman. Beautiful in all her elegance. I always joked about being interested in older women, but tonight one stood in front of me. "I don't smoke," I said to her.
Someone tapped me. "Please, just go to the toilet!" He was right. I hadn't peed in a while either. My urine was cloudy. "Glomerulonephritis," I said to myself on the toilet. This is an unusual condition. It's an inflammation in the kidneys, I thought I remembered. They should never have given me access to Google.
The evening progressed, and Louis kept buying rounds. "But seriously now. How does Louis suddenly have all that money for drinks?" I asked Gurb. He was outside smoking with a group of Swiss girls. I had strategically positioned myself so that I could always leave the crime scene if necessary.
"You shouldn't ask me," said Gurb. He was laughing with the temporary girlfriend group of Louis. Gurb has a beard. A lot of chicks like that. I get it too.
As much as I enjoyed Louis and Gurb being here for me, something didn't sit right with me. It couldn't just be about the money. "What's up with him?" I heard one of the Swiss girls say to Gurb.
Those kinds of questions really tire me out. "Not much, with you?" I replied.
They all started laughing. "That's not what she meant, brother," said Gurb.
"I couldn't care less whether she meant it or not. Send that brace-face back to Switzerland. Don't drive me crazy, alright!"
Actually, I hadn't drunk that much that evening. "Two vodka Sprites, please!" It's rare for me to get just one drink. "I always get two drinks, then you have to wait shorter for the third one!" Maybe the alcohol was affecting me more than I wanted to admit. Oh well, it was still the three of us against the world.
"Nice shoes, are those Prada?" I asked a random girl at the bar.
"No, these are fake. Why would I buy real ones for 600 dollars if I could just buy these for 20?"
"..."
I'm not very good at that. Talking. To women.
Louis and Gurb were in the smoking area now. It was less blue than the dance floor itself. My clothes already stank, so a visit to the smoking area couldn't hurt. "These people are so underground!" Gurb shouted. Louis was filming him with his phone. "These people..." There was a brief pause. As if Gurb forgot the only line he had. "...so underground!" All three of us burst into laughter. The alcohol flowed through our veins as if it came from the purest mountains. People seemed doubled and the room was full. We had been in the same club in Berlin for several hours.
"Leonardo! What are you hiding from the big boss?" I sometimes called Louis ‘DiCaprio.’ "You a rich guy, now?" I said, with an accent as if I were from the Bronx.
Louis started laughing. "Eh, you know nothing. Bullshit talk."
I had to laugh too. What was I even worried about? Friends are friends, with or without money. That shouldn't matter. Louis probably just worked for that money. Maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought. Maybe he just had enough to buy rounds. But what if my gut feeling was right? That feeling was never wrong. Except for that one time at the Holland Casino in Groningen. Even the best of us have slip-ups. I was just getting worked up again. When it comes down to it, Louis is one of the sweetest guys I know. I had to let it go. After all, it's still Louis.
"I think I'm going to have sex soon, man," Louis said.
"With who?" I asked immediately.
"That one girl."
"Which one?"
"The one with the boobs."
"Oh, her. Just be careful."
"What kind of reaction is that?" Louis asked indignantly.
I'd only had four drinks, but I was acting like a mess. Louis was right. I didn't understand myself. Where was my head at? I'm here in Berlin, supposed to be having the time of my life, but here I am feeling lonely and sad again. Joost once again couldn't control his emotions.
"Sorry," I suddenly said to Louis. "Sorry for my behavior. Been acting dumb towards you all night. It's unnecessary." Sometimes I have that. Mood swings. "Know that crime is never the solution. We've talked about this so many times. Yes, it's tempting and sometimes easy money. I sometimes find it amusing too, but it's always hypothetical. Ask me for help. I can help you, even with illegal things. I'll always have your back." The dancing was kind of over.
The words I had just placed on Louis's plate came from my heart. My Frisian, irregular boys' heart.
Crying in the club. I had never seen myself like that. Crying, yes. In the club, no. I never understood the taboo around crying. Or emotions in general. I saw myself in the mirror. They weren't tears of joy. They weren't tears of sadness either. It was me letting everything go. All the emotions I had ever felt. The emotions I felt between my brother and sister and myself because they wanted to take on a parental role over me, but I was in puberty, so I pushed them away. The emotions I felt when my old neighbors were supposed to take care of my dog, but didn't tell me that he was bitten by one of their dogs. They didn't have money for the surgery, they later told me. They were ashamed of their lack of money. My dog died from this injury. Even the emotions that were all jumping at once during the retake for my swimming diploma A, I let go of.
No emotions. Just for a moment, not feeling anything. Is that too much to ask for?
"You still don’t smoke?"
It had to be the voice of the woman with the cigarettes. I looked over my shoulder through the mirror. It was her. The one with dark blond, silky hair.
"Not to be rude, but this is the men’s room," I said. She took a step closer and kissed me on my lips. It tasted like more. We started kissing. It had been a while since I had had female contact at this level. It probably didn't look good and it didn't feel good either. She started kissing my neck. Slowly, I noticed the pressure in the erectile tissues of my penis starting to increase. "I really don't have time for this!" I thought to myself. The woman with the cigarettes started to slowly sink down until she was on her knees. I didn't want this. Not now, not like this. She unraveled my penis from my Polo Ralph Lauren underwear. Her tongue was blue. It was probably from cheap shots of alcohol.
Was this real beauty then? Was this the beginning or the end of her story? And had I become the boy my parents hoped I would be? I thought about the fact that this was once someone's little daughter. Somewhere in the world, an old man might be wondering what his daughter is doing. Am I really putting pleasure above my own morals and values?
With my semi-erect circumcised penis still exposed, I lifted her up. After giving her a kiss on her forehead, I pulled up my pants and left the toilets.
It was the usual last hour in any club ever. I met Louis and Gurb at the bar. "Should we have another drink?" I asked Gurb. "I feel like having a cocktail. Something sweet. Lots of sugar. What about you?"
Gurb looked at the menu. "A cognac would go down well right now."
"A cognac? You're only nineteen!" Gurb and Louis laughed. "Two Tequila Sunrises please!" I called to the bartender. "Also, two beers! Thanks!" I also got a beer for Louis. At first, I didn't want to, but I didn't want to spoil the mood either. Besides, I didn't want to show too much that it bothered me so much.
We danced away the last minutes. The club closed, and we decided to walk with the group of Swiss girls. Apparently, they were staying nearby.
As I lagged behind the group, one of them tried to start a conversation with me. "Are you okay?" she asked kindly.
"I'm fine. Just had too much beer. Makes me sleepy." Not true at all, but I've heard people say that.
"You’re tired? The fun has only just began!" And as she said this, she pulled something out of her inner pocket. Her clenched fist, shielded by a half jacket. Who is this girl, anyway? I thought to myself. She opened her hand flat, and right in the center of her palm lay two small pills with a smiley face on them. At least, they looked like it.
"Oh, I don’t do drugs. Sorry."
"Me neither!" And she swallowed a pill. "Now it’s your turn... Or are you scared?"
Scared? Who did this crazy Swiss witch (with really beautiful eyes) think she was. With her "are you scared". I'll show her who's scared.
"Scared? I’m not scared." I picked up the remaining pill and swallowed it.
Everything went in slow motion. Was this who I had become? Was this the same boy from high school? And just before I could swallow, I spat out the pill. She was shocked. I picked up the pill again, dried it with my jacket, and put it back in her fist. "Maybe later!" I shouted, running back to the group, over my shoulder.
I have nothing to say to 9 out of 10 peers I come across. Of course, I can be social. I can also have fun with random people in random situations, but that night, it just tired me out. I also didn't understand what we were doing there. Those girls found me strange anyway. Suddenly, I was the fifth wheel.
"We know this place where they go until 7 in the morning!" The girl leader of the group spoke. I wanted to go home. "If you guys want, you can go. Don't worry about me," I said to Gurb and Louis. The boys had a brief discussion. We agreed to stay for just a little while longer for some drinks. I consented. I was thirsty. "I'll have a Fanta, Louis."
Gurb had reached the last cigarette in his pack. Louis and a girl from the group were nowhere to be found. It didn't even bother me. This guy just walks around with some cash in his pocket and all hell breaks loose. After a night full of stimuli, I understood Louis. Of course, I understood Louis. He's a young god. Handsome, smart guy. But that didn't make me any less angry. It was purely about trust for me. Something inside me said I should stop subconsciously expecting things from people too. It prevents disappointment.
"Hotel please!" I jokingly suggested to Gurb. "Should you call Louis or should I?" I added. Gurb immediately grabbed his Android smartphone and called Louis. He put the call on speaker.
"Are you ready?" Gurb asked.
"Yeah. Sort of."
"What do you mean?"
"We didn't have sex."
"That's fine, right? Tomorrow's a new day!"
"I think I'm in love, man," Louis said.
"...," Gurb said, chuckling as he let out a sigh.
Once we arrived at the girls' hostel, it was already getting light. Louis was thankfully back. There were stains on his pants, around his knees. My focus was solely on arranging a taxi. Although the boys were still flirting, I was really done now. "How are we going to pay for this taxi?" I said a bit too loudly.
There was a silence. "Don't worry. I still have cash," Gurb said.
"Yeah, I knew you would," I replied.
My words clearly hit Louis. "What do you mean by that?" he said.
It was as if time stood still for a few seconds. "Exactly what I said. Better listen." Louis pulled out a small wad of green bills from his pocket. At least 400 euros. "I don't even want to see that money," I reacted. I walked away.
I'll just order a taxi myself.
"Why are you walking away now?" Gurb said.
"Twelve hours ago, I was alone too, and I had a lot more fun then."
"Do you really want to know how I got this money?" Louis said.
Yes, I did want to know. My whole evening revolved around that damn money.
He took a second of pause before he began speaking. "The answer lies in the Mini."
What on earth could be in Gurb's mother's car? Louis was trying to get into my head. "Taxi!"
Once in the taxi, the division was clear. Gurb was upfront, chatting animatedly with the driver. All adventures ever were recounted. Louis and I in the back. One of my best friends since I was thirteen. Funny how things turn out. It was quiet between us. I was in my head, rehearsing how I would bring up the money again. It didn't add up, and he knew it himself. "I don't care, you know," I said, hoping he'd break.
"What don't you care about?"
"About that money."
"What money? You're really a crazy woozy man." Louis burst out laughing again.
On the other hand, it was silent. Gurb had started talking about the driver's family. The driver didn't appreciate it. Gurb meant well. The driver smelled of alcohol. Or was it me? His nails were polished. Maybe his wife was a specialist. I bite my nails myself. Like now.
"In the Mini, oh yeah."
"Shut up. Illegal man."
"You'll never know."
"Stop playing. Just say it!"
Louis grabbed my head, pulled himself towards me, and brought his mouth to my right ear. "Why so serious?" he whispered. He didn't want to tell me.
"But always with this damn money, huh?" I almost shouted at Louis. I broke every silence within a radius of 10 kilometers.
"I'm trying my best, bro. It is what it is. I can't make it any different," he replied. It was clearly bothering him deeply. He ran his hands through his hair. "Sometimes people have to do things. And you know that better than anyone. Sometimes they have to do things they don't really want to or aren't supposed to do."
I knew this spiel all too well. Through all the drunken haziness, I suddenly saw a small glimmer of light. A tiny spark of sincerity. Louis was serious this time.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to involve you in this. I'm sorry," sweat dripped from his forehead.
"You're serious, huh? Damn, man. What mess have you gotten yourself into now? Worse than Terschelling?" Worse than Terschelling would mean stolen goods. Maybe even violence.
"It's not what you think."
"The Adlon Hotel, right?" the driver chimed in. Always saved by the bell, that Louis.
Suddenly I hit my head against the seat in front of me. Of course, I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. The last thing I saw was Gurb waking up in panic from his drunken stupor. One by one, I started losing my senses. It started with the feeling in my fingers. For a brief moment, everything wasn't quite black, and I could only see a vague pattern of colors repeating inside my eyelids. You could compare it to the brief moment after the commercial break before the movie starts in the cinema. The movie was about to begin.
I knew I wasn't dying. At least not yet. Not like this. Not after an overall mediocre night out in Berlin. I found comfort in the image I forced myself to see. It was all in my head. There I was, unconscious.
I saw myself in a third-person point of view. It wasn't like I was actually leaving my body. More like there was a webcam hanging in one of the upper corners of the taxi.
As a child, I used to dream a lot about death. Nights spent awake.
At some point, I developed a kind of compulsive behavior. I kept swaying my torso from left to right with my hands under my head. It became almost like a workout before bedtime. Every night.
I called it dream shuffling. Just like I had learned to shuffle puzzle pieces or playing cards. Making things a little exciting for yourself. But what I almost never told anyone was that I was scared. I was afraid of burglars, who were very agile and muscular.
Especially afraid that they would murder me. I really wanted to know what death was like. It scared me.
These fear visions originated during an all-inclusive vacation in Turkey. I was 6 years old and already in bed. There was a big old TV in our hotel room, so I could secretly watch TV from bed. Every evening, my parents sat on the balcony. Here they discussed their day while enjoying a glass of alcohol. There was a Japanese animated series on TV. In the few seconds that I watched, I saw a scary creature climbing a sort of apartment complex via the balconies. The creature had hundreds of teeth and blond hair. It quickly entered to decapitate the people, then drained them and, as a final insult, robbed them. Dozens of carcasses of dead people were scattered around the apartment complex. The complex on TV resembled the resort where we were in reality, and the TV world merged with my surroundings. I became part of it. I saw people watching. No matter how loudly I screamed for help, they didn't react. The sun became very bright, and the people turned into nothing more than shadows. As the intensity of the sun increased, something became clear to me. These were not people. They had a sort of orange skin. Where I had previously thought it was their nose and mouth, it turned out that these shadowy figures did not have such physical features. They simply had three holes in their heads. The police tried to do something, but in vain. Since then, we always kept the light on in the hallway outside my bedroom. By rocking back and forth, from left to right, I could glance fleetingly at the beam of light under the door. That bit of light, escaping from the hallway into my room, gave me an advantage. It allowed me to stay one step ahead of the burglars. Pretty smart, right?
"From Jamaica to the world!
It’s just love. Why must the children play in the street?"
It was Bob Sinclar with "Love Generation" speaking to us through the taxi's speakers. We were stationary. I was conscious again, but I didn't feel alive at all. "How long was I out?" I asked Louis.
I could tell by his expression that he was relieved. Relieved that I was back. "One minute," he almost apologized. Louis gave me a pat on the shoulder. Gurb, on the other hand, was sleeping. He slept like a baby cub.
I put my right index finger on my forehead. It felt wet, but it wasn't blood. Blood feels different. Meanwhile, I kept hearing whistling.
"Be the love generation! Oh yeah!" It was still that same song by Bob Sinclar.
The earlier scent of alcohol had now been replaced by the smell of incense. It smelled like the same incense I had in my room. Sold to me as Tibetan 39 incense. I had bought it at a coffee shop in Rotterdam. I pulled up my notes on my phone. "Who lights incense in a CAR????" I let Louis read from my screen. He took the phone from my hands and started typing as well.
"Look at Gurb >>>" Gurb was so deeply asleep that his head drooped. His seatbelt held his torso in place, but his head ended up on the driver's shoulder. The man didn't mind. He didn't move. I made eye contact with the driver through the rearview mirror, and soon I found him. He winked at me.
We arrived at the hotel. Gurb awakened from his alcoholic hibernation. "Who's going to pay for the taxi?" I asked. Clearly rhetorical. I already knew I would take this one for the team, as usual. I refused to use Louis's money. It was uncomfortably quiet. "By card please," I said.
"I'll always protect you, Louis. You really need to know that. I care about you like my own little brother. I'll always try to help you. But you have to be honest with me. Can you do that?" Louis didn't hesitate.
"Yes. Yes, I can. I'll show you. It's really in the Mini." Meanwhile, the taxi driver's card machine indicated that I had insufficient funds. That couldn't be right. Maybe I had withdrawn too much that evening.
"I have cash in the hotel room," Gurb said to me. Gurb informed the driver in broken English that he would go get his cash. The driver agreed. Money is money, whether it comes now or later. As long as it feels good in your hands.
Louis and I got out of the taxi. "You're not going to light a cigarette now, are you?" Louis wanted to smoke. "Especially for stress. That's really for people who can't handle pain. You need to feel pain. Pain needs to brand you for the rest of your life so you finally learn not to do such stupid things." It fell silent again. My blood boiled. All pots were on the stove. I felt like Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen. "Show me then. Do it."
Louis remained silent and walked around the corner of the hotel. Towards the parking lot. I followed him. "You're not going to find much," said Louis.
"Why not? Are you a magician?"
"No. Just. Not much."
"So there's suddenly magically nothing in Gurb's car?"
"Stop. Get out. Get out of my head!" Louis shouted. Louis had had enough. He was done with the parade. Normally we dealt with hypothetical stories. Only this time it wasn't a joke. I was sure now. Louis had dropped his mask. The revolution had begun. The government had fallen and the dikes had broken. The people were in charge. "You shouldn't freak out like this. Always wanting more. Sweet boy, think about yourself."
After Gurb gave the money to the driver, he came to us. He had a smile on his face, lit a cigarette, and exclaimed, "Brothers!" Once with us, he hugged me. He started laughing. "Maybe I haven't been entirely honest either." Sometimes Gurb seemed like a 38-year-old man. In a positive way. He exuded confidence in a way I didn't often see. Affectionate, with a hint of authority.
We stood in the middle of a large parking lot. "Look. We've reached a point where I might not even care anymore. You guys are teasing me." It did matter to me. Maybe more than ever. I was supposed to be two steps ahead of them, but I couldn't figure it out. "I give up."
The delightful silence returned. Louis and Gurb looked at each other. "You guys win. Apparently, I'm not to be trusted as a friend."
From Louis's expression, I could tell he disagreed with this. "Not true. Come to the car."
We arrived at the car. Louis unlocked it and searched for the trunk button. Gurb had started his third cigarette. "It's a corpse, isn't it? Say it now. I can still help you. I can still help us. I can book a ticket for you. We can get you out of here," I said to Louis.
"Just wait. Nutcase."
"Why won't you accept my help?"
Louis started laughing nervously. Or at least it seemed that way. Perhaps a sly laugh too. Had Louis killed someone? "It's not a corpse. That can't be. You wouldn't be stupid enough to use their ID. You're smarter than that. So it must be something stolen. Haven't you found that button yet?"
Suddenly, we heard a click. Louis had found the button. Somewhere, I didn't want to know. Shouldn't I just trust Louis? Wasn't that the whole point of friendship?
Finally, the moment had arrived. I placed my right hand in the slot of the rear hatch. Something in me doubted. Still. I still doubted. Louis looked dead serious. "You wanted to know, didn't you? Then you also have to be man enough to accept it." Louis was clearly not joking. Or was he acting again? "Pussy," Louis said. I looked away. "You're afraid of what's inside, huh? You're afraid of the real Louis." He began to laugh manically. "Open that thing, man. Nutcase!"
I started laughing too. Why did I make such a big deal out of it? Sweat broke out from every pore in my body. It was even a bit damp in the no man's land between my scrotum and my anus. A tropical climate. It had been quite an adventure the whole evening. I took my hand off the rear hatch and first gave Louis a hug. Not some half-hearted birthday wish. No, a real hug.
"It's okay, buddy," Louis said to me. I had no idea what he meant by that. It fit the moment though.
It was really time now. I opened the rear hatch.
"Where is it?"
"In front of you," said Louis.
"In some secret compartment?"
There was nothing in the trunk. Absolutely nothing. An empty trunk. For an empty evening, in an empty Berlin, with an empty group of guys. I didn't get it.
"You won, man," I whispered. "You finally fucking done did it."
I couldn't believe my eyes. Empty? There was still nothing in the car. Louis just stood there. Emotionally, I was a wreck. I had felt every emotion this evening. Seen every color and smelled every scent. I was done. My body was ready. No longer needed. My mission was complete.
"But why did you do this?" I asked Louis, laughing.
He scratched his chin. It felt like the end of a bad movie.
"I sold our Playstation. Wanted to tell you only after I had sorted everything out again. I terminated my lease. Had some debts, and I also wanted to have some money for once. Once not empty-handed in the club. Once not dependent on my best friends. This is not who I am... I know how much that Playstation meant to you. It was ours together. I should have just told you."
"… and how does Gurb actually make his money?"

I'm from NYC and I was in an online relationship with a guy from Central America living in Florida. Lets name him Marty. Everything started lovely and well and then suddenly everything I asked for became too much. He never wanted to really do anything with me. As if I became too much for him.
I would go to work and he would accuse me of cheating, yet he could see me online on teams and that I was actually working. I would be down the street in Manhattan getting an ice cream and he would accuse me of being with another man buying ice cream when I was telling him I was by myself.
He would get jealous when I would stream on twitch to guys that would compliment me and I would thank them and he would say that's flirting and cheating when I'm not doing anything outside of twitch or looking for men's attention. He would also criticize me for what clothes I would wear, calling it "trashy" and how he liked a more elegant look.
We got to a point where I had to threaten him to do anything with him and he got resentment from that. But I didn't ask him to do anything horrible, it was basically watching a video or a movie or playing a game or doing any basic kind of activity together.
I also have to admit at the time I was pretty emotionally broken from a previous narcissistic abuse relationship that had been going on for two years. Marty knew that he was friends with my ex that hurt me so much and he knew about everything that had happened and that my ex was doing to me yet Marty wanted to date me and be with me and I didnt want to be alone. At times I would lash out, be aggressive and cry in pain because of memories I had with my ex. He knew all of this yet still wanted to be with me.
Marty came into the USA with a tourist visa, he overstayed his visa to visit his father (he is an American citizen) and was in the process for his green card. For some reason, he also had a job where he was "working remotely". I think he had something where he was working remotely from Central America but was living in the USA... So he was here illegally.
In October 2023 we were both in discord, I was showering and I left discord open with camera and everything because I was in discord for company over all - and suddenly I got out of the shower and he started shaking and accusing me of cheating on him. He was saying there was someone in my shower and I was having sex with this person and that he heard everything... I was like what? Are you joking right now?
My webcam faces directly to my door and no one had gone in my room or entered. He then said this person entered through the window or I had smuggled them in and had been in my room staring at me all day without being able to talk. I was like what? Who does that? And he replied that it was some guy I had very well trained and that I smuggled him in for sex. I obviously denied this and thought he was crazy and tried to show him my room and my bathroom but he left the discord call so I immediately sent him a whatsapp video of my room in its current state... Not only him but also to his roommate and his best friend and told them what happened with Marty. Not even once I had ever cheated on him or ever thought of that.
This was just the beginning... Then he would hear someone in my room... all the time. Or would get up to go to my kitchenette and he would say I was having sex in my kitchen. If I was eating and chewing, he would say there was someone else and that we would coordinate our chewing so that he could only hear me.
There was this other time I was sleeping and I was coughing because of allergies and he said I was choking on someone elses cock even though I ended up getting a security camera that would turn 360 in my room. I got up and stared at the camera like ???? Do you see someone here? Do you see me with a drool? What is wrong with you?
Another time I was sleeping and I woke up in the middle of the night with him staring at me in discord telling me there was someone using my computelaptop and that he could hear keyboard sounds and that I showed online/available on teams so that means there was a neighbor or a coworker here with me in my room while I was sleeping. I was like are you serious? Can you please stop? There is no one here.
Not to mention, he would also call me at random times, even though we were on discord to demand that I give him "room tours". Mind you, I live in a very tiny student dorm studio apartment that only has a small room about 8x9 feet so there was nothing much to see. I have clothes and boxes everywhere because I used to live in a much bigger apartment 5 years ago. There was nowhere to hide anyone in my room, he would have seen anyone by now. This went on until April 2024. I couldn't take it anymore...
I would always be begging him to stop. I cried for whole days, cried for whole nights… I would go to my office with my eyes red and puffed from the crying all night to him. I begged him to stop or I would do something I regret - I didnt want to leave him - I wanted him to change. I really just wanted him to love me, I wanted him to stop treating me like this. I thought I loved him, I did everything I could to prove to him I had never cheated on him... He would constantly break up with me and I would constantly beg him that I loved him and I didnt do anything with anyone and there was no one in my room and I tried everything... So one morning I was really stressed, had a grant deadline, had work deadlines, and had a really big test that week (he knew how stressed I was and how tired I was and how I needed to get all of these things done) and he decided to break up with me... For some reason I was blinded by rage. I became infuriated because he had broken up with me so many times and I had to beg him, cry to him, I have spent whole days crying and begging to him to please stop to please love me to please stay with me... and I don't know I became blinded by rage... he wrote to me on microsoft teams... and I ... I reported him to his office on one of those feedback emails? I never thought they would actually read it and I never thought anything would happen to him... but he got fired and he got reported and he got deported. I felt so bad... Never in my life have I ever felt so bad. I wanted to die... I didn't know all of this would happen... But I don't know what to do I was so tired of his treatment that wouldnt end every day… I felt so defenseless against him... He was sucking my life away... No matter what I said or what I did he was never going to stop. I asked him to send me his videos/audios he recorded of me to post them online or ask someone to analyze them, the sounds, anything.
Because that's the other thing - he would record me on discord without my consent to see if he could find this person and have proof that he was right.... I wonder why he couldn't find proof that what I was telling him was the truth? Why couldn't he fight for me? Yet he would say he loved me. He doesn't want to do that, he rather keep on saying I cheated.
I do talk to myself very often and he would say to me all the time that I was whispering to this person or signaling this person... He took a few videos where you could hear someone in the background another time when I was showering - but I don't understand where that voice came from... He said it would sound like I was having a conversation in my room and this guy would talk back to me but I was like ??? What was the conversation even about? Could you elaborate? When I would go into my kitchenette to cook rice he would say the banging sounds of me hitting the spoon with the pot were me having sex with this guy. I do have ducts and central air conditioning and there are like 20 other apartments on my floor - and you can hear so many things from the hallway or even just from my door. He would accuse me of making fun of him with this person he thought was in my room but I would never do anything like that. He was accusing me of very serious things - like cheating. And all of this was affecting me in the head.
Another breaking point for me was one time I was studying with my dad and he was on the security camera I bought for him to survey the room anytime he wanted to so he could see there was no one in my room (which, was useless because he said that this person would cleverly move anytime the camera moved - like they would be staring at it all day or something I don't know how he can think something like this.) and he was watching me eat a snack and he said to me “your hands are dirty with dick cheese” “you have dick cheese hands'' and I wrote to him back to stop talking to me like that - stop saying I have some other man’s penis in my hands and didn't wash it? Like why would you tell that to anyone? How is that okay to say to another person? When I have never done anything like that. And he was fine, he was perfectly okay with telling these words to me. After that I broke down and told my dad everything Marty was doing to me, everything absolutely everything… and my dad forbade me to hang out with him/talk to him, anything. I was going to fly that weekend to be with him on his birthday but I changed it. Marty was super mad and upset I changed my flight, he really wanted to see me. I don't understand why? Why would you want to be with someone you accuse so horribly? I don't understand what is wrong with him… But you don't treat someone you love like this… after that I took some time off to cool myself because that was during that week that I was studying for my test and i had grant deadlines, work, I had this relationship stress, and everything just happening a the same time… and he wanted to apologize and I get it but I really needed to get these things done in my life and he would accuse me of being with someone else when I wasn’t I was working and doing these things I had in my schedule to do and accomplish. He would always say there is another guy there is someone else but there isnt. I’m 100% devoted to my job, to my career development, to get my tests done and him… And my twitch hobby… Why couldn’t he ever see this?
He would get jealous when I would hang out with any friend. When I would go out. He thought it was crazy to go out by myself to a restaurant, movies, theatre, anywhere. But I do enjoy my own company. Why is it so hard to understand? When I was on twitch I would welcome him to play with me or my friends or my viewers and he wouldn’t want to. Then would complain we didn’t do anything together… but I was always available and willing to do anything with him…
I do feel so bad, I couldn't take it anymore... I shouldn't have reported him where he worked… I didn't know all of that was going to happen… I didnt even think about it overall, I was just seeing red…

My (31F) husband of 9 years was left by his ex wife after 5 years of marriage 13 years ago.
She left my stepdaughter behind and claimed that my husband and his family were tarnishing their daughter with LDS ideology and that she didn't have the strength to deal with his family's money. She also started a conspiracy theory that my husband's family knew, through marriage, business partnerships, or by blood to a lot of the lawyers, judges, cops in the area. Which is completely ludicrous.
Because my husband didn't want her to disrupt the daughter who she willingly abandoned my husband sent her a final lump sum payment after his alimony to her was ended, and she agreed to stop trying to angrily disrupt his family's lives via tantrums or slander.
She still had the opportunity to demand regular visitation, to arrange something semi regular for holidays. The best she could do was a few birthday cards and friending/ following Veronica on social media once she got a Facebook and Instagram.
My husband and I have our own two sons ( 9 and 4). Veronica ( now 18) has a very argumentative, self righteous personality. It's been hard, since I met her, to have any conversations with her and the only way to peace was avoidance.
At some point, I decided to defer to my husband when he said it was no use talking to somebody who answers everything with pure emotion. And he told me to stop playing the game of trying to please Veronica and to just not engage when I suspect she's moody.
So Veronica began claiming that my husband's policy of not engaging was him ignoring her. As she became a teen she'd start parroting her birth mom's view and would say she hated my husband's religious values.
In response, we decided to not engage and just focus on providing a happy childhood for our sons.
She is now a legal adult who just graduated high school. The law straw came when my husband complained about a business partner being annoying at dinner. She rolled her eyes, and said " then just give up the property you own with him for free. It's just money. I'd never pretend to like somebody I didn't just for money. I'd just quit if I didn't like my coworkers, not complain about it all the time."
I think that mockery of my husband made him say enough. He told me afterwards how angry he was at her. I'm sure some might argue my husband is overreacting and holds grudges he shouldn't but the disrespect is clear.
Long story short, my husband asked Veronica to leave and when she refused he wanted to file to evict. In response, she texted him she's leaving and she'll do fine without him, and gave him her house keys saying " I hope you are happy." My husband asks over text if she's voluntarily vacating and she replies " call it what you want- I'm leaving."
She then comes back days later begging for forgiveness. My husband refuses to let her back in and asked if I had any input on this, which I stayed silent on since he was aggravated. Her mom gets involved, finds me on Instagram, and asks me if my son was in her place if I would beg my husband to let him back in even if my husband got angry at me.
I told her that was a moot point. Her mom is mad that I refuse to do anything to " plead her case". I reply that why should I stick my neck out for her child when she has never done so in any meaningful way. I know I'd never abandon my sons ever even in the face of imminent physical danger to myself AITA?

I got a gift card from my friend in the united states for my birthday. Unfortunately it can't be redeemed in Canada. Thanks!