i'm a junior in highschool and i started talking to this guy from my school who had 53 followers on insta (only 2 were girls) like he was extremely shy in front of girls and we hit it off. i knew i liked him. he was physically attractive and our personalities matched well. he himself said that he felt like i was the female version of him. it was obvious that he liked me back but for some reason he kept saying he didn't want to date because his friends had bad experiences so i didn't force him into anything. for 2 months we talked daily for 12 hours. once we made a plan to meet up but i couldn't come because i got my period. he got so pissed that he refused to talk to me and deactivated his instagram. he said i was the only person he had a soft spot for and i ruined it. he even burnt the love letter i had given him. my friends thought it was really childish that he got so mad especially when we were just meeting as friends. his defense was that we had been planning to meet since so long and he was just disappointed. i wrote him a long apology and he forgave me. later, my friends told me to confront him and ask him if he really liked me because he wanted to do all these lovey dovey couple things with me like saying he wanted to marry me 9 yrs later but then saying we were just friends. so i asked him and he kept saying i don't know until he said that he did like me but he didn't want to date because of moral issues and stuff (we're Muslim btw) so i didn't push him. i told him i would wait till he was ready. we went back to normal. we even met and he gave me his bracelet and chocolates. i knew i was in love with him even though my friends didn't like him. a few weeks passed by and i felt that he was getting distant. his texts were dry and we didn't talk that often. and then all of a sudden i checked and he had unfollowed and removed me. i asked him about it and he said that he wanted to stop talking to girls since he had bad experiences (he fought his other girl friend whos the biggest pick me ive met btw) and said he was looking forward to a religious approach. i just replied with good for you since i couldn't really say anything else. my friends said he got tired of me and it was all an excuse. i don't know what to think. i mean i liked him so much just for him to break it off so suddenly. you can be friends with girls without it being sexual can't you? like even his friends were like if i was him i wouldn't hesitate to date you. and if he did want to become more religious why didn't he focus on his inner circle because from what ive heard some of his friends are shitty ppl. recently i saw screenshots of his chat history that his younger brother sent. it was his dms list full of girls (my last text to him was included) i was a bit suspicious because back when i first met him everyone said he was shy and he was afraid of talking to girls and i was the only one he romantically interacted with (he had 2 other friends that were girls and i knew them since he used to show me his dm list) but now he's texting girls that don't even want anything to do with him. went into a h0e phase after we stopped talking i guess. why would he leave me to talk to other girls that don't even want him. did my attention boost his ego idk what happened i miss it but i wouldn't want him back idk. im confused. it hurts now bcs he was my first proper love and i really wanted a future with him.

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Essentially as woman, I always had imagined what I wanted in a guy, I don’t know if I ever expected to meet one that follows the checklist but I always wanted: a good job, kind, works for a good company, hard working, handsome, and lastly is outgoing. This was mine bc I wanted the guy to compliment me being shy, I worked hard on myself as well, I am in a good shape, I have an engineering degree and I’m working toward getting a good job, and I’m kinda attractive and I’m trying to elevate that. Last time I was working, I met up with the dream guy, the way I met him was like in some kind of movies or fiction, here how it went down:
My coworker and I were waking at this work event, and a guy passes by us as we were talking about good looks, and dating men, as he passed by my coworker said “I can’t ever imagine dating a guy this good looking” I looked at him, acknowledged he was handsome but I kinda wanted to push her to talk to him rather than it being for me. As the day went by, I was talking to my friends about this funny incident and while he was busy grabbing himself coffee, he then joined the conversation when he realised we both have a mutual friend and we became friends after that.
It started from him following me on Instagram, and then texting me from there and now we are friends. My dread came in when I realised how I’m not nowhere where I need to be to get someone like him, because even if now I can pull him with my current habits and ethics I wouldn’t be able to make him like me still. Anytime he talks about habits or his work I feel the hatred of how I should’ve been better because if I mess this up, the perfect guy will be gone forever, although this guy might not be my soulmate he made me realise that if I do meet a guy who is my soulmate with my current self I will push them away bc this current guy who I am as a person is making him disinterested and that’s what hurts.

This has happened to me twice now. When shopping at store, either they won’t give any samples or simply say that it is out of stock.
The sales person at the register also always seems annoyed when you ask for the free sample. But, aren’t they suppose to give them to you? This just always puts me off when shopping in store.

i'm a junior in highschool and i started talking to this guy from my school who had 53 followers on insta (only 2 were girls) like he was extremely shy in front of girls and we hit it off. i knew i liked him. he was physically attractive and our personalities matched well. he himself said that he felt like i was the female version of him. it was obvious that he liked me back but for some reason he kept saying he didn't want to date because his friends had bad experiences so i didn't force him into anything. for 2 months we talked daily for 12 hours. once we made a plan to meet up but i couldn't come because i got my period. he got so pissed that he refused to talk to me and deactivated his instagram. he said i was the only person he had a soft spot for and i ruined it. he even burnt the love letter i had given him. my friends thought it was really childish that he got so mad especially when we were just meeting as friends. his defense was that we had been planning to meet since so long and he was just disappointed. i wrote him a long apology and he forgave me. later, my friends told me to confront him and ask him if he really liked me because he wanted to do all these lovey dovey couple things with me like saying he wanted to marry me 9 yrs later but then saying we were just friends. so i asked him and he kept saying i don't know until he said that he did like me but he didn't want to date because of moral issues and stuff (we're Muslim btw) so i didn't push him. i told him i would wait till he was ready. we went back to normal. we even met and he gave me his bracelet and chocolates. i knew i was in love with him even though my friends didn't like him. a few weeks passed by and i felt that he was getting distant. his texts were dry and we didn't talk that often. and then all of a sudden i checked and he had unfollowed and removed me. i asked him about it and he said that he wanted to stop talking to girls since he had bad experiences (he fought his other girl friend whos the biggest pick me i've met btw) and said he was looking forward to a religious approach. i just replied with good for you since i couldn't really say anything else. my friends said he got tired of me and it was all an excuse. i don't know what to think. i mean i liked him so much just for him to break it off so suddenly. you can be friends with girls without it being sexual can't you? like even his friends were like if i was him i wouldn't hesitate to date you. and if he did want to become more religious why didn't he focus on his inner circle because from what i've heard some of his friends are shitty ppl. recently i saw screenshots of his chat history that his younger brother sent. it was his dms list full of girls (my last text to him was included) i was a bit suspicious because back when i first met him everyone said he was shy and he was afraid of talking to girls and i was the only one he romantically interacted with (he had 2 other friends that were girls and i knew them since he used to show me his dm list) but now he's texting girls that don't even want anything to do with him. went into a h0e phase after we stopped talking i guess. why would he leave me to talk to other girls that don't even want him. did my attention boost his ego idk what happened i miss it but i wouldn't want him back idk. i'm confused. it hurts now bcs he was my first proper love and i really wanted a future with him.

As someone that lives on the edge of the panhandle in AL. I am aware of many things that go on, & one of them I followed very closely was the targeting, and downfall of spring break in Panama City Beach which other beach cities have taken the same approach since including Miami Beach.
However Sol fest is turning out to look as if it's being targeted in a VERY similar way, if not the exact way Panama city beach was targeted to eliminate the spring break service industry. The media, and town councils/special committees/law enforcement/select residents who are pissed off will be a big thing they use to their advantage to cook up the appearance of the area becoming a hotbed for criminal activity and heinous crimes with an entire local area being outraged even when really they aren't much concerned as long as theres no chaos, or shootings, and anyone that disturbs the peace be arrested. Which news medias wmbb, and mypanhandlenews are just a couple of the outlets that an along with "freedom loving", fake conservative fox news that completely degraded an entire city's reputation & visitors in PCB which I see the same patterns happening with in nearby holmes county from everything to the news media (except fox). the local government, and the law enforcements standpoint. Take notes from the PCB situation (2014 to present) because it is looking they are going to use the media and local governments to their best advantage to slander the name of Sol fest and it's patrons to the point it's driven out, & being in touch with victim businesses and promoters of the PCB targeting may take you a long way. (Bar industry staff, scooter rental places that were shut down, promoters, former club la Vela staff). The city council in PCB, the mayor at the time, and select locals to persuade the public that there was complete outrage were the first to blame other than the actual people themselves who deserved to be in jail anyways for committing these crimes out there that the incidents were used to the citys advantage. They banned alcohol on the beach, have had law enforcement from 5+ jurisdictions flood the area years after 2015 (the year they decided to go to bat against the sb industry after slandering it on national news the year before). Cut off alcohol sales and club permits to operate after 2 am, eliminate rentals of moped scooters, target promoters themselves like the Panamaniac card company, and arrest known promoters on spot for petty violations, and a lot more. Just a few examples along with refusing to renew the permits for club la Vela to become operational again after hurricane Michael. Good luck and give them a run for their $$. They should not be allowed to dictate who can and can't have entertainment events and which crowd gets to and doesn't get to do business there, and there are ignorant ) bad people in every crowd regardless of what it's based on, and as long as these people are being rightfully arrested when making stupid actions there's no reason to be targeting the entire event itself. Unfortunately if sol fest continues throughout a large increase of law enforcement will more than likely be a thing except the fact the owners of vortex can probably take a stance on limiting that since the propertycis privately owned if I'm not mistaken.

I'm making hand painted press on nails, so far my only sales have been irl to friends. Would anyone mind giving me pointers on turning views into sales? I have $1 a day on for ads on my 4 most viewed and clicked products. I heavily post about my nails on my socials (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok) and people will message me showing interest but not follow through. Seriously, anything. Are my prices too high? I know my pictures could really use a revamp on a lot of my listings and I'm actually working on that today. I just don't understand how I'm seeing so many views and no sales... Maybe because of my lack of sales and reviews?? I'm just feeling lost and almost like I want to give up honestly. https://bunnisclaws.etsy.com

i'm a junior in highschool and i started talking to this guy from my school who had 53 followers on insta (only 2 were girls) like he was extremely shy in front of girls and we hit it off. i knew i liked him. he was physically attractive and our personalities matched well. he himself said that he felt like i was the female version of him. it was obvious that he liked me back but for some reason he kept saying he didn't want to date because his friends had bad experiences so i didn't force him into anything. for 2 months we talked daily for 12 hours. once we made a plan to meet up but i couldn't come because i got my period. he got so pissed that he refused to talk to me and deactivated his instagram. he said i was the only person he had a soft spot for and i ruined it. he even burnt the love letter i had given him. my friends thought it was really childish that he got so mad especially when we were just meeting as friends. his defense was that we had been planning to meet since so long and he was just disappointed. i wrote him a long apology and he forgave me. later, my friends told me to confront him and ask him if he really liked me because he wanted to do all these lovey dovey couple things with me like saying he wanted to marry me 9 yrs later but then saying we were just friends. so i asked him and he kept saying i don't know until he said that he did like me but he didn't want to date because of moral issues and stuff (we're Muslim btw) so i didn't push him. i told him i would wait till he was ready. we went back to normal. we even met and he gave me his bracelet and chocolates. i knew i was in love with him even though my friends didn't like him. a few weeks passed by and i felt that he was getting distant. his texts were dry and we didn't talk that often. and then all of a sudden i checked and he had unfollowed and removed me. i asked him about it and he said that he wanted to stop talking to girls since he had bad experiences (he fought his other girl friend whos the biggest pick me ive met btw) and said he was looking forward to a religious approach. i just replied with good for you since i couldn't really say anything else. my friends said he got tired of me and it was all an excuse. i don't know what to think. i mean i liked him so much just for him to break it off so suddenly. you can be friends with girls without it being sexual can't you? like even his friends were like if i was him i wouldn't hesitate to date you. and if he did want to become more religious why didn't he focus on his inner circle because from what ive heard some of his friends are shitty ppl. recently i saw screenshots of his chat history that his younger brother sent. it was his dms list full of girls (my last text to him was included) i was a bit suspicious because back when i first met him everyone said he was shy and he was afraid of talking to girls and i was the only one he romantically interacted with (he had 2 other friends that were girls and i knew them since he used to show me his dm list) but now he's texting girls that don't even want anything to do with him. went into a h0e phase after we stopped talking i guess. why would he leave me to talk to other girls that don't even want him. did my attention boost his ego idk what happened i miss it but i wouldn't want him back idk. im confused. it hurts now bcs he was my first proper love and i really wanted a future with him.

-My husband & I have been together for 8yr. Below is a timeline of my MIL issues starting when we first began dating, to now, several years married.
Before meeting my now-husbands mother, VERY early on in our relationship and before we were even official, his mother requested to follow me on all my social media accounts. I had not met her at the time and found it way too soon & creepy. Even at this point I got the initial feeling she was the type who forces levels of intimacy that she has not made the effort to genuinely attain.
-In the beginning I did make a concerted effort w/ his family. I quickly learned his Mother asks v. intrusive questions. It’s clear her questions aren’t genuine, but for the sole purpose of having ‘intel’. As if it’s ’information gathering’ for her benefit.
-The 2nd time meeting his mother she immediately asked me what year my parents got married. I told her I wasn’t sure & she began asking me if I knew what decade.. followed by questions re: my mom’s birthdate. Then she told me what she really wanted to know was my mom’s age (always an ulterior motive..). She was beyond giddy to discover she was younger than my mom. I told her my mom was slightly older than some of my peers mothers bc she had a daughter (my sister) before I was born who passed away and she had trouble conceiving afterwards. His mom didn’t react or respond to this as she was still so giddy to over the fact she was younger than my mom. Red flag..
-In our early relationship my husband lived in a house w/ friends. He was 26. When we’d visit his family, his mom would always say he should move back home & save money. I found this odd behavior for a mother wanting their son to grow & flourish as an adult.
-After a year & a half dating we decide to move in together. My future MIL pulls me to the side for a 1 on 1 conversation & tells me if things don’t work out, don't worry, there’s always a way to break a lease & get out of it if things aren’t going well (why would things not go well…?). She begins quizzing me re: my prior relationships/ how they ended. Before going back to the topic of us moving in together & basically tells me she doesn’t approve.. generally makes me feel unacceptEd. I tell my now husband how uncomfortable this made me & he has a talk with her, she gaslights, tells him she feels she’s walking on eggshells w/ us & did nothing wrong, we are so sensitive, how she doesn’t do anything right.
-She begins incessantly planning get togethers with us, telling us she never gets to see us (when we visit 1-2x/month). We don’t even live in the same city. Not to mention we’re busy in our 20’s w/ friends & establishing our own lives. Every time she sees us she leads w/, ‘oh I’ve missed you sooo much. when did I see you last? Why has it been so long? I’m soooo happy to see you. (On & on, guilt trip behavior).
-Our first Christmas dating we spent w/ his family, the 2nd year w/ my family. When we told her we wojld spend the 2nd Christmas w/ my family she had a huge outburst, behaving super frantic/ triggered. We got upset and left shortly after. The following day I txted her we were upset she reacted to our plan that way, we spent the prior Christmas w/ them & it was our decision.. and moving forward we’d be splitting holidays. She played it off, said I wasn’t upset at all if you thought that I really wasn’t! I don’t think I came off like that, sorry if you felt that way, then she changed the subject. Once again gaslighting (this being the last time I confront her myself. My husband handles from here on out)
-She begins asking where I buy all my clothes. Nonstop questions ab my material possessions. Then starts going out and buying the same items for herself.
-She starts constantly telling my husband on the phone how she never sees him and making him feel guilty. When we see his parents 1-2 times a month.. and live 2 hrs away.
-Around this time, If I stated an opinion ab something (as in I would bring it up) she’d debate everything I would say as if I wasn’t allowed to have that opinion.
-Pulls me to the side of a party 1 on 1 & tells me in private ‘you’re so lucky to have my son, I just want you to know that you’re really lucky.. I hope you know it’ she wasn’t being nice when she said it.
-Around this time she tells us how my husbands sister is so sad that he (my husband) has a gf (me) but how she doesn’t have a boyfriend. Triangulating her 2 children, w/ the goal of wanting her son to feel guilt for being happy and in a successful relationship.
-Husbands mom starts getting jealous when we go on family beach trips w/ my family. We go for a week every year. She makes disapproving comments to us/ is generally unhappy her son is enjoying vacations.
-She starts making comments to now husband ab how I am closed off, crying to him about never seeing him and how he doesn’t make enough effort..
-Begins incessantly micromanaging my husband: texts him reminding him of this and that, tells him my (as in me…) birthday is X days away, to make sure to get me something, to get his sister something, reminding him he should ‘make plans with his dad soon or go see his dad soon’ or ‘have you called your sister recently? You need to call her it’s your job as a brother’
-Begins generally undermining how we live our lives, generally casting judgement on any and every decision we make.
-Around this time his sister who is only 2 years younger begins acting bratty- we give her furniture, tvs, clothing large items she says she wants and she is super ungrateful, complains about the items we give her, tells us they’re too heavy for her & that we need to carry it for her and put it In her house for her. Only calls or texts us when she needs something, wants advice, or wants to complain to us. Never any other times. It’s always all ab her.
-His sister then keeps our dog for us when we are out of town for a few days (which we were shocked her said yes). We stocked the fridge w/ 7 or so bottles of wine for her and made our home lovely/ special for her stay. Her new boyfriend even comes to stay with her (they both have roommates so this is a chance for the 2 of them to be alone). After our trip we were over the top grateful thanking her many times. She then pitches a fit to my now husband telling him we bought her cheap Trader Joe’s wine and that she can’t believe we didn’t bring her back a tshirt from our trip, complaining on and on yelling at him.
-my husband and I get engaged and his mom/sister begin trying to force get togethers, my husband sister begins asking me to go to workout classes, etc. which is v. Out of character. It continues & becomes apparent this is happening only bc we got engaged. It feels disgenuine as she never made efforts in the 5 years before we were engaged…
-My bridesmaids are my closest, nearest dearest friends who I’ve known for 10+ years. My husband’s sister cried when she found out she wasn’t a bridesmaid and started calling my husband weekly crying / begging him to be a bridesmaid. Then my MIL starts calling, telling him how disappointed she is. He tells his mother, I’m not sure why she’d expect to be a bridesmaid, she’s never made an effort, they aren’t close, she gets to select her closest friends to stand by her side. This has nothing to do with not liking or leaving anyone out on purpose. His mom cries, repeats how deeply disappointed she is, how wrong this is, etc. My husband tells his mother he plans to ask his dad to be his best man. Disclaimer: neither of my brothers were by husbands groomsmen, they couldn’t have cared less…
-My husband asks his father to be his best man. His father declines and says ‘no, not unless your sister can be a bridesmaid’………………….
-My MIL creates her own wedding hotel block for her friends and family, sending out a mass email to them. This is outside of the 4 hotel blocks we already have on our wedding website.
-I start hearing my MIL is saying to friends/family, ‘As long as my son is happy that’s all I care about, I just really hope that he is. All I can do is hope’ and telling people how devastated she is that her daughter isn’t a bridesmaid and how messed up and wrong it is and how weddings are a family celebration for the family. No one ever confronts me once about the bridesmaid situation.
-My husband ends up telling his mother to never mention the bridesmaid topic again, how he won’t tolerate it and is done hearing about it.
-We ask my SIL to give a reading at our wedding. Her response: ‘if I have to’. She is a pill our entire wedding, in almost every photo she is scowling.
-When we receive our wedding photos & upload online, my SIL/MIL text and ask me where all the photos of them are (there were plenty…). I told them I uploaded every photo our photographer sent. They told me this wasn’t true, were extremely disrespectful to me, basically told me I was lying when I wasn’t. I uploaded every single one. I even reached out to my photographer to ask if she’s deleted any of the photos before sending…
-My husband & I got into a disagreement with my SIL where we had a huge argument resulting in a 6 month period of no contact. This arises after we confronted her, calmly & maturely about an issue we had to which she cussed us out and called me every terrible curse word you can imagine. My husband was livid- told her she would not talk to/ab me that way & how childish she was behaving, how we should be able to confront her when we are upset about something she’s done, etc. After several months of no contact w/ my SIL, my MIL begins calling my husband saying: you ‘will/must’ resolve things w/ your sister. He says no & it’s not her business. My husbands father then calls him, clearly deployed by MIL (as he’s very chill/no-drama). The situation becomes even more stressful due to my MIL pressuring my husband re: a topic that doesn’t involve her. I too become stressed, seeing my in laws trying to control him. My in laws then have my SIL’s bf text my Husband saying, ‘I really hate seeing this for the family I want everyone to be ok’ (although once has my SIL attempted to reach out & apologize for calling me a bit** cu**, etc). When his attempt doesn’t work on my husband, my MIL then sends my husband & me a joint text message ab How she wouldn’t be intervening if her daughter could handle this on her own & how we need to fix it. My husband responds & tells his mom off, essentially saying: This isn’t your business. My wife is owed an apology, you guys also have never apologized for how horribly you treated us during our wedding.. the happiest time of our lives, a day we get to have exactly how WE want. My sister can handle her own problems she’s an adult, shes never going to learn bc you meddle in every problem she has bc you want things your way. Then when you don’t get what you want, you get everyone to do your dirty work for you in hopes you can bulldoze & get your way. You make everything ab you, what you want, when & how you want it. Those days are over (this is a summary of his response).
(hmm wonder why my SIL doesn’t know how to handle adversity, bc you handle everything for her even though she is an adult)
-SIL reaches out to my husband and says she wants to talk. He says no, you treated my wife poorly. You will reach out and apologize to her, not me. You won’t disrespect my wife. And she does do this although it takes her a week or so. And it did seem genuine.
-I think this all stems from drama my MIL creates, and when things don’t go her way she pulls others in to manipulate them & do her dirty work for her.
-husband and I lived 2 hours from his parents. We end up moving 10 hours away to create distance from his family. They disapprove and generally disapprove of any and every decision we make, as they don’t act with love and support our decisions as loving parents would.
-In laws announce they are starting an annual family vacation…to the private beach MY family has vacationed at since I was born (it’s not a mainstream location…it’s rather obscure). My in laws have never even been there before. I tell my husband I absolutely refuse to go & will not enable the intrusive/copying behavior.
-My husband & I take a trip just 2 of us. We stay in an airbnb. 3 months later his parents tell us they planned a trip to the same location for the 2 of them & they’d also found & booked the exact same airbnb we stayed at so they could experience the same exact trip my husband & I went on….
-Additional overstepping, intrusive, creepy behavior like above persists. They start buying many of the same exact material items, or furniture we own (obscure antiques, designer items, etc….), essentially copying everything we do. We want our own unique & individual things that make us, US. & it seems as if demand to show us they won’t allow us to have that for ourselves under and circumstance. Almost as if they aren’t entitled full access to our lives, so they will bulldoze and access our lives in their own ways to make them feel in control. This is my take.
-There’s no major animosity now but we have majorly pulled away from them. My husband calls his parents once a month or so. We now see them 3-4 times a year.
-Things will be nice & relaxing for a month or 2 then out of the blue my MIL will blow up out of nowhere calling my husband 8x in a row telling him he will speak to his mother he will do this and that. Often he simply ignores her or waits several days to respond. She likes to tell him ‘you need to call your father and speak with him’ ‘hey it’s dads birthday make sure do this and that’ (obviously we know when their birthdays are… we are pretty on top of things, still she cannot stand not being in control).
-MIL just flipped out on my husband for not calling her on Mother’s Day, though we send a gift, card, and send multiple texts first thing in the morning. My husband received multiple messages from his dad : why have you not called your mother??? Did you forget? Call your mother now. We’re skeptical the texts were actually from his dad..
-Although we’ve distanced ourselves, the every 2 mnth outbursts are exhausting. I am now 6 weeks pregnant. So excited! BUT Dreading telling them as I envision MIL & SIL making it all about them, freaking out ab how we aren’t involving them enough.. I imagine my MIL starting to disgeuninely call/text me constantly, demand to be involved at the level she expects & believes she deserves, will probably buy high chairs, cribs, etc for her own home.. and make it about her In any way possible.
Any advice on how to deal with a woman like this? I feel like I have to constantly prepare for her actions, outbursts, or things she might say. She’s draining, the pressure she puts on my husband is absurd, her expectations are outrageous, she’s judgmental and controlling, everything is about her, and she is emotionally immature in every way. I feel protective over my husband and our marriage and can’t stand them constant trying to order him around with their high expectations and demands. Help!

does anyone have meet and greet tickets for sale for tonight in boston?

Looking to buy a used RV. We’ve looked at the local dealers but found a used 2019 RV that seems like it meets our requirements (mid bunk, fifth wheel) and it even has a gooseneck instead of the normal fifth wheel pin box that we would have switched to anyway. We are going to look at it this week.
Assuming that we like it after our initial walk-through, we plan on having it inspected and all that prior to moving forward. When we do move forward, we are wondering what the actual sales transaction would look like. I always assumed that we would buy from a dealer since they would already have the standard paperwork and we would have recourse if anything went wrong after the sale.
What does the process of actually buying from an individual and transferring the title and everything entail? This is in Texas by the way.

I'm 29M. Never been the same since. She had broken up with me a few months before because I f*cked up and kissed a girl a party that turned out to be her friend. 2 weeks prior to the event we were starting to get back together but there was a guy she was involved with at the time. The day it happened in the morning she asked to skip school with me. She told me she was moving to the west side of the state because if she knew she had to keep living in our city she was "going to kill herself that day". When we first got together about about 7 months prior to death she told she was suicidal and she had attempted a few months before. I really didn't understand suicidal behavior at the time because o was always so afraid of death. So day of the event we spent it together, went downtown to the top of the mall aprking garage. I thought it was because when we were together we used to go up there and make out after our movie dates and whatnot while we waited for one of our parents to pick us up. But that wasn't the reason. we held each other and cried together for 2 hours, missing each other terribly. At about 3pm she told me her mom was going to meet her so she could go live with her bio dad on the west side of the state and I couldn't be there for that or she wouldn't let her go, because she told me her parents hated me for cheating on her. I said goodbye, went to the elevators, broke down crying. After about a minute I thought "that can't be the last time I see her" I ran back out and she was gone. Looked around, in the stairwell, she wasn't there. Looked over the edge, everything seemed normal, couldn't see straight down but the other side of the street. Saw a biker going causally by. Figured she did get picked up by her mom. When I finally got to the front doors or the other side of the mall, I saw an ambulance with a stretcher being prepared and a fire truck screaming down the road, took the nearest turn. The ambulance did the same. I thought that's not right and I followed them which led me to finding her dying on the ground. She jumped off a 10 story building. The detective assigned tried to pin it on me. Came to my house a week later and told my dad that I was "no better than any burglar, murderer or rapist he's ever met" and "that I would be going to jail for a long time" he also told me dad that I "had a suicide pact with her but I was too much a pussy to jump" which was why I had "so much guilt over the situation". He harassed me on the phone while I was at school and her family never let me attend the memorial service. I don't even know if she was buried or cremated

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The Grand Dining Hall. Local time: 1210
Emma
The dining hall was, for all intents and purposes, the den of gossip.
[Grand Dining Hall. Add: Alternative Designator - DEN OF GOSSIP]
This was proven true by the incessant and rampant whispers, most of which were eventually hidden under privacy screens.But some of which were allowed to permeate through the air like a foul and sickening stench.
“What’s he trying to prove?”
“Usurpers. Tepid-blood minor nobles thinking themselves bigshots in their ill-gotten castles. This is all they know — power through brute strength.”
“Do you think this could be some sort of a roundabout statement for the House Choosing Ceremony?”
“Could be, or maybe the newrealmer is rubbing off on him. I heard those savages live in hunting-packs that deal exclusively in violence.”
“Poor Lord Ping… the man’s been dealt so many blows both to his ego and integrity. He truly is the victim in this upstart’s rebellion.”
“Let us hope the pious Ping prevails over his undeserving trials and tribulations. The man’s a saint, a pious soul that must hold fast for those of us adherent to the eternal truths.”
“Or perhaps we should wait and see how things develop. I, for one, wish to side neither with the narrow-minded bull nor the aggressive upstarts.”
“Lord Qiv may prove to be the more suitable candidate for class sovereign… but only time will tell.”
“Never in my wildest of imaginations would I have ever considered that the one to threaten our position, our place, our image, and our very survival in this sky of feral drakes to be you — Prince Thalmin.” Ilunor managed out incredulously, breaking me out of my long-range acoustic reverie. Though unlike his prior confrontations with myself, his current voice lacked the same intense vitriol. Instead, that was replaced with what I could only describe as a genuine sense of disappointment, as if confronting a friend who knew better than to commit to a dumb decision.
“That’s an understandable statement to make, Ilunor.” Thalmin replied uncharacteristically calmly, as if he hadn’t even registered the Vunerian’s assaults. Or at least, that seemed to be the case, until he shot the deluxe Kobold a predatory side-eye. “Because creatures that lack honor, integrity, and personal dignity, often conflate sacrifices and risk-taking, for foolishness and idiocy. For within the heart of a Nexian, lies only compromise for the sake of convenience. Whether that be the convenience of survival, the convenience of continuity, or the convenience of the status quo, you will sacrifice everything to maintain it — even if it means allowing your honor to remain sullied and trodden when there exists a pool to cleanse away that shame.”
Thacea’s eyes grew wary with concern at that statement, one of the few instances I’d seen her genuinely worried about an Ilunor-Thalmin interaction. In fact, even I didn’t dare to interrupt, especially after both parties had shot death-glares towards our elven waiter as he arrived with the lunch platter.
“Restraint, Prince Thalmin.” Ilunor responded with a deep and calculating breath. “This isn’t the adjacent realms, this isn’t Havenbrockrealm.”
“Oh that much is very clear to me, Ilunor.” Thalmin interjected with something just short of a growl. “In Havenbrockrealm, we would sooner slash, stab, flay, or lash our enemies in fair and open combat, than reduce ourselves to cowardly attempts at assassination or retreat with our tails between our legs at the earliest signs of defeat.”
Ilunor took another breath, placing a small hand atop of his snout. “I… empathize with your desires to follow through with what you believe is a morally sound decision.” The Vunerian responded in a surprising display of maturity. “However, and this goes for you as well, newrealmer—” He paused for a moment, taking the time to glare at me before shifting back to Thalmin. “—we are not acting as independent actors anymore. For better or for worse… which, mind you, I still strongly believe this is very much for the worse in my case… we are now a peer group. And as such, the actions we take and their resultant fallout, should represent the interests of us all.”
“These are bold claims.” Thalmin began with a restrained snarl. “Even bolder when considering your actions the week prior. If the measure of a man were dictated by his words alone, then I would be inclined to acquiesce. However, considering the measure of a man extends beyond the weightless chatter of an exhaled breath, I feel far more inclined to reserve such actions for those far more deserving of my respect.” At which point, the lupinor turned towards both Thacea and I, following that up with a dip of his head. “I apologize, Thacea, Emma, for conducting myself in the way I did.”
Thalmin took a moment to pause, side eyeing Ilunor as he acknowledged him once again. “Whilst his character may sully his words, there is some truth to them. I have, admittedly, overstepped my bounds in committing to an action which undeniably affects the group. However, I genuinely hope you understand the reasons behind my otherwise brash decision. For I must stand on principle, lest I decide to stand at all.”
“Given the crap Auris Ping pulled last night, I’m inclined to agree with you, Thalmin. More than that, I would’ve gladly taken your place and dueled him the good old fashioned way if I could. Besides, the look on his face when you chose him to be your dueling partner? It was just priceless.” I offered with a snide grin. “In all seriousness, I’m really not in a position to chastise anyone on the issue of just gunning it with your gut instinct anyways. Heck, the entirety of last week was one long drawn out escapade for my sake, which came at the expense of the group after all.” I chuckled nervously. “So… yeah, this is incredibly tame by those standards, Thalmin.”
“Whilst… unexpected, and indeed a risk, I can understand the reasons behind it, Thalmin.” Thacea nodded uneasily. “However, I do not advise any of you to make a habit out of this.” She commanded, making an effort to make individual eye contact with each and every one of us.
Thacea’s group-mom vibes were definitely showing at this point, which was probably for the better. Given the group seemed to be a magnet for this sort of thing, it was good to have an anchor of sorts.
Sure thing, mom. Was what my gut instinct screamed at me to say.
But instead, I decided to tone it down a notch.
“As you command, princess.” I dipped my head in acknowledgement, garnering a look of abashed confusion from Thacea, and just plain-old confusion from the other two.
“In any case… I… believe you wished to discuss matters outside of classroom priorities, Emma?” Thacea quickly attempted to shift past that little bit of prodding, which I obliged with an affirmative nod.
“Yep. Well, it’s more of a small change of plans that I think is worth discussing with you guys. So, you remember how I was planning on deploying an infil-drone on Mal’tory after the end of class right?”
All three nodded, urging me to continue.
“Well, since Mal’tory was a no-show, and with Larial taking the reins instead… I think it’s best if we stick with the plan anyways, just swapping out Mal’tory for Larial. I honestly don’t see any other way we can continue the library’s questline, or any other way to find evidence to support the Auris Ping-Mal’tory hypothesis we have going on. I know it’s a huge gamble since there’s no way of knowing if she’ll even head to Mal’tory’s office after class. But honestly? This is our best shot right now.”
“I concur, Emma.” Thalmin announced with a nod.
“Given her proximity to the professor’s orbit, we may in fact gain a greater bearing on his actual state. Which in itself may prove useful.” Thacea offered, more or less acknowledging my change of plans implicitly.
“We don’t seem to have any other choice, earthrealmer. So a shot in the dark is better than stowing your wand.” Ilunor acknowledged in a rare display of solidarity.
“It’s settled then. I’ll deploy the drone right after class is dismissed. Then, we wait and see what the drone comes up with.”

The Grand Concourse of Learning. The Hall of Light. Local Time: 14:00 Hours.
Emma
Mana field perception was, as one would expect, dry, bland, and utterly nonsensical.
Throughout most of it, the lesson was taught as if it was referencing something obvious, something mundane, something so typical that a lot of the topics were all but overlooked as ‘self evident’.
A lot of what was taught reminded me of a mix between perception-theory, and situational awareness training. However, instead of relying on your eyes, ears, heck, even your nose or sense of touch… it was instead relying on something completely outside of the human experience.
“Mana field perception, is at its core, a subject that is inherent to the sapient condition. However, the extent to which it is appreciated, understood, and most important of all — applied — varies exponentially. To an untrained mind, and an untempered soul, the world feels tepid.”
The apprentice paused, gesturing to Sorecar, who answered his cue by pulling out a massive painting of a beautiful mountainscape that seemed to play through a closed animation loop; the effect was like a high-definition e-ink display.
“To a trained mind, but an untempered soul, the world feels… distant, unaccommodating, and frustrating to emotionally comprehend.” Larial continued, prompting Sorecar to pull out yet another painting. This one, the exact same as the first, with literally no differences between them.
“To an untrained mind, but a tempered soul, the world feels… unpredictable, erratic, and frustrating to logically put together.” Once again, another painting was brought out. This one, just like the previous two, looked completely identical.
“But to a sufficiently trained mind, and a tempered soul, with enough time invested into both theory and practice… the world becomes open, expansive, and above all else… it becomes rich with sights and sensations that would be impossible to feel with the physical form alone.” Larial concluded, just as Sorecar pulled out what looked to be yet another identical painting.
The EVI’s analysis concluded that there were absolutely no differences between the four paintings. Moreover, the mana radiation signatures for each were likewise exactly the same.
It was only after slipping a note towards Thacea with a question written in High Nexian did I finally get my answer.
‘What’s the deal with these paintings? They’re all identical.’
Thacea quickly slipped me a blank piece of parchment in response.
Though it didn’t remain blank for long, as words and sentences started appearing on it; mirroring Thacea’s furious ‘note taking’ in her own notebook.
‘They’re artisanal pieces imbued with the purposeful manipulation of the subject’s aura, mana-field, and the surrounding mana. They were brought out in order to demonstrate the different degrees of mana-field perception by exaggerating the most common shortcomings found in those training in the magical arts. The first piece was, similar to your memory shards, lacking in any mana-fields or auras. The second and third pieces demonstrated a failure to imbue one or the other of the two fundamental tenets of mana-field perception. The fourth piece is representative of a perfect balance of both tenets, and is an exquisite work of art that completely outshines the first. It radiates beauty, whilst the first is flat and lifeless.’
It took a moment for me to really register all that. Longer still, as I eventually became fixated on that last line in particular.
Flat and lifeless… is that what the world is like from my eyes?
It was around that time that a thought hit me, and a realization truly sank deep into my very being.
The world that Thacea, Thalmin, Ilunor, and the rest of the magical beings across the interdimensional plane experienced… was one that I was utterly blind to.
It’d been referenced before.
In fact, it’d been drilled into me time and time again by the likes of Ilunor that I was lacking in something fundamental.
But up until now, everything was either circumstantial, or outside of my general focus. So much so that I never was able to digest the implications of it.
However, as much as a pit formed in my stomach, growing tighter by the second as Larial went on and on about the ebbs and flows of mana, so too did a very human resolve suddenly dawn upon me.
“I’m going to see what you guys see one day.” I wrote down on Thacea’s magic paper.
“How?” Was the message I received back.
To which I only had one thing to reply with.
“The same way we overcame all of our other shortcomings.” I wrote cryptically, garnering a look of confusion from Thacea as she read the note, to which I only had to point at my armor for added effect.
By once again defying nature. I thought to myself.
If we weren’t born with the ability to ‘see’ this beauty, we’d find a way to break it down into its fundamental components, dissect it, analyze it, and then reinterpret it for ourselves.
The class continued on after that exchange of notes, as we touched upon what Ilunor had so eloquently described on that second day of the grace period:
One: that manastreams were everywhere around us.
Two: that manafields generated by living organisms were akin to rocks that not only parted those streams, but at times, interacted with them.
Three: that using manafields, one could make out the presence of other manafields through the manastreams, and thus detect and extract information as is pertinent to the context of the situation.
And while Ilunor would’ve blabbered on and on about the ability to see and sense the emotional state of others through the manastreams, what Larial seemed to be focused on instead were the practical applications of this natural ability. Namely, she focused on exactly how to detect a spell being cast, what sort of spell was being cast, and most importantly — she focused on how it all tied back to Light Magic.
“In summary, only when one is proficient in the detection and analysis of manafields, can one finally start to dissect the intricacies of a manafield during spellcasting. And only once one masters the detection of spellcasting, can one even hope to begin the process of dispelling. The first step of which is to know exactly what a manafield looks like during spellcasting. Is there anyone in the class that can tell me what that looks like?” The professor asked, looking around, before picking one of the many raised hands.
This one belonged to Qiv.
“Yes, Lord Qiv?”
“Influxes and effluxes, Professor. One will see the influx of ambient mana through the manastreams into a manafield, and the potential efflux of mana through a manafield back into the manastreams in the form of a controlled mana-construct.”
“Very good, Lord Qiv! Five points! Now, hold your thoughts on that latter part, because that ties into my next question!” Larial responded with a giddiness and chipperness that seemed to be lacking in every other class up to this point. “The fundamental means of detecting a spell being cast is by looking out for a point of influx, and a point of efflux. Influx being the more difficult of the pair to detect, for what you have to look out for is mana is being funneled into a manafield. A weak spell being cast, will incur less disruptions in a manastream. However, the opposite is also true. As the more powerful the spell, and the more powerful the mage, the greater the rate of influx, as the amount of mana needed to fulfill the requirements of the spell increases. Paradoxically this would mean it will be easier to detect a powerful spell before it is cast, as the reduction in the concentration of ambient mana will be more palpable as a result. Efflux however, is rather straightforward, and will be the primary vehicle through which Mana-field Perception will be taught. As it is through efflux that we can ascertain the most useful details of a spell, or as Lord Qiv so eloquently puts it — the mana-construct. Does anyone know what this next point may be referring to?”
Surprisingly, and out of a clear bias towards Qiv, Larial once more called him up.
I couldn’t blame her though.
The man, despite being a certified bully and teacher’s pet, was one of the few students who didn’t openly doubt the apprentice’s capabilities during the start of class.
“Yes, Lord Qiv?”
“The mana-construct refers to the skeleton of a spell; the arrangement and unique form it takes before manifesting into a proper spell.” The gorn-like lizard responded confidently.
“Outstanding, Lord Qiv! Five points! Now, whilst a mana-construct is indeed a vital step in the process of spell casting, its manifestation is rarely the point in time in which a spell can be intercepted — save for those who have mastered the art of Light Magic. As a result, a spell can be halted before it even has the chance to form. To most however, the mana-construct acts as a cue to prepare. It is a signal that demonstrates the irrefutable start to a spell. And as a result, it provides major structural clues as to the form of Light Magic that must be employed to combat it. Which leads me to my next point.”
The apprentice once more paused, as she manifested literally nothing visible to the tune of more than a dozen mana radiation warnings.
“When broken down to their basic components, every spell is a complicated meshwork of mana, channeled and contained within a dynamic pattern that continuously evolves throughout the duration of a spell. Because unlike artificing, the casting of magic evolves with unpredictability and thrives on organic change. No offense to you, of course, Professor Pliska.” The apprentice turned towards Sorecar worryingly, who simply responded with a bellowing laugh.
“None taken, my aspiring understudy!”
With that, Larial continued, her hands moving through an empty section of air that everyone seemed to be focused on; as if manipulating a hologram that I wasn’t privy to. “However, in spite of this unpredictability, the goal of Light Magic and Mana-field Perception in particular is to untangle the aforementioned meshwork of mana. For every spell is a puzzle and a series of knots to untangle. Your goal in this class, if I am to be reductive, is to untangle the complex mesh that comprises a spell, unraveling it to a point in which it can no longer maintain its form — collapsing it and thus, rendering it inert.” The apprentice emphasized this by miming what looked to be tiny little motions with her fingers, before pulling both hands backwards, garnering a series of affirmative nods from the crowd. “And with that, we now reach the conclusion of today’s class.”
“Or more accurately, the leadup to the climax of this class.” Sorecar quickly chimed in with a wave of his hand, prompting the room to change once more. Section upon section of the front of the classroom’s floor was dragged down into the impossible void, only to be replaced just as quickly by an elevated stage resembling that of a fencing strip. “Will the aspiring duelists please rise and approach the stage?” Sorecar turned back towards the crowd, prompting both Thalmin and Auris to stand, the pair giving each other some strong side-eyes before both marching up and towards the front of the class.
From there, with not a single word exchanged, they took their places, Thalmin at the far right, and Auris on the far left.
“The purpose of this demonstration is simple.” The apprentice began, as Sorecar began moving towards both Thalmin and Auris, insisting them to pay attention. “It is to show that even in spite of the complicated principles behind Light Magic, that there exists far simpler, far more basic principles that can achieve similar means. A precursor to more contemporary methods; spell-breaking. A maneuver that involves overpowering the structure and flow of a spell using a concentrated burst of pure mana irregardless of the type. However, unlike traditional dispelling seen in contemporary Light Magic, spell-breaking oftentimes requires a user to concentrate a disproportionately larger amount of mana in order to properly break a spell. It is thus highly inefficient, and as a result becomes rapidly impractical upon encountering spellcrafts of sufficiently advanced tiers. This demonstration will be aptly limited to a simple barrier-spell for the likes of the reciprocator, so as to not overburden the initiator with this simple task.”
The apprentice quickly passed on the torch to Sorecar, who quickly took center stage with a few steps.
“Now, as this is not a traditional duel for dominance, nor is it a sporting duel for the purposes of victory, I will explain the narrow context by which this duel will be held.” Sorecar continued, his hands clapping together, generating an empty and resonant CLANG in the process. “To our right, is our initiator, who will be demonstrating the principles of spell-breaking in an active capacity. To our left, is our reciprocator, who will be taking on the role of demonstrative spellcaster, casting only barrier spells for the duration of this short demonstration. Remember, there is to be no additional spells cast or demonstrated outside of these parameters. Is that clear?” Sorecar paused, making sure to meet both of the opponents’ gazes with his empty helm.
“Yes, professor!” Both parties shouted simultaneously, barely containing their frustrations beneath a veneer of calm and restrained fury.
“Then we shall begin on the count of three.” The apprentice continued, taking the reins over from Sorecar, as she stood just a few steps away from the stage’s combat-lines. “One.” She began, as Auris began moving into position, practically grinding his booted hooves into the stage, and taking on the posture of some unknown martial art. “Two.” Thalmin reciprocated by taking a more aggressive posture, as if positioning himself to leap towards the bull in a ravenous rage at the drop of a hat.
“Three.”
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 225% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 350% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
Nothing seemed to happen.
At least, not to my eyes.
Within a matter of seconds, all I witnessed were two mana radiation warnings timelogged as only a few seconds apart from one another.
No physical effects were evident to me. Nothing, except for the flinching of a few muscles, and the waving of arms. As if they were conjuring make-believe magic spells, without the added special effects that came with it.
Ironically, this was how I was expecting most Nexians to react to the reveal of laser weaponry. Silent, invisible, but otherwise omnipresent and deadly threats.
Though despite the lack of any physical effects I could discern, there were certainly more than enough context-clues to go by when it came to exactly what had just occurred.
Auris’ features had more or less swelled up into a fury. His nostrils flared just short of snorting out fumes, and his teeth were bared clearly holding back a few choice words for the now-grinning Thalmin.
“Again.” He demanded, and barely a second after a nod of approval from the apprentice, came two more mana radiation warnings.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 300% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 425% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
Once again, no noticeable physical effects had manifested. Though judging from the bewildered and shocked expressions of the crowd, something was definitely happening within the invisible world that was accessible through mana-vision.
“Again!” Ping announced, barely garnering approval from the apprentice this time, as things took a sudden enough turn that even I could notice them.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
It started with that ‘barrier’ again.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 500% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
Followed by Thalmin overpowering it.
However, instead of letting things go, Ping instead pushed towards a frenzied series of attacks.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 375% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
As one—
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—after another—
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—after another—
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 400% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
—after another ‘barrier’ spell seemed to actually be causing Thalmin some pushback now. His movements now resembled someone attempting to dodge invisible projectiles, yet Auris made no moves to actually fling anything at him, only maintaining his prior stance.
Though of course, this came with the same expected response.
As Thalmin retaliated with his own attacks. Or rather, one, very large attack that truly outclassed what Auris could currently muster in his furious state.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 550% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS
This spell that mildly shook the room seemed to be enough to ‘break’ the sudden incursion, prompting both Ping and Thalmin to turn towards the apprentice — the former blasting steam from his snout and the latter slashing his tail in the air — for yet another round of fighting, only to have Sorecar step in, placing a hand on both of the duelists who were barely a foot away from each other now.
“Wonderful! Excellent! Put your hands together for our introductory duelists, everyone!” The professor quickly coerced both of the parties to face the class, actively grabbing them by the small of their back, and thus effectively entrapping them with his iron grip — forcing them to face the class who cheered on with a series of applauses.
Not a second later, the pair of them bowed, though it was unclear how much of this was Sorecar’s doing, and how much of this was done out of their own will.
“In any case, seeing as both of our aspiring duelists have gone above and beyond in their demonstration, and seeing that this is merely a demonstration, and not a challenge—” Sorecar emphasized that last point, forcing the pair to sweat in his over-shoulder grip. “—I believe it would be prudent to award them each a fair share of this duel’s fifty points.”
“Given the enthusiasm shown, I am inclined to agree, Professor Pliska.” The apprentice quickly nodded, prompting the armorer to quickly push both of them off-stage, and back towards the staggered raised steps of the lecture hall.
“Twenty-five points for both of our duelist’s groups.” Larial reiterated, and with a final round of reluctant applause, barely overpowering the incoming band marking the end of class… the apprentice made her final statement. “This concludes this week’s first lesson. Considering the house choosing ceremony coming up this weekend, along with the Elaseer school supply shopping trip to town… I am inclined to grant this class some clemency. No homework will be required. So please, enjoy the rest of the day, and prepare yourselves for what could be the most decisive day in your academic career here in Transgracia. Class dismissed!”
No sooner were those words uttered did my eyes quickly turn towards my HUD, and a flash of commands came through without a second of delay.
INFIL-DRONE01a ACTIVE, STATUS: NOMINAL. OBJECTIVE: PRIORITY TRACKING AND RECONNAISSANCE OF SUBJECT A109. MISSION PARAMETERS: TRACK, OBSERVE, MAP, AND RETURN-TO-BASE WITHIN PREDETERMINED PARAMETERS. CONFIRM COMMAND Y/N?
“Command confirmed.” I replied vocally, prompting the newly-printed replacement drone to pop out of its docking bay, before charting a course parallel to that of the apprentice.
The drone’s signal was lost just as the apprentice left the room through that dark threshold behind the lectern, at which point, the entire class began shuffling out to the tune of the encroaching band.
Only time would tell what would come of this mission.
But hopefully, we'll get our answers sometime later this evening.
However, instead of blending right into the crowd, or more specifically… being ignored by said crowd, quite a few eyes managed to find their way onto our group. Moreover, the chatter seemed way too interesting to ignore.
“You were right, Cynthis… perhaps there is something about this mercenary prince after all.” A female voice spoke from an all-girl group, eliciting a series of giggles, which were promptly silenced by a privacy screen the moment Thalmin craned his head around.
“Lord Auris Ping has yet again demonstrated his integrity. Let us ensure his pure-hearted determination is lauded this evening, lads! The fearsome strikers shall band together with the most pious of intent!” A tortle-like-turtle jeered, moving strategically to position themselves around Auris Ping’s group, as the expected schmoozing began in full.
“Newrealmer.” Ilunor began, generating a privacy screen in the process.
“Yes, Ilunor?”
“How long do you expect your insect to take in its dastardly escapades?”
“Last time it took a good few hours. So, given this probably isn’t a one-and-done deal, I’d say… maybe three to four hours at the least this time around?” I offered.
“Well then. Splendid. I shall be off, and return within that time frame.”
“Wait wait wait wait. Hold up. Where do you think you’re going?” I inquired firmly.
“I have my own life to lead, newrealmer. Now please, I shall return to our group’s escapades in due time.”
“Where, Ilunor?” I reiterated.
To which the Vunerian could only sigh in response. “The student lounge. Top floor today, if I am to be interrogated for every ounce of information…”
“Then let’s go. Together.” I proclaimed, garnering a few looks of surprise from both Thacea and Thalmin. “Perhaps it’s time we start getting a feel for the lay of the land. We’ve been cooped up in our own little world for far too long, maybe, just maybe, we should all expand our horizons just by a little bit.”
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(Author’s Note: The much anticipated round two between Thalmin and Auris has concluded! And following its conclusion, we also get quite a few reactions to Thalmin as a result of his daring display of magical prowess! We also get a pretty hands on demonstration of Light Magic this time around! This is perhaps one of the more hands on class, and indeed one of the more straightforward classes so far! Moreover, the end of classes marks not only the beginning of the little spy drone adventure, but also a little peak into exactly what Ilunor has been up to! I hope you guys enjoy! :D The next Two Chapters are already up on Patreon if you guys are interested in getting early access to future chapters!)
[If you guys want to help support me and these stories, here's my ko-fi ! And my Patreon for early chapter releases (Chapter 81 and Chapter 82 of this story is already out on there!)]

Hello all,
Our Board is going to be looking at the idea of getting some charging installed on our property for EVs at an upcoming meeting.
I am just looking for opinions/advice on any successful installs you guys have done/been involved with.
My fear is that since the population of our two buildings is largely oldeanti-ev they are going to pick the most expensive option and kill it without any debate. I am just looking for counterpoint and successful projects to help reverse that view as I fear our property will quickly become undesirable as many other condo locations in the area are (slowly) starting to install chargers and we haven't even discussed it yet.
My main concerns specific to our property are as follows.
Parking is not assigned. And garage spaces are limited and rented out month to month to users. Each building only has ~30 spots or so indoogarage is not going to work which I'm sure drives up cost moving outside to run power to the spots. Tips on outdoor charging?
Current EV participation is low so I can see alot of residents not wanting to get involved in the cost of install as they view EVs in a negative light and probably don't understand how this could negativity affect property value in the coming years. Tips on overcoming this?
Last but not least. Company. I see lots of complaints about Chargepoint. The only other one I've really found is Tesla. Any recommendations on companies that support this kind of a rollout? We would probably be looking at no more than 8 spots per building at this time.
Please feel free to point anything else out you need more information on to make a recommendation!
Thanks in advance!

All,
The event on May 25th will take place on North Flynn Road. A map is shown below. Places that need a cleaning and to park are shown with a red and yellow outline, respectively. Meeting point will be at the purple star. It will also be where we drop off all bags and bulky items.
https://preview.redd.it/att3mt4sgc1d1.png?width=1745&format=png&auto=webp&s=692e0a050cf5a279a1ee6661d7d79b7d9a372faf
IF YOU PLAN ON COMING, YOU MUST ATTEND SAFETY BRIEFING ON MY DISCORD ON THURSDAY, MAY 23RD AT 8:00P.
The event will take place from 10:30a to 11:30a. Then, we will have a lunch, provided by me, from 11:30a to 12:30a for 20-30 people. The menu consists of the following items.

1. Meat pizza
2. Vegetarian pizza
3. Cheese pizza
4. Pork ribs
5. Chicken
6. Mac and Cheese
7. Caesar Salad
8. Water, soda, and sparkling water

If you would like to bring additional refreshments, please go ahead. If you have dietary restrictions, also let me know.
If somebody is willing to bring a fold-up table, please do so.
Some other tips:

1. Please dress appropriately.
   1. Closed toe shoes
   2. Long pants
2. Cell coverage will be minimal.
3. If you can, bring your own grabber.
4. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES THAT MAY OCCUR. By agreeing, you will fully assume any and all risks, damages, or liabilities and to hold me harmless for the same (copied from John).

Let's make a difference. Peng

Homunculi are made from sperm and other elements without the use of a womb. As such they start out with mature bodies. They start with basic knowledge as well as reasoning in order to serve basic functions in life. Due to all this, they were all effectively immortal and could never age.
A Homunculus has been created very recently. 3 weeks before the seventh servant has been summoned.
Scientist: We have done it! This one! His mana is through the roof! He should be able to win the only grail war no issue!
The homunculus looked at his own hand in disappointment. His name was… Soule.
Soule: I exist to be trusted into a war? Just to give these freaks the powers they wish?
The ones who brought Soule into this world were a group known as “Command” They’ve been trying to enter the holy grail war whenever it happens and win to gain the famous holy grail itself. Yet they either couldn't enter or had their master representative killed.
Soule was created to be a perfect endless pool of mana that would make sure they win. 7 hours after Soul’s complete birth he killed everyone in the lab he was born into.
Soule would find himself in a city. He just walked and walked the uncaring people who passed him but without a second thought, the animals that would shit and piss along what should be a nice concrete sidewalk, and the children who cried at the smallest inconvenience. It all was so foul. Soule hated life already.
7 days before the summoning of the servant servant Soule stood alone in a house filled with the bodies of a crushed 3 person family.
Soule: I summon you, servant. I need you now to follow his goals! YOU WILL SERVER UNDER ME FOR THIS WAR YOU UNDERSTAND?! NOW APPEAR!
And like a call in the great unknown, the unknown answered back with a bright light that went away revealing a talk demonic looking man.
???: I have been summoned… I am Ivan The Terrible your Rider class servant. Do not test me just because you're my master or-
Soule: Or what? You'll kill me? I think you and I both know that you don't want that to happen!
Rider: You dare disrespect me! I shall crush your face in if you keep disrespecting me!
Soule: Wow such a terrible liar! Listen here, you disgusting bastard! My one and only goal is the downfall of all life!
Rider: Then why even bother with this war?
Soule: It's simply a means to an end! I want to know my limits before I kill all on this planet. Is that so hard to understand?
Rider: Very well then. I have few objections to your foolish goal so long as I can have the grail in the end!
Soule: Hey I don't really care! I want to kill all life more personally than wishing them away anyway!
Rider: I can only imagine what spurs such hate in a heart.

Leo: OK time for me to go to school!
Ky: Leo you can't!
Leo: And why not?
Saber: Leo I can not demanifest, unlike other servants due to your low mana. I can't protect and watch over you in school. So you may be attacked by a master while I'm away.
Ky: Plus School isn't that important anyways.
Leo groaned as he did want to go to school to meet up with his friends. He felt as if this stupid war had concerned every aspect of his life.
Saber: I apologize for this inconvenience master…
Leo: That's it!
Ky: Huh?
Leo: Saber! We just gotta get you enrolled at my school!
Saber: Are you sure about this master…?
Ky: And he's lost it…
Leo: Yeah! You don't look any older than me!
Saber: I highly doubt it will be that easy-

Leo’s school at first period. It was that easy.
Saber and Leo sat directly next to one another. Saber not really wanting to be here in this school as a student even if it was to protect Leo.

Standing on top of the school were Soule and Rider. Soule smiled as he placed his hand in a strange sign.
Soule: Ready?
Rider: Yes.
Soule: Summon!
A black Vail appeared around the school almost like a curtain and several skeletons spawned inside the school with various bladed weapons. And then a wyvern spawned appeared behind Soule.
Rider: A wyvern!? That shouldn't be possible! Especially by today's standards!
Soule: My my… I'm just full of surprises!

Meanwhile, Saber and Leo were in the school, and people began passing out. Leo and Saber both got worried and Leo was the first to see the semi-translucent dark veil around the school.
Saber: A Vail! Damn it! A mage must be behind this!
Leo: A mage?!
Saber: A mage is most likely currently awake, unlike the rest of the school! Come on we must hurry!
Leo: Alright! Saber!
She transformed into her armor and held her misty blade tight. The two run off into the way to long and large school hallways. They soon spot a few skeletons trying to attack unconscious students and staff so Saber cuts a few down and Leo destroys the rest with a few punches.
Leo: The heck were those?!
Saber: Seemingly some kind of monsters summoned by whoever has done this master!
Leo: OK then! I think we should try the-
Just then to cut the young boy off Soule and Rider crash through the ceiling. The rubble crushed some of the staff and students to death.
Soule: We found Saber and her master now Rider!
Rider: Killing you will be worth it…
Saber: Master stay back!
Leo: No way I can't leave you to fight alone I'm helping!
Soule: Look at the worthless feelings they share. I suppose the rift raft being as sorry as it is would all group up and care for one another! Rider kill Saber!
Rider charged forward his staff slamming Saber through a few walls into the science room. The demonic servant charged forward with great strength but before Leo could help his servant he received a major kick to the face from Soule.
Soule: Oh no you don't!
Soule then eagerly kicked Leo to the ground and tried to stomp his skull in but the young teen managed to roll out the way.
Soule: Are you done with your silly caring shit? If so fight me! Cuz if you don’t~
Soule’s Wyvern busted through the school’s entrance and into where Soule and Leo were currently.
Soule: You'll die!
Leo: A dragon?!
The Wyvern bit down at Leo who held its jaws open for a moment before Soule appeared behind him transforming the wyvern into a sword that flew straight into his hands to stab Leo in the side of his chest.
Leo: Ow fuck fuck fuck!
Soule would then kick him in the leg before grabbing him by the hair and throwing him into the ceiling above or what was left of it.
Leo was spurring our blood trying to get a moment to grab ahold of his bearings something that Soule shocking would allow.
Soule: See what I mean?~

We cut to Saber and Rider fighting. Rider shoots out several electrical bolts from his staff as fast as lighting Saber easily manages to dodge.
Saber: A nice try Ruder but you'll need to try harder than that!
In all honesty, Saber was worried for her master. The master alongside Rider seemed entirely different from anything she felt before.
Rider: You fight well Saber I can give you that!
Rider would run up and give a surprise uppercut! She spat out a small bit of blood before two lighting shots appeared from his staff blasting Saber into some equipment she threw at Rider on impulse. The equipment didn't hurt him yet it turned into smoke creating a smoke screen for Saber to roll behind Rider and stab him through and back. Yet Rider filled his entire body with electricity that flew through Saber’s sword and shocked the blonde woman herself before an elbow knocked her to the ground.
Saber: Ugh…

We see Leo standing up as Soule walks through his blood on the floor.
Soule: You see brat? You're gonna die. Not like it matters though! After all, life doesn't have a meaning!
He tried to cut off Leo’s head but he ducked under and punched him in the gut making Soule stumble back. Soule tried to kick Leo but he grabbed his leg and twisted it making him fall over onto his face before Leo slammed him into a nearby wall!
Leo then began smashing around the skilled mage all over the place faster and faster! Stronger and stronger! Until Soule cut off his own leg! To hop away from Soule using his one remaining leg while his old one regenerated!
Soule: Rider!
Rider hears his master's calls so he runs toward him at top speed before scooping him up.
Rider: Fine then Soule we leave! Next time Saber! You're dead!
Soule: Until next time we curse each other! You brat!
Soule opened a portal that Rider jumped through and it immediately closed behind him. Saber stumbled out of the science room and over to her master.
Saber: Leo are you alright?
Leo: No…

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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.

The global ophthalmic ultrasound devices market is expected to achieve a notable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 8% by 2030. This growth is primarily propelled by the escalating incidence of eye-related disorders like cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Notably, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 billion individuals are affected by vision impairment or blindness attributed to diverse eye diseases, with refractive error, cataracts, and glaucoma constituting significant proportions.
To know more about this study, request a free sample report @ https://www.researchcorridor.com/request-sample/?id=65095
Market Trends:
Advancements in Imaging Technologies: Ongoing advancements in imaging technologies, such as high-resolution ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT), are enhancing the diagnostic capabilities of ophthalmic ultrasound devices. These technologies enable detailed visualization of ocular structures, facilitating accurate diagnosis and treatment planning for various eye conditions.
Rise in Minimally Invasive Procedures: There is a growing trend towards minimally invasive procedures in ophthalmology, driven by patient preference for faster recovery times and reduced risks. Ophthalmic ultrasound devices play a crucial role in guiding minimally invasive surgeries such as cataract extraction, vitrectomy, and intraocular injections, contributing to the market's growth.
Increasing Incidence of Age-Related Eye Diseases: The aging population worldwide is contributing to the rising prevalence of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Ophthalmic ultrasound devices are essential tools for diagnosing and monitoring these conditions, driving their demand in the market.
Focus on Point-of-Care Ultrasound: There is a growing emphasis on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in ophthalmology clinics and emergency departments. Portable and handheld ophthalmic ultrasound devices enable quick and convenient assessment of ocular conditions at the bedside, improving patient care and clinical workflow efficiency.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI): The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms into ophthalmic ultrasound devices is enhancing their diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. AI-powered software assists in automated image interpretation, enabling faster diagnosis of eye conditions and facilitating personalized treatment plans.
Market Opportunities:
The ophthalmic ultrasound devices market presents significant opportunities driven by several key factors. Firstly, the increasing prevalence of age-related eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration, underscores the need for advanced diagnostic tools like ophthalmic ultrasound devices. Additionally, the growing adoption of minimally invasive ophthalmic procedures and the rise of point-of-care ultrasound in ophthalmology clinics create demand for portable and handheld ultrasound devices that offer convenience and efficiency. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms into ultrasound systems enhances diagnostic accuracy and enables personalized treatment approaches, positioning AI-powered ophthalmic ultrasound devices as a valuable asset in clinical practice.
According to the recent report published by RC Market Analytics, the Global Ophthalmic Ultrasound Devices Market is expected to provide sustainable growth opportunities during the forecast period from 2024 to 2030. This latest industry research study analyzes the ophthalmic ultrasound devices market by various product segments, applications, regions and countries while assessing regional performances of numerous leading market participants. The report offers a holistic view of the ophthalmic ultrasound devices industry encompassing numerous stakeholders including raw material suppliers, providers, distributors, consumers and government agencies, among others. Furthermore, the report includes detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis of the global market considering market history, product development, regional dynamics, competitive landscape, and key success factors (KSFs) in the industry.
Browse the Full Report Discretion @ https://www.researchcorridor.com/ophthalmic-ultrasound-devices-market/
Geographically, the ophthalmic ultrasound devices market report comprises dedicated sections centering on the regional market revenue and trends. The ophthalmic ultrasound devices market has been segmented on the basis of geographic regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Ophthalmic ultrasound devices market estimates have also been provided for the historical years 2020 to 2023 along with forecast for the period from 2024 - 2030.The report includes a deep-dive analysis of key countries including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, China, Japan, India, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa, among others. Thereby, the report identifies unique growth opportunities across the world based on trends occurring in various developed and developing economies.
The Ophthalmic Ultrasound Devices Market Segmentation:
By Product:

• A-Scan
• B-Scan
• Combined Scan
• Pachymeter
• Ultrasound Bio-microscopy (UBM)

By Modality:

• Portable
• Standalone

By End-User:

• Hospitals
• Ophthalmology Clinics
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa

Key players in the global ophthalmic ultrasound devices market include Appasamy Associates, DGH Technology, Ellex, Quantel Medical, and Optos Plc. These companies employ various strategies such as market expansion, new investments, service innovations, and strategic collaborations to explore new opportunities. For instance, in March 2019, Quantel Medical received FDA approval for the launch of its product called ABSolu, demonstrating a commitment to product innovation. Additionally, players in this market are exploring new geographical territories through expansion and acquisition, aiming to leverage joint synergies and gain a competitive edge.
To know more about this study, request a free sample report @ https://www.researchcorridor.com/request-sample/?id=65095
Key Questions Answered by Ophthalmic Ultrasound Devices Market Report:

• Product popularity and adoption based on various country-level dynamics
• Regional presence and product development for leading market participants
• Market forecasts and trend analysis based on ongoing investments and economic growth in key countries
• Competitive landscape based on revenue, product offerings, years of presence, number of employees and market concentration, among others
• Various industry models such as SWOT analysis, Pestle Analysis, Porter’s Five Force model, Value Chain Analysis pertaining to Ophthalmic Ultrasound Devices market
• Analysis of the key factors driving and restraining the growth of the global, regional and country-level markets from 2020-2030

About Us:RC Market Analytics is a global market research firm. Our insightful analysis is focused on developed and emerging markets. We identify trends and forecast markets with a view to aid businesses identify market opportunities to optimize strategies. Our expert’s team of analysts’ provides enterprises with strategic insights. RC Market Analytics works to help enterprises grow through strategic insights and actionable solutions. Feel free to contact us for any report customization at sales@researchcorridor.com.
Media Contact:
Company Name: RC Market Analytics Pvt. Ltd. Contact Person: Vijendra Singh Email: sales@researchcorridor.com Visit us: https://www.researchcorridor.com/

When I was in junior high a transfer student arrived in the middle of the semester; a kid that was different from everyone else. Right away he had caught my eye, in fact he caught everyone's attention because he had a very unique disability; he couldn’t speak. I guess you could say he was deaf, though it was clear to me after getting to know him that he could in fact hear; every word spoken to him was understood with simple nods or gestures; facial expressions contorting into understood language; so I guess he was mute; yeah, that would describe him best. He was an oddity to most but to me he was a unicorn, something that sparkled in our dim monotonous lives and it wasn’t until he revealed who he was did I become terrified of him and his shine.
I was in 7th grade maneuvering my way through the jungle of middle school, avoiding trouble and premature violence. I was an undersized boy for my age, no more than 5ft tall; puberty had yet to visit me leaving me left out of the herd; the other students or the ‘sheep’ as I called them that infested my school. They were all the same, kids that were driven by hormones constantly talking about boys or girls, their deep voices riding on the coattails of the wind that breezed in and out of our hallways. I was a mere shadow, always walking a few paces behind the others not wanting to be seen or acknowledged; I saw what others that looked like me went through, they were tortured and abused for simply existing.
Once Bryce Ellis and his friends stuck Timmy Easton’s face in the shitter for over 10 flushes, I was in a stall over, hiding and waiting for the torment to be over. I slithered my feet up on to the stall caressing them to my chest as I sat in a fetal position horrified of how one human could treat another. Eventually the bullies had gotten bored, their short attention span driven minds directed them to another endeavor leaving Timmy to fester in his tears and possible filth.
He sobbed for minutes that felt like hours as I remained silent in the stall over, I placed my hand cautiously on the barrier wall trying to absorb a bit of his pain, my heart ached for him in that moment and I wanted to lend him a compassionate hand if only I had the courage to do so. So yeah, I did my best to stay hidden, unseen to all the dwellers that mindlessly walked in and out of our school on a daily basis, the boys that believed themselves to be men or the girls that pontificated to anyone that listened. I was lost into an enteral sea of vindictive young adults that searched for any reason to lash out at anyone that stood in their way.
So when ‘Tape boy’ — as they would eventually call him — came to my little middle school that stood still in the secluded hills of our small town I was enthralled almost immediately with his existence. He was introduced to my home room class, I sat in the back burying my head into my arms, occasionally lifting my head to listen on the days lecture. My day dreams entertaining me as the clock slowly ticked away at our lives and it wasn’t until my teacher promptly stopped talking did it trigger a primal emotion in me to sit up and pay attention. I postured myself up straight, pausing the internal movie that played in my mind to see what the interruption was about.
There he was, a new boy that no one had ever seen before, by middle school everyone knew each other; we had went to the same elementary school, the same holiday events and grocery stores. So getting a new student was like getting a new flavor at Baskin Robbins; a mystery taste simmering on the tip of your tongue as you digested every drop, his presence was intriguing. He wasn’t small like me, I would say average height for a 12 year old; about 5'4, slender body with unkempt dark black hair. He looked timid, his head tilted towards the ground not wanting to accidentally lock eyes with any of us as the teacher introduced him, my mind wandering with such intrigue because to all of our astonishment he was wearing a surgical face mask — mind you this was in the 90’s; eons before the Covid pandemic breached the windows of our thoughts.
Right away I could hear the murmurs, the questions erupting throughout the classroom as everyone pondered of why this boy sheltered his face. I stared on for what must of been minutes as the shy boy kept his gaze down, I could see him slightly squeezing the arm straps to his backpack nervously the longer he stood there on full display for all.
I had my fill and I relaxed my postured sinking back into my chair directing my stare out the window but then Billy Sherman asked the question we all had on our minds,
“Uhm, why is he wearing that mask?”.
Our teacher explained to us that it was because of some weaken immune system, something about how his ticker didn’t click like the rest of ours, she then also told us about him being mute. This drew my eyes right back to him, I think it did for all of us and for a moment the quiet kid raised his head and locked eyes with me. His dark black eyes glistened with despair, the deep purple bags that sagged under his eyes were more indicative of someone that hadn’t slept in days. I felt something for him in that moment, our third eye conversing in some cosmic dialogue and as quickly as he rose his head did it drop once again towards the ground. I could still hear all the the other kids snickering, questioning and some even giggling; it made me sick, if I was a braver boy I would of stood on top of my desk and verbally lashed out to all the sheep, instead I rose my hand asking something Mrs. Willis never said, what was the timid boys name?
“Oh I’m sorry, how rude of me, this is Gabriel”.
She sat Gabriel upfront next to her desk, wanting him close in case he needed to write or sign something to her and just like that everyone went back to their simple lives; including myself.
The next few weeks I saw little of Gabriel other than the back of his head during class, once the bell rang everyone that my eyes glimpsed at for the day disappeared or just maybe it was me who dissolved into the ambience of our school. Either way I saw little of the boy who wore a mask, the one that sheltered his true identity and my curiosity with the new flavor of the week gradually faded into the abyss of non-existence; well, that was until the day I saw the mask slip.
It was end of the day, I spent most of the time turning corners anytime Bryce Ellis approached; evading the wrath of him and his band of merry men who were the pinnacle of human torture; finding any opportunity to demean those who crossed their path. I remember leaving Chemistry class, my mind all to occupied with leaving the hell hole of every kids dread and that’s when I saw Gabriel walking down the hall towards the cafeteria; his head still tilted down; his gaze tracking every step he took; face mask still tightly fitted around his face.
This time I saw someone was following him, it was Tom Ingram one of Bryce’s guys, a kid that tried to be the “alpha male” of the group numerous times, doing his best to dethrone the reign of Bryce. He was a big boy for his age, probably about 5'9 and easily weighed 200 pounds, he was a wild card alright; he got caught pouring sugar down Mr. Whitakers old Pontiac gas tank for giving him a poor grade. So when I saw him berating poor Gabriel; taunting him as grotesque laughter followed every insult, I felt like I had to do something and my consistent stealth veneer of camouflage morphed into into a full on sprint towards the two. I saw Tom was closing in on him, other kids looking on with bewilderment on their faces — not knowing if they should laugh out of fear or grimace from disgust. For the first time in a long while did a burning sensation of courage ignite in my soul, I was tired of seeing monsters preying on the sheep and I was going to stop it somehow.
Finally Gabriel had stopped walking and stood still, his head hanging even lower than before, the strands of his long hair covered the remainder of his face. Tom began slapping the top side of the poor kids head, yelling out obscenities, angered that he didn’t stop sooner. I was close, I was gonna stop this since all anyone else could do is cower in fear while looking on and then it happened causing me to stop dead in my tracks, my eyes widening with befuddlement. Tom had torn away the mask from Gabriel's face, awes with groans came from everyone then silence blanketed the entire school and for those few seconds our existence had been swallowed up by the earth itself.
“What the hell” Tom yelped out breaking the still but heavy disquietude.
I wanted to say something, but no words could be manifested only gurgles as I choked on my own disbelief. The timid boy under the mask of intrigue had a strip of black duct tape covering his mouth, it stretching from the side of his face to the other almost resembling what would be some hideous smile. The timid boy then collapsed his hands over his face as faint muffles of sobbing protruded from him, he ran into the nearest restroom only for Tom to pursue. Finally my thoughts had been gathered while my body came back to life, I brushed off the bizarre occurrence of that grizzly smile and I reminded myself of what was about to happen. Tom was going to punish Gabriel for simply existing as he and his gang have been doing for years and like some old factory machine the cogs of my body set into motion as I ran towards the restroom.
Before I could open the door the most horrid scream exploded outwards into the hallway, the sound sending a cold shiver down my spine and Tom came running out of the restroom gripping at his face crying. He was hysterical running and bumping into the walls until finally crumbling onto the floor only to continue sobbing. My mind was clouded with a whirl wind of confusion, I no longer knew what to do, I mean I was going to run in there and stop the assault but now the assaulter was on the floor destroyed. Then Gabriel calmly came out of the restroom, his mask firmly back on and he turned to look at me, his dark eyes burning an image of anguish into my mind. I asked if he was okay of course he said nothing though, he didn’t need to I could just sense his response and it was one of gratitude. I almost could see him smiling at me from underneath the mask and I reminded myself of what was under it; that abysmal duct tape that looked like a sinister grin.
From that day on most of the kids were afraid of Gabriel, I could see the look of terror in their eyes anytime he passed by them even though his headed was still shifted downwards but that’s the day whenever someone mentioned him they referred to him as “Tape boy”. I had heard through the whispers of our school that Tom had suffered some mental breakdown, that the doctors couldn’t find anything psychically wrong with him, it was as if his mind had shattered. He remained in some mental hospital, memories of him gradually fading and the sheep went on with living their mundane lives. Bryce even slowed his bullying, I think he knew that their were now more eyes watching everyone after the altercation and he didn’t want to get caught in some bad situation, though I could see he was itching to get at Gabriel. I went back to being a shadow, avoiding all the others still not too confident that the days of torture were over.
Even though Gabriel was regarded as some magical or perhaps malevolent being by most; not sure which one; he still appeared to be sad; lonely, his head always dragging with despondency. I made an effort in getting to know him, I wasn’t afraid like the rest of them something about the day we locked eyes gave me the resolve to understand he wouldn’t hurt me. I approached him during lunch break, he was outside sitting underneath a tree, the shade showering him a gloom of haze. I think I surprised him or maybe it was just my stealth nature but I saw him jump when I sat next to him. I began talking about the origins of Darth Vader, of how he was originally a hero using his force power for good only to eventually turn to the dark side.
Gabriel just looked at me confounded of why I was even talking to him, his stare looking on with indifference. I told him that he was like a super hero, doing whatever he did to Tom was just like a super power, that I was thankful. His gazed then returned back to the floor almost out of shame, I guess whatever he did that day he didn’t see it as something special, or something to praise. I then told him that I still envied his ability to defend himself, that having such an ability was better than winning the school lottery — which was a week supply of free cafeteria food. I kept blabbering on for the remainder of the break while he still postured his stare towards the floor until the bell had finally rung. Before getting up I told him that if I could have a super power mine would be invisibility that’s when he turned to me pulling out a small spiral from his back pack writing something down, he then showed me.
“Why?” it read.
I told him that I didn’t like being seen, that if I could I would melt away into the noise, then life would be better he just stared at me with what I could assume was disbelief. He didn’t write anything back, he just remain seated while I stood to my feet. I asked if he was coming back to class but he ignored me and just stared out into space presumably lost in his own thoughts.
For the next several months I would catch Gabriel in the hallways, talk to him about the latest edition of whatever comic I was reading, Superman being my favorite and I would go on and on about how his true super power wasn’t strength but hope. I think he became more comfortable with me, pulling out his spiral notebook to write down his thoughts; his questions and answers — a new gateway of communication had formed between us. Most times I could tell what he was going to write by looking at his eyes, those dark haunting eyes, he was a mysterious book slowly being revealed to me and I was completely beguiled by his friendship. Bryce and his little posse slowly went back to bullying the sheep, though they kept their distance from Gabriel and me.
I guess I had a new protector one that wouldn’t be crossed and something about that protection left me feeling proud. I knew in my heart that the timid kid that now went by “Tape boy” wouldn’t hurt a fly that maybe the day of Tom going crazy was all by chance, perhaps his rage snapped his mind. I tried asking him about that day numerous times but he never explained what happened he would redirect the conversation back to super hero’s. I would walk home with him on certain days, well, more like he would walk me home I never got to see where he lived, he was too reserved to give up that kind of information but the days we would walk together was always fun. I finally felt like I belonged, the longing emotion of needing acceptance was found by his friendship.
One day when I was walking home by myself I decided to stop in at the gas station to pick up a drink and scour the latest edition of comic books in the small rack of magazines. Before entering the store I could hear arguing voices engaging in combative dialogue and it became vividly clear that it was more of a yelling match than conversation. It was coming from the side of the building, most times I would just ignore it but one of the voices sounded all too familiar and I crept slowly to the edge of the building poking my head out to get a glimpse of the disturbance. It was Bryce, his back was up against the wall while someone who I presumed was his father berated him with such a vicious snarl on his face. The angry man kept slapping Bryce across the face anytime he tried to say something and soon tears began drizzling off the face of the mighty bully only for the man to laugh.
I didn’t know why the older man was treating Bryce the way he was, information cut out of my understanding, for all I know it could of been because of something the bully did at school. I found it to be poetic justice that the boy that caused so much heart ache suffered the same amount only at home. It felt like a cliche, the angry kid was angry because of the angry father; a cruel loop of never ending proportions. Eventually the man or father walked away getting back into his car leaving the bully to brush away the tears from his face. I cautiously retreated my head away deciding to ditch the store completely when that same broken voice only minutes ago shouted out to me with a hefty dominance.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Bryce howled out.
I didn’t bother turning around, I just ran home, dodging into alley ways trying my best to not been seen. It didn’t appear as if he was following, but seeing him in such a vulnerable state was bemusing. We were a small town how could I not know who the man was, we all knew each other since we were small and then it hit me; Bryce’s dad had left when he was little. This man must of been his step dad or perhaps mom’s boyfriend, it didn’t matter I was going to mind my own business, I was going to slither back into the shadows; but my attempts would only fall on defeated shoulders.
I didn’t want to tell anyone of what I saw, I hoped that keeping my mouth shut would of been enough for the bully to leave me be. Unfortunately there is no reasoning when it comes to human beings, we base our actions on emotions, our anger and Bryce confronted me the next morning in front of Gabriel.
“Hey fairy, did you enjoy the show?” the angry kid spouted out at me.
I tried explaining to him that I wasn’t trying to intrude, that the arguing concerned me, that I didn’t like seeing him being mistreated and then he punched me right in the gut. I fell to the floor gripping at my stomach, the pain slicing through every fiber of my body. I tried catching my breath but inhaling was too painful and I sheltered my face expecting another punch but the bully walked off leaving me to sweat. Gabriel kneel down to me taking out his spiral notebook writing the obvious question, I gestured to him to give me a moment and I honestly felt like crying. I had spent years doing my best to blend into the background, the invisibility power I was so desperate to have amongst the sheep was now gone; I was on Bryce’s radar.
For the remainder of the school year I tried avoiding the bullies, the monsters that preyed on the sheep but their leader would actively search for me, he was no longer intimidated by Gabriel; his once menacing allure had dwindled and now we both were sitting ducks. Luckily there was only a few weeks left until summer break and I only had hoped that the time off would be enough for the monster of monsters to cool off.
Entering summer was a relief much needed for my sanity, I took a few thrashings but it was over, me and Gabriel had big plans on spending time together. He wasn’t an out door kind of kid, he usually would just come over my place and we would read my comic books. He quickly grew enchanted with the idea of super hero's, their powers restoring balance to the nature of our world. I enjoyed every minute of it, my parents on the other hand looked less jovial to our friendship, they didn’t like the mask; it worried them. They thought that whatever illness he had could be passed on to me, but they didn’t do anything to stop us from seeing each other, they only silently protested.
So after awhile we decided to meet somewhere outdoors, away from my parents judgmental stares, there was a creek close to my house, the trees giving us enough shade to stay cool on those long summer days. The small stream that flowed through the trenches of the creek enriched our view as we would find the perfect rock to perch on while reading our comics. We didn’t see much of any of the other classmates that summer, the sheep kept their distance or maybe it was just us, but the days seem to pass quickly and before we knew it summer was coming to an end. I couldn’t remember how many volumes we must of read but Gabriel was now a fan of almost every super hero. He tend to raise out his arms while walking, mimicking the premise of flying like Superman; his ponderous eyes cutting through the brush as we escaped our secluded summer spot.
It was on the final day of our summer break did I pressure the shy timid boy to explain to me what had happen that day, the day Tom lost his marbles, I needed to know. Gabriel as always tried redirecting the conversation, holding up a comic of Batman, pointing at some dialogue. I got upset, I raised my voice telling him that if we were friends then he should tell me, that there wasn’t secrets between us. His heavy eyes collapsing to the ground, shifting his posture on the rock that we both sat on.
“Look, I just need to know, you’re my best friend” I told him with genuine longing.
The school year was about to start up again and I could already envision a future of slithering through the hallways how I have always done, but with Gabriel maybe that could change. I needed to know and I was done guessing, fantasizing that he was some super hero or at least my hero; my protector. I stood up off the rock walking over to the stream, the sound of water colliding unto the small stones that infested the trench triggered something awful in my gut. I took a deep breath and made my final stand with my best friend.
“If you don’t want to tell me then I’m going home, see ya” I said with impatience dripping off of my words.
Gabriel ignored my warning and continued pointing at the comic book, that’s when I noticed what he was pointing at, it wasn’t dialogue it was one of Batman's villains — he was pointing at Clayface. This made me stop, my minding halting after speeding at 100 miles per hour; it crashing my thoughts.
“Yeah, what about Clayface?” I curiously asked with a withered and tired voice.
That’s when his pointer finger was no longer on the page but rather it was pointed towards his mouth; the mouth that was hidden behind his mask. He could see my face drop with sadness, whatever disfigurement he had underneath that horrid black duct tape must of been something like the villain from the comic and my heart broke for him. Gabriel’s eyes gleaming with absolute sorrow, the boy that only wanted to be left alone, the person all the others feared just wanted solitude and here I was badgering him to no end about something so insignificant. We stared at each other for several seconds, our eyes meeting in some altered state and I reached my hand up to his face tenderly taking off his mask. There it was, the black duct tape that resembled a grin, a nightmarish one that could only been seen in some horror movie. I then placed my fingers on the edge of the tape, my cold grip causing him to shiver and I slowly began to remove it.
“What the hell are you fairy’s doing?” a voice called out from the brush, one that sank my heart into my stomach.
I turned trying to locate the voice and sure enough there he was, the bully that had tortured so many for so many years — it was Bryce. His body slowly revealing itself from the brush like some despicable ooze frothing from the depths of hell. Though, something about him was different, his cold stare no longer fictitious but more intimidating and as his body fully emerged did I see the blood trickling down his soaked stain shirt. He was covered in the crimson fluid, there was even some on his cheeks almost as he had some open wound and smeared the remnants of it on his face. The devilish grin that bestowed his bruised and beaten face quickly led me to a conclusion; one that I wish I didn’t conclude. A purplish black infested the out layer of his left eye, it practically closed shut and his nose had been bent to a unsightly angle. I started to whimper as my lips trembled from fright because this Bryce was not the same one that had given us wedgies or swirlies this one was a true monster, a beast that devoured souls. His gaze was enough to display a vacancy of any humanity and my eyes crawled down his arm into his hand to see the black pistol that he firmly gripped.
“Uh, Bryce what happened? Are you okay?” I groaned out while sniffling.
He didn’t answer, he just kept grinning at me, the ghastly smile that stretched ear from ear plagued my vision and I knew that he had done it, that he had hurt someone badly. I was terrified and in the moment I had completely forgotten about Gabriel, my tunnel vision only focused on that firearm.
“Where the hell did the other one go?” the monster asked, I turned and realized Gabriel in fact had run away leaving me behind.
I wanted to run, I wanted to flee while screaming but horror kept me in place and I felt like some dear trapped in headlights contemplating my entire life in mere seconds.
“Everyone always messes with me!” Bryce yelled out with such ferociousness.
There was no talking my way out of this one, no pleading, I knew in that moment he was going to kill me; his rage over flowing to the point of lunacy. He quickly pounced dropping me to the floor, screaming with madness and he repeatedly hit me over the head with the but of the gun causing me to see stars. His words became incoherent sounding like muffled tones that slushed it’s way into my hearing, I shook my head trying to collect myself, just maybe I could figure a way out of this but as soon as my vision corrected itself Bryce would strike me another time causing it to blur once again. I fell into a darkness, my world collapsing into an eternal void of loneliness as my body began to float effortlessly but as soon as I thought this was my final moments flashes of Gabriel flooded into my mind awakening me out of whatever slumber I found myself in. That’s when I realized Bryce was no longer hitting me, instead he was talking to someone and as I grabbed at my head trying to steady my balance I saw it was Gabriel standing still head as always tilted downwards.
Bryce confronted him pointing his 9mm directly at his head yelling, screaming at the top of his lungs but my best friend remained unmoved, just quiet and then he slowly removed his mask. This caused Bryce to pause, his tone weaken and I think for the first time he digested if he should proceed doing what he was doing.
“What are you doing freak?” the bully yelped out.
Gabriel remained quiet, eyes still directed towards the floor, his breathing escalating; I could see his chest pump more vigorously with each passing second. With the mask off me and Bryce could see the bewildering black duct tape strapped to his face, Gabriel’s face began to tremble violently as if he was trying to yell through the bondage. He then finally began to peel of the thick layer of black duct tape and it came off with a wicked screech as I could see my friends eyes squint with pain.
Bryce was no longer pointing the gun at Gabriel, no longer was he even saying a word his arm lowered to his side and both him and I stared on with amazement. What was under the tape was layers of skin, twisting and binding to each other like some thriving organism living it’s own life on Gabriel's face. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t say anything I was in shock and my head still throb from pain. Then Gabriel's mouth — if you want to call it that — began to stretch open, he tilted his head backwards while the mountain of dead flesh started to drip down his face allowing some endless void to open up inside of him. I could hear the cracking of bones breaking, his jaw shifting to accommodate the massive hole that was now his mouth and then horrid dwindling fingers began to protrude from the darkness.
My mouth gaped open with trepidation and if I had the ability to adjust my head I would think Bryce had the same facial expression. Then a grotesque head forced it’s way out of my friends mouth revealing a face that could only exist in the realms of the dead, this new creature having two large almond shape eyes; eyes that looked very similar to the ones that were attached to my friend. This ‘thing’ then stared at Bryce, that’s all it did, no words were spoken no violence was created it just stared at him and soon the bully grasped at his face and began to yell. He ran frantically in different directions, his gun firing out into the tree line, I jumped for cover; falling to the floor sheltering my head with my arms. Bryce’s terrified screams caused my stomach to turn and soon those dire cries stopped along with the gunshots.
I must of stayed on the floor for what felt like hours, too scared to rise to my feet and through my peripheral did I see the sun begin to set plunging the small creak into darkness. I eventually mustered up enough courage to get up and I looked around, Bryce was mere feet away from me, he lay still on the floor blood spewing out of his head; it appeared as if had shot himself. I walked over to his body befuddled of what to do I then remembered Gabriel, I turned to look for him but he was gone it was only me and Bryce's dead corpse. I ran home telling my parents about everything, of the encounter I experienced, at first it seemed as if they didn’t believe me but they still phoned for the police.
I led them to the creek to the bullies dead body, I initially thought perhaps they would blame me, connect me to his death but the police believed me; well the believed me about Bryce but not about Gabriel. They told me that Bryce had killed his step father, apparently they had gotten into some altercation and afterwards he went into his mothers bedroom and shot her to death. They told me that the once bully was a disturbed individual, suffering abuse for many years; that I was lucky to escape from his wrath. I told them that they needed to find my friend I wanted to know if he was okay, but all the officers could do was pat my back with sympathy trying to relax me.
It has almost been 30 years since the event, I still have nightmares of what had happened, I see the dead stare Bryce had while pointing his pistol at me, I see him repeatedly hitting me over the head again and again. Though, what still haunts me more is Gabriel's mouth contorting into that horrid shape revealing the creature that lived inside of him. He was never found, I’m pretty sure he moved on to another city, another place where bullies like Bryce tormented their schools and I could only imagine Gabriel was there to balance the wrongs of the world. I am scared of my best friend, but I know at the same time he is my protector; my super hero, he is out there doing good, I can feel it and I hope he can sense my love for him. Maybe we will never meet again, perhaps it’s not written in the stars for us to reunite but one thing is for sure, I get comic books mailed to me randomly every month; most are of Superman and I know exactly who they are from.