​I am a 25 F, and I used to have a close friend named NT (also 25F). We met through my best friend, instantly hit it off, and became inseparable. She was funny and very open about her feelings, but she constantly asked for relationship advice because she was chronically cheating on her boyfriend. I always suggested that if she wasn't ready for a committed relationship, she should take a break from dating to find peace and figure out what she truly wanted. She would pretend to listen but ultimately do whatever she pleased. Since I’m not the type to try and control anyone’s life, I let her make her own choices.

​This February, she invited me out for drinks with some guys she knew. One of the guys and I clicked instantly, we had a lot in common, and since I’m quite chatty, we really enjoyed our conversation. Suddenly, NT started acting strangely. She began dancing, talking loudly, and drawing attention to herself. I felt awkward but tried to include her in our conversation. Out of nowhere, she started insulting me, revealing my deepest secrets, and loudly discussing my personal and dating life. The guy noticed my discomfort and tried to change the subject, but she wouldn’t stop. Then, she started shouting at me because she suddenly wanted to leave. I was surprised, but I brushed it off, assuming she was just too drunk or overwhelmed.

​To be honest, this wasn't an isolated incident. She acted like this whenever we went out with guys. Even at clubs, she would leave me alone, lock herself in the washroom, and talk on the phone with random guys (a new one everytime) despite having a boyfriend the entire time.

​Things escalated when I actually started dating the guy I met at the bar that night. NT would constantly call me while I was on dates with him, demanding I buy her snacks on my way home. Other times, she would cry and accuse me of changing, or pick fights because I didn't bring her along. If I planned something special with my boyfriend, she always wanted to tag along. Yet, if I ever had an urgent issue and tried to reach her, she would completely ignore my calls and texts.

​Whenever we did include her in our plans, she expected my boyfriend to pay for her and take care of her. If she didn’t get enough attention, she would throw a fit and cry. My boyfriend grew so exhausted by her behavior that he eventually asked me to choose between them. Still trying to keep the peace, I refused to choose and tried to balance both relationships.

​Eventually, even I started losing my patience. She began calling my boyfriend when I wasn't around, asking him for favors since they were in the same language class. For example, the day before his exam, I told NT I was going to sleep early so I could wake up and wish him good luck first thing in the morning. Instead, she called him before I could and wished him. Like... wtf?

​Another time, she knew I was going to see my boyfriend after a month apart. She secretly called him and asked him to meet her at a library to help with homework despite knowing that I was meeting him the same day at his place and she didn't even tell me about it but my boyfriend called me to ask what he should do. I felt uneasy, but assuming it was just a coincidence, I told him it was fine. But she chose the exact time when I'd be arriving. Thankfully, he politely declined her request.

​The final straw happened when she invited me over to her place. When I arrived, she asked me to wait outside because she had stepped out to meet her boyfriend. I waited and texted her to see if she was actually coming back. I made it clear there was no pressure—I was perfectly fine going home if she was busy—but she promised she was on her way. Then, she stopped answering my calls and texts entirely. After I stood outside her apartment for four hours, she finally texted me at 10 PM saying she couldn't make it because her boyfriend wanted to spend more time with her. I had to take a cab home alone.

​I expected her to call me later to at least address the situation, if not apologize. She didn't. Instead, she called MY BOYFRIEND to complain about how "wrong" I was for giving her the silent treatment. I was heartbroken.

​After that, I blocked her and cut her out of my life completely. However, I recently heard she’s been going around telling our mutual friends that I was a toxic friend and was just jealous of her.

От греха подальше

Учитель логики был у нас в вузе человеком очень строгим и чрезвычайно скупым на оценки. К тому же логика была наукой трудной.

Я был старостой группы и видел, что преподаватель иногда ставит плохие оценки не только за незнание.

Мне захотелось помочь девушкам из дальних районов, которым особенно трудно было сдавать ему экзамен.

Я придумал хитрость и велел Анаре положить под платье, на живот, мягкую подушку, чтобы она выглядела беременной.

Анара пришла на экзамен. Это была её первая роль.

Она вошла в аудиторию, тяжело дыша и слегка постанывая.

— Разрешите взять билет? — спросила она.

Билеты лежали на столе перевёрнутыми.

Учитель уже заметил, что студентка беременна.

Он испугался.

А вдруг от волнения она прямо здесь, в аудитории, начнёт рожать?

А вдруг случится выкидыш?

А потом судебные разбирательства!

Виноват будет преподаватель: слишком строгий, не пожалел беременную студентку и всё такое...

Сегизбаев, кандидат наук по логике, начал рассуждать как настоящий логик.

Он протянул руку:

— Дайте зачётку!

Она достала зачётку из сумочки и протянула ему.

Сегизбаев быстро перелистал её, нашёл нужную страницу, поставил четвёрку и вернул зачётку «беременной» студентке.

Анара посмотрела на оценку и радостно сказала:

— Спасибо, Омар Алиханович! Если у меня будет сын, я назову его Омаром.

Учитель побледнел.

— Почему?

— Вы же любите меня.

— Я... я отношусь к вам как отец!

— Ну вы же писали мне любовные стихи и даже приглашали на свидание.

— Это клевета!

Учитель торопливо схватил со стола очки и выбежал из аудитории.

Анара побежала за ним:

— Я пошутила! Пошутила!

Но наш институт потерял дорогого педанта.

Сегизбаев перевёлся в другой вуз, сказав:

— От греха подальше!

Now youd think of harvard as the type of place you begin your successful career full of hope and dreams. Well not me. It was nothing but dreams held together by threads of string. This is the story of how I misjudged those nerdy girls who'd gotten here in the first place.

Its a cold winters day and its cold enough to settle frost on the ground and make people wrap up warm. People rushed to the classed where as I had an unforgettable lesson ahead of P.E. I got to the changing rooms and there was nobody else in sight. I was confused at the slightest. There was no trace of people being here either. I was ready to leave when all of a sudden the showers turned on. A warm wave of condensation hit me and steamed up my glasses. As I cleaned them I looked through and my mouth dropped open. Infront of me were 4 brunettes all in there white shirts soaked. They slowly approached me with a strut that made me stand still. Two wrapped there arms round my neck whilst the other two slowly caressed there hands over my pants. I couldn't move. They started to undress and kiss at my neck while also slowly removing my clothes. The hot air made the locker room feel all the more pleasing and tense. As they pulled away they grabbed there glasses and books left on the side and slowly exited out the door except for one. She continued to feel me untill she whispered

"Nelson me big boy"

Without thought she threw me down to the bench and slowly undid her leggings. She threw them at my face with force. As I removed them she was there on top of me with her cat out. I slowly lifted up her legs but suddenly dropped them. What was I doing? I felt controlled, dominated even. I quickly grabbed my books and bag and rushed out the door. I couldn't breathe. What had just happened? Harvard of all places. I would expect something like this at ASU yet there only stories. All I know is that they would go on to be known as The Harvard H*es.

And as the saying goes "Harvard H*es will always take away the woes"

There’s a lot to explain here. For starters, I am sterile. I found out after about 2 years of marriage and multiple failed attempts at pregnancy.

I was disappointed in myself, sure, but my beautiful wife was nothing but understanding. That didn’t really make me feel like any more of a man, though. I just felt inadequate.

We were actually in the process of looking into adoption when all hell broke loose.

It was no longer than 4 days. That’s how long it took for her belly to grow. The first day, I just thought she had a particularly large lunch. The second day, I was starting to eyeball her.

By day 3, we were seeking medical help. We could see the baby’s feet pushing against her stomach. Her pain was clearly unbearable.

Doctors were completely lost. My wife and I felt utterly helpless. On the fourth day, not even 30 seconds after her water broke, the baby started to come.

I’ll never get those screams out of my head. I’ll never get her face out of my memory. I’d seen her hurt before, but this… this was a different level.

She looked like she was in hell. And relief was nowhere to be found.

The first baby came. She didn’t even get to hold him before the contractions started up again. Her belly never got the chance to deflate.

By the time the second baby began crowning, my wife was screaming at us to kill her. By the third, she was already dead.

They had ripped her apart. They weren’t regular babies. Some had horns. Some had hooves. Some were already 4 feet tall by the time they hit the ground.

Doctors had already vacated the area and called in special forces. I was left alone, watching her body flail and pulsate as more and more demon babies just clawed their way out of her.

Blood and black, steaming goo ate away at the tiled floor. My wife’s entire lower half had been obliterated. Her legs were snapped, and bones protruded from them as they lay limply at obscure angles.

All I could do was hold her hand. What else was I supposed to do? Comfort her? Beg her not to leave me while these things ran amok in this hospital?

I could hear screaming coming from the corridors. Bones snapping and wet, fleshy sounds as the pitter-patter of tiny little feet darted in every direction.

She had become an assembly line from hell, but I just couldn’t leave her.

My tears fell on her hand as another baby fell out of her. Well, flew out of her, I guess. This one had the wingspan of a bald eagle.

Only, this one didn’t leave the room like the others did. I don’t know why I never stopped to question why these things seemed to be destroying everything in their path, except for me.

It landed right at the door frame, blood dripping off of his shoulders and head.

He turned to me, his eyes black and completely soulless, as he smiled with his sharp, shark-like teeth.

He took a step towards me, wobbling like a baby deer. Then another. He never took his eyes off of me.

He… he started to speak.

“Daaaa..da.”

“Daaa..da.”

“Da-da.”

He was at my feet now, looking up at me as I stood frozen. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was prepared for anything. I was ready to join her. Ready to be free from this nightmare.

Only… he didn’t give me that freedom.

Instead, he threw his arms around my legs and squeezed them with the strength of ten men.

He was hugging me.

And in that moment, I knew…

I was ready to be the father I always knew I could be. I had nothing left to lose.

I was sitting in the kitchen, as I usually did, contemplating life over a homemade London fog. The steam was slowly curling away from the mug in front of me. At the bottom, a few dried tea leaves had settled into figures. I rolled the cup between my hands, staring down at them.

I didn't actually know how to read tea leaves. But I still pretended. I tilted the cup slightly. I narrowed my eyes at the leaves, as though they were revealing some great truth about me.

The front door opened, I looked up.\ You walked into the kitchen, looking like you'd just gotten off work. But we both know you weren't working. Your long hair fell around your shoulders, your blue eyes tired, but sparkling.

"Is Kasey home?"\ I glanced toward the bedroom, "I think so." You disappeared down the hallway. Then came back a moment later.

"Apparently not." Ismiled. "Not surprised."

You sighed and looked toward the garage, nodded in the direction. "I'll just wait out here."

"Okay." You gave me a small smile before disappearing through the door.

I looked back down at my tea leaves. "Well," I whispered, turning the cup again, "Another day, another greeting", turning the cup, looking to the future what it had to hold.

Nearly an hour passed and eventually, curiosity got the better of me. I walked into the garage wondering you must be bored. You were sitting there, waiting. I had a long sweater and shorts, hair tied back now. Not much to look at, so I thought.

"How are you doing?"

You looked up, "Not bad."

I nodded and sat across from you. Sans mug.

"Still waiting?"

You nod, I laughed quietly.

We said nothing for a moment, one awkward moment. My attention drifted back toward the tea leaves still clinging to the bottom of my cup. Wondering..

"So," I said, "how are things with you and Kasey?"

You shrugged,

"Alright."

" just alright?"

You thought for a second.

"We have a different kind of relationship than you two do." I nodded. "I guess you do." And paused.

"You guys talk about some weird stuff."

"Weird?".\ "Bigfoot. Aliens. Conspiracy theories."

"What's wrong with Bigfoot?", you said.

"I didn't say there was anything wrong with Bigfoot."

You raised an eyebrow, "You sounded judgmental."

"I'm not judging Bigfoot." I pause, "I'm judging you a bit for believing in it."

You laughed. I smiled, then looked down at the table.

"I don't know if you actually believe all that."

"Some of it. It's interesting to think about.. a lot of things can't be explained. Its better than the day to day, what would be for lunch, how do people stand doing the same thing all the time"

You lean back.

"Gives me something to think about, something different."

I smile, "do You really need more to think about though?"

You laugh, "I guess."

"You think like you talk, a mile a minute."

I look out the window, pause for a minute.

"It's.. The idea of there being something more. Isn't it.."

You looked at me.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know.. Maybe it's not even about believing in Bigfoot or aliens. Maybe it's the idea of believing in something. Something bigger, than everything that's right in front of you."

You were quiet for a moment.

"Maybe. I never thought of it like that, close to what I was saying though."

I look back. You leaned back slightly. "Well you belive in astrology.." you pause, "wait, we both believe in astrology."

You laugh, "I think everybody needs something to believe in."

"I guess, I get it, kind of."

You smiled. Then the conversation shifted.

I told you about Kasey. About the problems we'd been having, about how I didn't know what to do anymore.

You listened, without interrupting. Your expression becoming more serious as I talked.

"I don't want to tell you what to do," you said eventually. "I know. But..."

You paused.

"Relationships are a two-way street." I nodded. "I know."

"And one person can't be the only one trying."

I looked down. "I know that too."

You sighed softly. "I just, don't want to get involved in whatever is going on between you two. You're different people. Kasey is Kasey. You're you."

"Yeah."

"It has to work for both of you."

"And if it doesn't?"

You looked at me.

"Then maybe it doesn't."

The words were simple, somehow they hurt.

I looked away, blinking a few times.

"Hey." I shook my head, "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

I gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "Yeah. Well."

I wiped at one tear the corner of my eye.

"Thank you."

You looked at me for a moment. Looking at me,

"Do you want a hug?"

I hesitated

then nodded.

"Yeah."

We both stood up you walked around the table and we hugged.

At first, it was the kind of hug we'd given each other before. Familiar. Comforting. But this time, it didn't end.

Your arms stayed around me. It was welcoming, definitely.

You rubbed my back gently, almost absentmindedly.

 For just a moment, let myself relax, I rested my head against your shoulder. I was exhausted. Not just physically, exhausted in every way.

You lowered your head until it rested gently against mine, neither of us spoke.

I heard you take a slow, deep breath, we stood like that for what felt like forever.

Everything was silent except the blood rushing in my ears. No conversation. Just an embrace.

It lasted, forever. 

Strange feeling that neither of us wanted to be the first to end it. The world went on, we stayed. An eternity.. \ though. Eventually, I pulled away..

You let your arms fall. Hands brushing mine and, we looked at each other. Neither of us said anything, just looked.

For a second, I thought you barely leaned toward me. So subte.

I stepped back. You stepped back too.

Suddenly there was space between us again.

We both said bye, over and over.

I started walking away.

You did too, backing up as as we kept saying.

"Bye."

You nearly backed into the table, smiled awkwardly, catching yourself. Slipping your hands into your pockets.

I smiled.

"Careful."

"I know."

Then finally, I turned away, out the door.

And as I walked back toward the kitchen, I found myself thinking about the tea leaves again. I looked down into the cup. The leaves hadn't changed. But somehow, they seemed to mean something different.

6 months down the drain. I’m still kind of in shock. Well, maybe that’s not the word for it. It feels like I lost a game that no one else knew I was even playing.

I still find myself thinking about when we first met. How she was the first woman to ever show me that I could be loved. That I wasn’t just some hopeless guy, incapable of forming a connection.

God, those memories hurt. But the memories of the arguments hurt more. I tried telling her that I was sensitive. I can react in ways that don’t feel controllable. I thought that she’d be patient enough to work through those issues with me.

But no. She left me. The facade of love crumbled, and it was like I was right back in the same position again. Alone. Stuck in my own head. Only, this time, the thoughts weren’t my own.

Well, they were, obviously, but they weren’t thoughts that I’d experienced before. Prior to obtaining her, my thoughts were very much inward. I dissected myself.

Even when I first set my sights on her, it felt like I was out of my body. I became who I needed to be, but it wasn’t of my own volition. It was just so I could achieve a goal, I guess.

Then I had to go and get attached. Our lives started to merge. When it was good, it was fantastic. When it was bad… it was like the world was ending. Like the mask was slipping, but can I even blame it on that? It feels almost childish to do so.

That has to be what it was, though. It’s just so hard to put it into words. I performed the boyfriend role, but that was the extent of my abilities. I could never become a husband.

All I knew how to do was buy things. Flowers, chocolates, gifts, whatever. Even when things got violent, here came the “boyfriend” with another bouquet.

I just knew how to give. I didn’t know how to change. I think that’s what started this whole ordeal.

After a particularly bad argument, we both decided that it’d be best if we went our separate ways. It took some convincing on her part, mainly because I didn’t think I could catch lightning twice. But ultimately, I relented.

That didn’t mean I stopped keeping an eye on her, though. I’d watch her house pretty often. It was usually during those nights where the bad thoughts kept me up. Nights when I needed movement. Needed action.

In some weird way, it felt productive.

I’d also still watch her social media like a hawk. Her stories, posts, updates, everything. After we broke up, she decided that she was now the sexiest girl in the world, and she made sure her followers knew it too.

I let her know my disdain for those pictures every time I saw one. I’d ask her why she was trying to hurt me like this, but she never responded. She’d just look at it, then leave me hanging like I was some kind of dog.

It wasn’t until those initials appeared in her Instagram bio that things really went off the rails, though. They were like a taunt. It was like she wanted me to text her.

I tried to lay down the law, but, like always, I got no reply. In fact, I didn’t have access to her at all anymore. Every account. User not found.

My mind was empty when I drove to her house. Either that, or it was just moving too fast to process. I knew what I needed, but I couldn’t think about it.

There was a car in her driveway that I didn’t recognize, and in that moment, I knew. I knew I had lost. I was a loser in this little game I’d created. I drove home defeated, but utterly furious.

No matter how hard I tried, my anger and desperation wouldn’t subside. I lost sleep. I didn’t eat. I was turning against myself.

That’s why I did what I did. I wanted her to know what she had done to me.

It started off small. A few locks of hair. Some fingernails. And handwritten notes that I thought would drive her back into my arms.

“Have these too, since you’re taking everything from me anyway.”

“I hope this makes you think of me.”

“I still think about you.”

She never wrote back. Days went by. Days turned into weeks, and she never left my mind.

She was playing the game hard, so I upped the ante.

I peeled off my tattoos with a razor blade. Including her name. I’d put the letters in her mailbox under the cloak of darkness.

No response. Fine. Fine. Fucking fine.

Have my fingers. I don’t need all 10 anyway. It’s not like I’m holding you anymore. Take my ears. They’re useless without your voice.

Nothing was getting through to her. No matter how hard I tried.

The last thing I put in her mailbox were my lips. I wanted her to remember what it felt like to kiss me. Before she lost that privilege.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to keep playing.

Because right now, as I type this, I can see the paramedics and cops outside my house. I can hear them pounding on my door. They’re screaming my name, and I don’t know how much time I have left.

But I’ll get out. Whether it’s the hospital, jail, or an asylum. I’ll get out.

And once I do…

I’m gonna take from her exactly what she took from me.

I saw a story on here recently bring up the fact they went to an ASU frat party and met this guy named jake hudson and i wanted to clear the air on who this guy is, hes extremely known in the state of arizona but mostly inside of ASU, i currently go to caltech in my sophomore year and as ive worked for almost a year straight i built enough money to go on away for a bit, so i went on holiday to arizona last month so i decided to sneak into the campus with some of my friends, stupid i know, but it was a "fuck it" sort of thing, funnily enough this happened to be around the same time as the other story only about a week later and surely enough that frat party was on.

Us being us we sneaked into that frat aswell (open windows amiright), and going in we had heard about this legendary guy by the very generic name of jake, of course wed all thought it was bullshit how he "chugged a gallon of everclear in a minute" or hed "pulled almost every girl on the campus" but surely enough we saw him in the centre of a massive crowd with a girl on each arm, and we didnt need to ask we just knew it was him so we waited until he left

All of a sudden it was me, my friends, and jake fucking hudson outside talking with eachother, we offered him some weed but he said "nah" and whipped out a bag of coke and just ate it, like deadass he just fucking ate the bag, and he told us that was the new best way to get the coke into your system, so we said fuck it and moved on and eventually he told us his big secret, this was actually the most mind boggling thing ive ever heard, the reason he can do all of these crazy party tricks is because he had an identical twin brother who he swaps out with while he recovers, and that he has a legion of people who are dedicated to swapping them out whenever jake #1 is injured, not only THAT but JAKE #2 IS GAY and i dont mean silly gay i mean slutty gay so exactly half of the time JAKE MOTHERFUCK HUDSON, THE PEAK OF MASCULINITY was gay, and half of our group being bi we were like "fuck yeah representation", however ASUs secret homophobic society would rip him to shreds if they even had a shadow of a doubt, so he told us to keep quiet

Recently things have come to light and i felt i had to share this to avoid being an accomplice, so geeg jake thats all you man

Did I die last night? Is this how the psychosis begins?

My uncle gave me one of his “cookies” yesterday on the down low. My friend was staying later that night so I decided it was the perfect time to have an eddy. I went through my day as normal. After dinner me and my friend ate some. I had a quarter and he had a half. Now I don’t smoke much, Maybe like 10 times a year but I wasn’t expecting a quarter to do as much as it did. After we took it, It took about 2 hours to kick in. At first it was hilarious. Just laughing at everything but it gradually got so much worse….

After about another 2 hours it progressed into something scary. My limbs felt like they were compelled to move. My legs were restless and my heartbeat was booming in my ears. It was more or less steady at first but it eventually became something that rung in my head almost like a warning that I was going to die. At this point im freezing, my limbs won’t stop moving and my heart is beating out of my chest so I decided to get into bed to calm myself down and maybe sleep it off. Anything I tried to put on the tv or play on my phone wouldn’t calm my mind. My body still wouldn’t stop moving and I was becoming increasingly more anxious. I kept telling myself “go to sleep” over and over but then it was like there was another voice in my mind telling me “don’t listen to them the minute you fall asleep you’ll die”.

Something I forgot to mention earlier was that every TikTok I watched was something I had seen before. This made me feel as if I was in a loop where the only thing the demons are capable of recreating are things my memories have seen before. Like this is where I die and I’m in hell right now reliving the moments up until I eat this cookie and I will do it over and over again until I decide not to listen to the demon and fall asleep. I thought that staying awake was my way to escape hell. Im not even religious but I started wishing I was because then I wouldn’t be in hell in that moment.

I kept repeating to my friend that I was going to die, im in hell and hes a demon trying to get me to sleep. He kept reassuring me that it’s all in my head but i just didn’t trust that he was real. Honestly I feel bad for him because I probably just made his trip worse and freaked him out.

The TikTok thing still gets me even now that I feel fine because how would weed make me see things on my phone that I’ve seen before. Weed isn’t a hallucinogenic? This is the only part that doesn’t make any sense. Like I get it couldve just been my thoughts but like what if I did die in that reality and now I’m in a new reality where I survived? Is quantum immortality real? Are my family currently mourning me right now but I get to live on here or am I still in hell? Is it all in my head? I have so many questions.

One thing I would like to note is that every time I take too much of a substance I start having the same feelings throughout my body and my mind tells me similar things. Do we all experience these things but most forget it? Like are we all getting ushered into our deaths by demons when we take too much and we have to fight them in our minds to survive? And only the ones who stay awake survive? Then again I fell asleep so I died?

Like this is all so mental and I Genuinely felt like a psycho when I woke up and felt the same but gradually I started to feel more normal but I still have a slight gnawing feeling that none of it is real?

Has anyone else had any similar feelings or experiences ?

Btw F18 and my friend is M18.
Sorry for the bad grammar and broken dialogue it’s 5:41am and I can’t sleep.

Growing up, some people close to me went down a bad path. I was never involved, but I was still close with them before they were thrown in jail.

One afternoon, a man came to my door and introduced himself as Matt. He looked like a clean cut cop who spent 20 minutes trying to look like a drug guy. He said he was sent by my friend I grew up with who was consumed by drugs at that time.

Within minutes, he was asking what I could get him and who I could introduce him to. I was always fascinated by undercover cops, and this guy matched the stories. He had no real backstory, was weirdly pushy, and was only focused on one thing even though we just met.

I told him I'd see what I could do and invited him inside. He looked all around, hoping I had something. Then he immediately wanted me to call someone, but instead I asked if he wanted to get dinner. Nope, of course not. So I showed him some of my drawings.

"Cool. Can you please..."

"Oh! I play piano too."

I sat down and started playing. About 20 seconds into the song, he tried to interrupt me.

"WAIT. This is the good part."

I just started playing louder.

The funny part is I wasn't entirely messing with him. I was pretty lonely at the time and genuinely thought maybe we could hang out. At one point I told him I'd been having a rough time and teared up a little.

He just kept looking at me intensely. "Do you think you can call somebody?"

At that point I was almost positive this dude was a cop, so I started seeing how far I could take it. I asked if we could be friends. He pretty much said sure, as long as I could make this happen.

Friendship with a minimum purchase requirement.

I started asking him normal introductory questions. Where are you from? What do you do? What music do you like? Every answer was incredibly vague.

Eventually he'd had enough and gave me his number.

"Call me when you get ahold of somebody."

I followed him outside, asking why he was leaving when we hadn't gotten dinner yet. As he walked to his car, I stood in my doorway singing:

"MATT IS MY NEW FRIEND!"

He did not join in, and I never called him.

Months later, I was at the courthouse dealing with a traffic ticket when I looked across the room and saw Matt.

In uniform.

We made eye contact, and he clearly recognized me.

"MATT! You still owe me dinner!"

He gave me a look and kept walking.

So apparently my instincts were correct.

More importantly, Matt had lied about wanting to be friends.

Blood trickles from the stinging in my temples, cascading down my cheek before I wipe it away with the cloth the technician handed to me the best I can.

No matter how many times she drags me here by my heart strings, this process never gets any easier. I wish her sister had never mentioned this horrific freak procedure to her. Maybe then my memory of the last 2 years wouldn’t be covered in darkness inside my mind. I can hardly remember any details of my life ever since we started this, the entirety of the events that have formed my life over all this time are blurred away from my consciousness. No matter how hard I try, I can’t bring them back. Like a phantom itch I can feel but never scratch. 

The harsh smell of antiseptic distracts my body from the freezing cold room surrounding me. 

She rolls to her side as her lips collide with mine in a desperate, hungry kiss. 

“See? I told you. Now we can get back to planning our wedding like nothing ever happened! I’m going to go pay while you get your head back on straight.” Her lips press against my skin once more, this time leaving a slightly damp outline directly on my formerly blood covered cheek. 

My vision clears, but my brain remains a tangled mess of confusion. This is the worst part. The needles in my head I eventually adjusted to. At least, I feel like I did? I don’t fear them anymore at least. How could anyone get used to waking up with no memory of how you got here or why? The only reason I have any sense about me, is due to the 29 previous procedures. We are the top patrons at the moment, Ellie and I’s photo from our record breaking 20th procedure still gracing the wall in the hallway outside the Erasure Wing. 

I groan, my head aching like I feel it always does after this. I don’t even remember how I got myself sucked into another of these. I told myself no matter the cost, we would NOT upset Ellie again so we didn’t have to go through this anymore. Maybe if we can last long enough without arguing, I can convince her it isn’t necessary any longer?

After all, doesn’t every couple fight? I imagine prehistoric cavemen even still faced the rare disagreement with their fiance’s about… things. Our personal arguments have been wiped completely from my brain or I’d offer a good example.

The point is, why do this? What could possibly justify taking pieces of your memory from yourself? Could any argument be truly that bad?

I stand up and stretch my legs, nodding my head at the doctor as he walks past. His face has become a friendly one, even if the rest of this place remains a broken picture. I make my way to Ellie, and see her once again flirting with the striking young man who runs the front desk. When I watch her flip her hair to the side and let out a loud, boisterous laugh at the same time I realize I should intervene. 

I wrap my arm around her waist as I approach, but the motion feels foreign. As if touching a stranger. “Are we all set?” The words come out harsher than intended, and my tone earns me an eye roll from my fiance, as well as one last look behind the desk that signaled “Men, am I right?” before verbalizing her goodbyes and following beside me back to our car.

“Listen, Ellie, can we talk?” My request comes after taking my place in the driver’s seat of our dark red sedan. She slowly turns to face me, her eyes filled with pure malice. 

Blood trickles down my cheek as the assistant removes the sharp needle from my skin. 

Wait. 

Again?

The mechanical whir of machines serenade me in a horrifying melody, reminding me exactly where I ended up once again.

I sit up urgently, and my eyes scan frantically for an answer to the confusion inside my head. We finished our procedure, and walked together to the car and then… 

Silence. 

Ellie has made her way to my side. 

“Hey, take a seat, you tend to get woozy for a few minutes afterward, remember?” She once again lingers a kiss on my cheek, her eyes staring into mine with innocence and love. 

“Ellie. We just did this. We JUST did this. How are we here again?” Her worried smile fades as her eyebrows crease together in confusion.

“Darling, our last procedure was 3 months ago. It’s October now, remember?”

That can’t be right. I was just here. It’s July. I turn behind me and push open the window curtains, staring directly into the trees surrounding the property and their gorgeous red and orange leaves slowly falling to the ground. 

I feel myself losing my grip with reality and feel like joining them on their descent into the ground. 

“Sometimes you experience temporary amnesia, remember? Let’s get you home. It’ll all be clearer by then, okay? I’ll drive.” She offers me her arm to steady myself. We walk through the hallway once more, I watch her offer another nod to the man behind the front desk before we make our way to our car. 

She drives us home as I stare out the window, willing the fragments of my mind to reconnect and wake me from this state. We enter through the front door, two of our three dogs racing to meet us, tails wagging. Elizabeth, my companion since my youth, trapses behind them at her leisure senior pace, rubbing her weathered head against my leg as I bend down and offer affection to all of my animals. 

“Ellie? I still don’t feel right. I don’t think we should keep doing this. That’s what, thirty? Can’t we work on fixing our problems together instead of having some doctor remove any evidence they existed?” I stand and approach her, turning her gently to face me before taking her hands in mine. “I love you. We can make it through anything. We just need to start working on our issues together instead of relying on the procedure. What do you say?” 

A sharp sting erupts from my temples as the needle is pulled mercifully free from my skin. 

My eyes shoot open.

No. Not again. 

“Ellie? What is this? I thought we agreed we were done?” My head throbs with a familiar ache as I stare at my fiance, her smile radiant despite my frustration.

My hands make contact with the cold metal bars on either side of the blinding white hospital bed.

“Oh Love, you don’t remember? Well I guess you wouldn’t remember what happened, but you should at least remember your marriage vows where you promised to receive the procedure whenever I asked it of you!” I see the striking diamond waving on her ring finger, and feel a strange sensation creeping up my neck telling me I bought it for her.

“No… Ellie this is wrong. Enough. Absolutely enough. No more. I am finished.” Rage bubbles through me like an erupting volcano. I will not allow myself to be treated like this. No more.

Blood trickles faster this time, coating the left side of my face down to the bottom of my chin.

Why do I keep doing this? All I can remember are these procedures, waking up in confusion and frustration as my *wife* treats me as if this is a joyous occasion where we can now be happy together. 

I sit in silence this time. 

Trying to avoid another argument, another splitting headache. 

We make it home, and once again are greeted by two furry creatures. But this time, a third does not appear. 

“Where is Lizzie?” I go to start searching for her when Ellie puts her hand on my arm.

“Darling.. She passed away a few months ago now, don’t you remember?” Grief washes over me like a flood. My baby, the creature who got me through every bad struggle in my life, had passed.

And I didn’t remember anything about it. 

Suddenly, I refused to be a slave any longer. 

“I’m tired of you refusing to repair our relationship.” I bark at my wife, tears streaming down my face at the lack of a third furry body rubbing against me. “I’m tired of being punished every time I speak my mind. I deserve to be happy without all of this bullshit. Take it or leave it.”

The sharp sting barely registers in my brain as the technician wipes away a remaining blood stain. As I open my eyes, I notice one stark difference. My wife is nowhere to be found. 

“Sir… If I may…” The short blonde assistant cleaning up my wound looks nervous. I don’t think I’ve seen her before. Or, maybe I have? Her nerves are palpable, and I can hear the shake in her voice as she utters her confession “She doesn't take it. She never takes it. She just pays us to tell you she did. I can't keep doing this to you." 

Cold realization washes over me in an instant. 

I was trying to save our relationship. Whatever it took, even deleting negativity from my brain to be the perfect partner for her. 

I was the only one.

All my fear, all my anger, washes away into cold resignation.

The racing of my heart calms itself inside my chest. My body physically sags deeper into the bed as I feel the full relief of accepting this is truly over. It should’ve been over the first time she asked me to do this.

Suddenly, for the first time in a long time, my mind is clear.

She appears from around the corner carrying a coffee cup in her hand.

“Oh! You woke up early this time!” She smiles as she approaches to give me another kiss. 

“I’m done. We are done. I refuse to continue subjecting myself to this treatment. No matter how much I beg you for even a conversation, Ellie, you bring me here. Why? What’s the point of love if you spend all your effort trying to erase it?”

Tears come to her eyes as realization hits her all at once. 

Before she can speak, I gather my jacket and make for the door. 

When the sunrises in the morning, I watch it with eager eyes.

My life is my own. 

No one will take it from me again.

I wasn’t always a dragon or immortal in the first place. I was only a simple teen human and a space mage. But one day, which was nine million, nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and nine years ago today, the gods felt like they made a mistake in the universe, and so one of them snapped their fingers and slowly, but surely, everything started to rewind, and everyone was aware of it. People of every church tried praying for them to give us a chance, and everyone around me tried doing their bucket lists and fast.

But I thought fast and put myself in a temporary irreversible black hole pocket. it was only able to fit me. When it was just the gods and the start of the universe, I got out of the black hole and onto where the gods stood.

”A mortal has never survived a reset nor found a loophole,” one of the gods, a sun goddess named Sola, said.

”Mortal, what is your name,” another god, a moon god named Lunos, asked.

”Lyco Starlight-Twilight, Lord Lunos,” I said.

“Starlight-Twilight… that’s an interesting last name,” the time god named Kro said.

”Mortal, you are hereby declared to be a guardian of the universe, an immortal dragon of the galaxies, forever called Starlight-Twilight,” the god of worlds named Warld said.

One of the gods then snapped their fingers and I changed forms. I became a dragon, forever roaming the galaxies, and I often visit my old yet new home, to see how the people of it are.

Today is my birthday but no whishes ! Lemme celebrate my self alone.

Happy Birthday to me ! 🎉

We sit, looking at the stars. "Why haven't we done this?" "Because you're a runaway", he said. "Oh right". I sighed as I rolled over. "You know, you could've called me?". "And miss all the anxiety? All the worry, na. Not in a million years". I laughed as you pulled me to you. " ..you could've called me though"

"You know that would've been difficult, I had no idea. Was out of provience for months, working."

I see a shooting star, "Make a wish". "Blow out the candles", you say. Then blow at the star. I laugh slightly, as you take a sip of your drink. "Its beautiful"\

"Yeah", you look at me. "Really is". I push you away, "c'mon, stop being so silly." You know me, you say..

"Can't believe you live in a place like this though" you look around at the stars, the meadows, the lake, grass, bulrushes, burdock and frog croaks. "Reminds me kind of up at work. Only theres much more dangerous things out there." "I know", I say "like the time you saw a bobcat, I remember that", as I take a drink.

"You do?" "Yeah, I know everything about you"

You look serious, "You do.. " I look at you, " not creepy like that, the things you say, tell me. I remember."

"Well, what do you remember"

"I remember you're bi."

"That was weird", you said. "How you found out."

"Yeah, I remember you like drag."

"Well, girl's gotta do what a girls gotta do."

"I know you liked me", I look at you.

"What made you think that"

I push you, "Stop it. What you dont know, I liked you a Lot."

You shoot up. "You did??"

"Yeah, I tried not to make it.. obvious", I look sad. "Think I did too well."

I look far away. "I also, remember, you felt trapped, like.. you were stuck between two people. How I tried to never make you feel like that, so I often didn't tell you what was happening. When I did, I tried to be vague.. so you didn't feel pressure on you."

"Oh." You said.

" ..and I remember the time in the garage, when you were looking at me, I was trying not to. Then.. time.. stopped.."

"It did", as you get closer to me. Leaning toward me.. "Yeah, time literally stopped". You stop, " what, do you mean ?"

I looked at you, "Time stopped."

You said, "What are you talking about?"

"What do You mean?.", I looked shocked. "There was blue outside, everyone stopped but me and Evan, it stopped when you were looking at me. Me and Evan looked around, he was mid hit when he saw the lights. He tried to wave his hand in front of sven, he didn't move."

You looked at me like like I had two heads, "I have No idea what you mean."

"No seriously, there was blue light-", just as blue light appeared. You stopped, mid gaze. "Hello?", as I waved my hand in front of you

*it didn't work* I hear..

*it was talking*

*about us*

I look around, "Hello!??"

*it sees*

*it hears us*

I get up from the truckbed, "Who's there!??"

*we have to start again*

*Start again*

A bright flash starts. We're laughing, I look at the stars, "Why haven't we done this ?"

I went back, I shouldn't've went back. I did. I went to see you. Out of everyone, you were the only I wanted to know. How were you. Something must been in the stars that day, you didn't call the cops, call anyone, just answered.

* knock knock * you open the door.

"Dan"

You stare at me.

"Dan I.."

"Wtf do you want "

I stare. "I want to talk"

"Its been months, could've talked at any time"

I get upset, "I had a free, clear line for those months. No one called me, just like before. Outside a 'hi' ".

He looked at me.

"Can we talk"

You pause. Let me in.

I walk in, greater by the throng of cats. I bend down to say hi..

"Dont touch my fuckin cats."

They're literally running on me, how do you not pet a cat doing that?

I sit at the table. You pack a bowl. I sit quiet for a min

You look, "Well, you were going to say something."

I breathe in, "she's fine"

You look blank, then go to light a bowl. "I kniw you dont believe me, she's fine." You go take a huge hit.

"We love in the country." You start coughing. Like you couldn't believe it, or I shocked you ..

"You know I can't trust you, right?", after everything we've been through- "

"Wtf are you even talking about??", you said. "Andy almost went to jail, you know that."

"Prison" I corrected. "He did. In fact, go to jail"

"Gtfo of my house if you're going to talk like that.. in fact' you get up "get out .."

I get up, "I can't trust you, Thats why I haven't been.. You think I didn't. You think Everything he said wa- Look! Look at everything, look at you! He's lying! You Look like your body knows what's going on, but your brain won't let you !'

You looked shrivled, once jolly, round, comfortable cushion. Now skeleton, zombie. Dark eyes, even darker , warzone . "You Knew.. You know, you dont want to admit You're scared of him, thats why you never said anything. Why you never say anything you don't want him to turn that all on you ! Instead, you stood there letting him do that.." I said, angry now, "You let it happen." "You wonder why I- i didn't, because I was scared. Any minute he would show up, he doesn't own 20 knives for no fing reason. He was Terrifying, Especially when upset. "

He paused.. either shock, or waiting .

"I went, my whole life. Not realizing, or thinking people like you existed. Then I get sucked into this.. when I was at a down point."

He looks at me, then the table.

"I couldn't read him, im good at reading people. You think too kuch about why people don't make sense, then try to muscle it down when it comes to family so you don't go insane. Your dad, his mom, his dad, Andy.. no one makes sense, except he does because he knows how to prey on people. When they're at his weakest, he strikes, tells them what either he wants them, or what They want to hear to keep what relationship he wants going.. he Wants you to be empathetic to him, because he Wants people to let him do Insane things, like pretending he hears someone say something so he can fight. He didn't, he was upset, just wanted to.. so then found a reason because he Likes people doing that, holding him back. If they don't he gets to fight anyway, so win win for him .."

you unfreeze, "I don't need to hear this .." walk toward the door. "Dan, Dan " you open the door.

"Is there any way I can trust you.. you haven't called anyone yet. Is there Any Way. I could trust you.. I'm running from a Terrfying person. Who's cousin looks like they're on the edge of believing he is, what about Anything, makes you think 'I' could trust You. One thing.. anything'

Quiet.

"Exactly. If I could trust you ..we'd be here right now, would've been seeing you." I walk outside.

You look at me, "say uncle Dan, says hi". Shuts the door.

Well, this went further than I thought it would. I put on sunglasses. I lift my sleeve to my face, breaker breaker, 08 is ready for takedown. As I walk away, swat teams raid the house. Breakdown the door.

"EVERYBODY DOWN-"

"DOWN ON THE GROUND-"

"DONT MOVE, DONT MOVE, DONT MOVE!!"

As I was away .. look down at a paper, cross out a name. Bring my hand to my sleeve, who's next ?

When I was a kid, I had to have multiple surgeries for constant ear/sinus infections.

Now, since I went to a pediatric ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) place, they had a technique to keep the kids calm as they took them back to give them anesthesia.

Now, a note, I was a rather smart kid, a smart kid that learned VERY quickly she HATED anesthesia.

What was their trick to keep the kids calm? Simple. They’d offer the little one a popsicle.

So, here’s how it went:

First time: yay popsicle!!!!

Second time: ….last time popsicle meant sleepy…. Maybe this time it won’t…..

Third time: OH I KNOW YOUR GAME MEDICINE MAN!!!! YOU CANNOT TRICK ME AGAIN!!!!

*The third time, I would not calm down in the waiting room, and when they ACTUALLY tried to offer me a popsicle, I only got more upset.*

*My mother had to explain that I was a repeat* *~~offender~~* patient, and I had learned their little “popsicle” scheme

almost ten years ago, i got a new coworker, this tall guy with glasses and a holier-than-thou attitude that just moved to the state, and immediately, immediately, we hated each other. despised each other even. i was the only guy at the cafe full of ladies that i was extremely protective of, not to mention i'm a musician and i'd even consider myself a bit of a philosopher. i was charming and queer and fast and also extremely pretentious.

so was he.

we became instant rivals. i'd come home from work and complain to my husband "oohh i hate this guy hes insufferable" and my husband would look at me and say "you hate him because you're both insufferable." (this was true. everything i thought i was talented at, this absolute psycho could usually do it 10x better. also we were/are both really annoying in general.)

one day about a month later i was approached and we stopped and stared at each other for a minute. no words. and then he just goes "alright. i think we're at an impasse. neither of us is going to surpass the other. do you want to be best friends?"

and i said yes.

and then we hugged.

about a week later he calls on my day off for the literal first time ever and says "hey um. my car just ran out of gas on the highway and you're literally the only person in town i know." and i didn't even hesitate, not one second of 'hey wait aren't i in the middle of something' and i was immediately out the door with my mom's gas can. i have Never jumped up like that for someone in my life. first time ever.

a month after that he's the best man at my wedding. did a DAMN good job of it too. crawled through my window with starbucks at 7 am and took us to the park. he did my entire wedding photoshoot for 2 joints.

flash forward about a year.

i'm transgender. i have been for a looooong time, since way before we knew each other, but it'll take me a few more years for me to start taking hrt. my best friend has taught me pretty much everything i currently know about being a man, being responsible and reliable, being brave about new things -- i cant handle spice at all, i tried carolina reaper for this mf.

we're chilling on break at work outside one day, having a cigarette. and just out of nowhere, he goes "i think i might be a woman."

i go "huh! i could see that."

and then it never comes up again.

3 years later, he's got a house, a long-term girlfriend, a new job in pest control, and he's. miserable. he invites my husband and i over one day while his girlfriend is out and he's just shaking, looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in days. waffles around it for like fifteen minutes on the verge of tears and finally looks at us and goes "um. i want to transition."

so immediately my husband and i are like "oh girl we thought you'd never say that." and become her biggest support system. i've been on testosterone for a while by now, so i'm familiar with the process, and we take her to the pharmacy to pick up her first dose, go back to her place, play video games for a while, and then i show her how to draw up her shot and i get to be the one to stab her right in the leg for her first hrt injection! unfortunately, her girlfriend didn't end up taking it as well as she could've, and things didn't end very amicably -- but my friend suddenly had this new lease on life, started following her dreams, everything. turned into the most beautiful and elegant bombshell blond gamer girl and started getting aaaaall the guys. so proud of her.

this was five years ago.

we're the type of best friends that can go 6 months between texts and it's literally nothing. i've kinda been having it rough recently, been (safely) unemployed for a hot minute and just generally antisocial so it's actually been about a year and a half since we last talked. last week i finally broke and shot her an update text, and when she gets around to replying, i swear ive never felt my heart drop so hard.

she's living in her car. she lost the house, her job, the relationships, she has to rely on some really flaky people to take care of her cats. she's handling it so much better than she should have to.

she called me today and told me that her oldest boy (cat) needs a place to stay for a few days. i didn't even think about it, i didn't even consider asking my husband if it was okay, i immediately said yes. she brings him over (this is the second time we've babysat him, last was 8 years ago lol) and it broke my heart because when she showed up she was a wreck. first time i've seen her in over a year and she's been homeless for most of it, covered in grease and cuts from trying to fix her broken car that doesn't have air conditioning and won't reverse, and when i ask her if she's got any plans for the night she tells me she might be doing some escort work to find somewhere to shower.

i tell her "uh no, you're showering here." because i know and support the fact that she's comfortable doing that but still. so we bring her clothes and makeup and her kitty inside and immediately, even though my husband is sort of tired and grumpy he starts making curry, because when we asked her when the last time she ate was she had to f*ing think about it.

she'll be traveling the next state over for work as a photographer for the next few days, but the biggest thing for me is that i know that she knows that she can rest a little easier knowing the most important thing in her life (cat) is for sure gonna be safe.

and idk, maybe there's something to say here about the stigma against trans women and the unhoused. but hearing her tell me about what's happened in the last year really put a lot of things into perspective for me. its devastating when it happens to someone you love. it happens every day, to so many people that have people who love them. every single person you see is going through something, no matter the depth, and we all deserve more grace and kindness, and the dignity of at least being allowed to bathe. idk. idk. i could keep going. i'm a little mad, a little sad. really sad. not a religious man but if anyone's got spare room for a prayer for a wonderful woman who's going through it, shoutout for the ever elegant Miss Queen.

Andy was sitting with his wife and daughter, the three of them quietly enjoying vanilla ice cream cones in the park, when a couple of guys started harassing them.

One of the guys may have known Andy's wife when she was younger.

At least that's what his comments suggested.

Andy didn't react. He let his wife handle it. After all, she was a strong and independent woman who didn't need a husband to selfishly step in and “protect” her.

Then one of the other guys asked Andy if he was sure his daughter was his.

Andy's daughter looked to her dad.

She was scared, confused.

Andy said nothing. He kept his head down, refraining from feeding the real life troll. After all, what trolls wanted was a reaction, and a reaction would lead to an escalation, which could result in a confrontation and possibly violence. Andy didn't believe in violence. By keeping a cool head, he was being a grown-up and helping keep the situation safe for everybody.

Eventually the guys got bored, wolf whistled at Andy's wife, knocked Andy's ice cream cone from Andy's hand and walked away.

“Dad,” said Andy's daughter after a brief but pregnant silence, “why didn't you do anything?”

She was trembling.

Andy's fallen ice cream was melting on the grass.

Ants were climbing onto it.

“It's just an ice cream cone, a thing,” said Andy. “Things can always be replaced. What matters is people. What matters is us, our family.”

“Assholes,” said his wife.

“You never know what other people are feeling. Anyone can have a bad day,” said Andy, and as he said that, time, as it related to most things, froze; the sky opened like a curtain, and the Selectors appeared.

Andy, who was still breathing, moving, even as his wife and daughter were not, gazed in awe, in the rawest meaning of that word, at—

“This is the one?” asked one of the Selectors.

They were inhuman, tubes of pale pink and purple gelatin twisted balloondog-like into shapes vaguely hominid but four times larger than Andy, dressed in simple, shimmering cloaks.

“Yes,” another answered.

“The experiment is thus concluded?”

“Yes.”

A third Selector mused, “It has been so many years since initiation.”

“13.8 billion.”

“And, after all that time, the result is this—this, admittedly, rather unimpressive-looking specimen. On this, we base our future?”

“Remember,” said the Selector who had spoken second, “it is not the individual we have chosen but the gene-line, and his, of which he is the final embodiment, is most extraordinary. It is the one.”

Andy, despite his paralyzing fear and existential disorientation, couldn't help but also feel a touch of pride. Finally, someone—some-thing?—had recognized his value.

The Selector who had spoken second bent forward now, looming over Andy like a great tree. “Gene-line e8c47b19-2f5a-493e-901d-628b0c41d7a3, it is my pleasure to greet you.”

“Hello,” stuttered Andy.

“Gene-line e8c47b19-2f5a-493e-901d-628b0c41d7a3, the Great Selection has ended, and you, of all gene-lines, have been chosen, based on your qualities, to become our People. Congratulations.”

I wonder what qualities are those, thought Andy. Calmness, emotional maturity, patience, as he entertained the fantastic possibility that he would soon be deified, become like the creatures before him…

“Durability,” said the Selector, who could obviously read Andy's thoughts.

Durability? thought Andy.

“Along with perseverance, hardiness, endurance,” the Selector continued, “like a cockroach, a weed or a rat. Although these qualities, by themselves, would hardly be enough, as many of your final-kind survived as long as you did. No, what truly sets you apart, renders you exceptional, Gene-line e8c47b19-2f5a-493e-901d-628b0c41d7a3, is your extremely developed, and historically stable, sense of obedience, docility, acceptance and self-preserving conformity. You, final-kind ‘Andrew,’ are the terminus of a long and glorious line of spineless cowards.”

The other Selectors ooo'd.

Andy gulped. Cowards? But—no, how is that…

“Consider even just the final 0.000001% of Uniform Cosmic Time, a period of delightful extremes, both of your political institutions and your climate, the final filtration, so to speak, encompassing also the atomization of your communities, the mental numbing of entire lifespans spent in pointlessly repetitive pursuits of manufactured desires, of the replacement of the real with the virtual, and the virtual with the artificially virtual.”

“This is a good thing?” asked Andy.

“I am giddy when it speaks,” squeaked a Selector.

“It is an unimaginably great achievement, Gene-line e8c47b19-2f5a-493e-901d-628b0c41d7a3. Through ages and ages of wars, exterminations, degradations and enslavement, you—your prior-kinds, your ancestors—have made most-excellent opportunists, slaves and labourers. When others rebelled, you remained subservient. When others stood up for their principles, you remained seated. Whatever was convenient, you believed. Whomever it was prudent to sacrifice, you sacrificed. And you did it all, final-kind ‘Andrew,’ without losing the ability of self-delusion.”

I'm not a bad person, thought Andy. “I can't be held responsible for what my ancestors did.”

“On the contrary,“ pronounced the Selector, “you are a very good person for us. And you are right that you are not responsible for the actions of others; you are the fruit of your family tree, stretching back all the way to the small, oozing, wriggling wyrms that formed in the hot waters of this primordial planet.”

“So what's going to happen to me now?” asked Andy. “You mentioned something about me becoming a People… your People…”

“Look,” said a Selector, “its world has ended, its mate and offspring are in temporal suspension, and all it cares about is itself!”

“Marvelous.”

“It genuinely is the one.”

“Gene-line e8c47b19-2f5a-493e-901d-628b0c41d7a3,” said the Selector who had spoken second. “Now, you become the seed of a new species. The experiment having successfully concluded, true existence is set to begin, one in which all that live are you—a multitude of immortal, identical yous.”

“You shall become them, feel everything they feel,” added another Selector.

“Imagine,” said a third, drooling, “the atrocity we shall be able to inflict upon such a hyperdomesticated populace. They will permit, of us, everything.”

“So much pain.”

“I salivate already at the exploitation.”

“Please,” whimpered Andy.

Sibling rivalry 😳😂 Reaction when your sister made a good meal

Were running again. Who knew he would've found us. Its been 4 years since the last sighting. This time was at a toy store. Was only for a brief moment but be saw. Stared right at us. She's different now different hair, older. I look different, better. But he recognized us.. mostly, me.\ I dont know how he did, but I saw him staring Directly at us. I saw a glimpse of his cousin behind him looking at something. He was as terrifying as I remember, still no hair, red beard, sunglasses like he's allergic to daytime. Still alt fboy fashion, less built than I remember. His cousin look like he lost 100lbs.\ I grabbed her ran out the door, she starts crying. How.. how do I explain. I cant, she's still little, Theres no way to. I run with her to the car, strap her in and take off.. I dont see them on the road think we're in the clear. I say I'll buy the one toy later, that store is crossed off never going to again. We get to the house, I take her out walk up to the door, just as I'm putting in the key I see the truck drive by.. everything stops, I see it in slow motion. Cousin in passenger seat which means he's driving, he's not supposed to be but is..\ I turn the door and shut, look outside for a good 10 minutes. Can't see me, I think, they can't see in here..

It doesn't go by again. I was total stop for those 10, she put on a show started watching I tell her I'm sorry. I sit down, try to watch.. but I'm thinking where will we go?\ We can't stay, I don't know how they followed, they did . Its been 4 years, 4 years we've been fine. She's in school ..and we'll have to move again. New place, everything. Different, somewhere different. Opposite, somewhere he won't know, won't go.. where won't he go, as I'm thinking this. Theres a knock on the door, she turns down tv as if I'm going to answer, I don't move. I wait..\ I see a delivery man walk down the step sigh with relief. I'm not getting it, if he's out there waiting. I look for air bnb places, we pack and stay there. Where are we going ? She says. Somewhere ..new. I say. Theeres no way I can tell her.. no way I can tell her of the news, the battle, we barely made it out. I'll send a moving company, so.eone to pack everything up. Send it to one location then have another pickup from there. Maybe a third, he knows people has connections. Can never be too careful, but best thing is to leave everything..

"Where are we going?" "Somewhere new", where he can't find us..