I'm 24F and only just diagnosed with autism at the beginning of this year. Since then, I've started noticing things in my life that's got me essentially going, ".....huh."
For example:
I have a sister who's four years younger than me. When I was younger, and we still listened to the radio in the car instead of whatever the driver's Spotify playlist was playing, my sister would often sing along to the music from the backseat. Except she would sing the wrong lyrics every time and my little ears would pick up on her singing. It would annoy me, I would turn up the volume, but she would get louder.
Or so I thought. I didn't realize until I learned only a couple of years ago that I have auditory processing disorder and misophonia. My sister wasn't getting louder, my ears were just constantly focusing on her singing specifically because it was so different from what was on the radio, a song that most of the time I knew by heart.
Earbuds also did basically nothing for me. Granted, it was in the early 2000s, so they weren't exactly the best anyway, but I would once again constantly hear my sister singing through them while I was trying to listen to my MP3 player. I'd turn the volume, still hear her, turn it up more, and eventually, someone would tell me to turn it down because they could hear my music.
Early today (also the reason me wondering about this) my mom talking about how she started putting me in time-out as a kid when I was about 1, mainly from my aunt's insistence that I was old enough. The method was 1 minute in the corner for each age you are. 1 minute for a 1-year-old, 2 for a 2-year-old, etc. Well, according to my mom, that punishment didn't really bother me because I would just stare at the corner and not want to leave after the minute was up.
I walk on the sides of my feet, always have. ever since I was a kid. I don't know if that has to do with anything but I figured I'd mention it.
Food has always been a big one. I always hated a lot of food because it would taste off or sometimes make me weird. As a result, whenever I'm dragged to a restaurant, I always either got a cheeseburger with no onions, just a plain old grilled cheese, mac&cheese, or a pasta if one I like is available. It's gotten to the point where I know what I want before I go inside, and when someone I'm with asks if I know what I want, I just shrug and go, "the same thing I always get."

Sorry, this is kind of a long one, and I live in Texas.
I own my home (townhome) which shares a wall with the unit next to mine. For 3 years I had the BEST neighbors ever. We looked out for each other, never were loud, did food swaps etc. Then, they sold their home and an investment group bought it and is using it as a rental property.
In the course of a few weeks the new (renters) neighbors have: began construction projects at midnight twice (and one of those times literally the day after I went over to ask them to not make noise after midnight), had a group of friends on their patio screaming and hollering at 3AM, have 6 vehicles parked in the general parking area (keep in mind the townhomes are all 2 bedrooms) and the general parking area is small and supposed to be for everyone's use, and because they park 6 cars they always block the mailbox (which has resulted in several incidences of mail not being able to be delivered), and probably the worst thing is that they have the sweetest pit bull that they keep in a small cage behind their house 24/7, food and water outside the cage as well. Also, when they do let the dog out, he comes onto my patio and leaves "gifts" (poop) that they refuse to pick up, tears trash open, and terrorizes my cat who likes to sit in the window. Also, on the first night they moved in the husband and wife literally got into a fistfight in front of their house.
​
The previous tenants liked playing loud music at all hours with enough bass to vibrate pictures and decor off my bedroom wall. At least with them I could text them and tell them to turn it down and that would solve the problem for a few months before I had to remind them again.
​
I know most of that isn't probably illegal, but I'm at my wits end. I don't know what to do.

So, I overslept this morning and woke up to my wife basically shaking me out of my sleep. I had taken some meds (headache, nausea and body pains) last night that completely knocked me out and caused me to sleep through my alarms.
In my opinion, the above is what triggered the shit show that was to follow.
Because I drop my wife at work in the morning, I had a little over half an hour to get myself up, drop her off and be back at home in time for morning meeting at 8am. This usually takes me about 40 minutes, so I was a little behind and decided to forego my morning poop.
My wife, being the darling that she is, had my coffee waiting for me so I gulped it down, grabbed an orange and we headed out.
The drive to her work was longer than usual due to the fact that it was raining. I felt the familiar feeling of a fart and let it out gently, so as not to disturb the poop that laid in wait behind it.
This was no ordinary fart. It smelled of rotting potatoes with a hint of egg and an almost palpable tanginess. I tried to warn my wife of the stench that was about to violate her nose, but alas, it was too late.
She had smelt what I had dealt and immediately started to dry heave. As I rolled the windows down to let my egg salad perfume out, she vomited. At least she had the presence of mind to do so in a gift bag that had been lying in the car. About 2 minutes later, we pulled up at her work and she got out to check if she had messed on her clothing.
She was clean but my car now smelled of stomach juice and coffee. I offered to help her in and let her know that I would clean the little bit of mess that had hit the floor, seeing that this was my fault.
She disappeared into the building and I pulled out some wet wipes and got to cleaning the car, as I could not stand the smell and I still had a 20 minute drive home.
I looked for a bin to put the vomit filled gift bag in, but there was non. So I got a plastic carrier bag and sort of wrapped the everything up in it. It was secure and I was certain that it would be fine on the quick drive home.
I got into the car and started my drive home, noting that I was about 20 minutes behind. I pulled over and shot my 2IC a message to let her know I would be late and that she should run our catch up this morning.
I was about to pull away when the poop decided it would like to see the light of day. I was about 15 minutes from home and didn't think I would be able to make it. So I turned back and went to my wife's work place to relieve myself.
As I pulled up, the poop knocked on my poop door once more and I clenched as hard as I could, but ultimately, a little bit of it crossed the line and was now snuggled between the cheeks of my bum. I waddled over to the door and once inside, made a beeline to the bathroom on the 2nd floor.
As I got into the stall, I fumbled the lock and as I attempted to latch the door, the liquid slosh that was begging for release decided to make another push. This time, I could not hold it back and a warm stream of poop ran down my leg. Luckily I was wearing my thermal underwear and it caught all of the poop, so my jeans was spared. However, my undies were now an improvised poop holding device.
I started to strip and carefully took off my clean clothes but my socks, undies and vest were ruined.
I stood in the stall and wiped myself down, carefully removed the poop soaked clothing and stood there. Naked as the day I was born. Thinking about how I ended up in this situation.
My thoughts were disrupted by the stall door flying open. A man, probably about 60 years old, locked eyes with me, looked down at the poop bundle on the floor and immediately back tracked. I hurriedly cleaned up, got dressed and hoped he was gone by the time I was done. He was.
I washed myself up and folded my clothes so that no poop was visible. There were no bins in the bathroom so I decided to dispose of it outside. There were no bins outside either, as mentioned, so I chucked the poopy clothes into the vomit bag and made the difficult trip home.
Now this is generally where you would expect a story to end. But for me, this was not the end....
As mentioned, it was raining and for some reason, people forget how to drive in the rain.
I had the windows rolled down slightly to air the car and as I was getting my shit together, my cell rings. I am not in the habit of answering calls whilst driving, so I let it run to voicemail. This happened 3 more times and I decided that it was important enough to take the call.
As I looked down to answer my cell, the guy in front of me hit the brakes to avoid hitting someone else. My reaction time was good, and I managed to hit the brakes in time to avoid hitting him. However, the sudden stop caused the poopy clothes vomit bag to open and spill onto the floor of the car.
I was now driving with I can only describe as a biohazard. In terms of smell and visual, it was a disaster. I gagged and yelled at myself to hold it together.
At this point I was about 3 mins from home. I thought I could make it but literally as I pulled into the driveway, my gag reflex gave up. I vomited all over myself and the steering wheel.
I have since managed to clean the car. I've dumped all of the cursed clothes I had worn this morning and taken the day off work.
I haven't told my wife and probably won't.
Tldr; Felt shitty, took meds, overslept, pooped myself, vomited on myself and spoiled the carpet in my car.

​
#lego #adventure #xbox360 --
Lego The Hobbit For Xbox 360. If you are a big fan or not of the LEGO series, you might probably enjoy this one. Collect and build fascinating LEGO objects should be cool and fun throughout this spellbinding game. Explore the interesting places in Middle-Earth. Play as Bilbo and aid him on his unlikely quest armed with his sword. Complete dangerous missions, and play as many characters of the Hobbit movie series such as the dwarves, Gandalf The Grey, and more. Finally, experience some of the best select scenes from The Hobbit films LEGO style! --
Hey check out similar videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uKspxQ89s&list=PLVduyMnVQjzNYPljUBqwgAXdMPQ9CEKWY

Hello guys.
​
I started this year with good health and one thought: Tio start going to fitness in order to get back to my fitness body level and start feeling more active and good.
It was 24th of February and I returned from a 1 hour Gym cario session. Get a shower and with my wife started waching a movie on the TV. I was realxing and watching a fine movie and then suddenly I get cold sweats, got two extrasystoles which I felt like my hert stops and then starts two times but felt like it I had a stone for a heart. Saw my two beats in my chests - pounding.
​
Then suddenly my heart starting beating really fast - 160 - 170 BPM. Told my wife to call an ambulance, and while we're waiting for it, she took my BP with a device. The interesting part is that the device couldn't catch my current BP and Pulse. My wife told me that she could see my heart beating trough my chest. I was totally scared. My veins on the legs and on the arms became from vissible to hidden. I started breating slowly but deeply, which did not work. For almost 10 minutes I did this breathing excecise. AFter that the ambulance came and the doctors there took my Blood Sugar levels and my Blood Pressure. It turned aout that my Blood Sugar was 5.0, and my blood pressure was 160/110 with 140 pulse. They told me that I had panick attack and to calm down.
​
After they left and tehre was 5 minutes after it, I god another cold sweats and fast heart beat all over again. I felt like I'm gonna die. Called them again to get back ASAP. They did and took me into the ER. In the ER they started waching my BP and heart rate. My BP was 140/90 and my heart rate was 97 constant. They told me there that it might be due to Electrolyte Imbalance. They gave me Natrium Bromide and told me to go home and sleep it off. I did that, Slept it off, then the next morning I get up normally, made myself a coffee and got to the POC because my word is stationary. Then suddenly, my stomach felt like it is swallowing itsleft and then cold feet and hands, and then again another high BP and pulse episode. Called EMS and they told me that if I didn't have chest pains, left or roight shoulder pain or numbness and neck or jaw pain and numbness I had panick attack and to calm down. But I was not satisfied with that. So in the same moment I made an appointment with Cardiologist.
​
Got to the Cardiologist which put me trough EKG, listened to my heart, saw it under Echocardiogram and told me that nothing wrong with my heart. But prescrobed me Nebivolol of 5 miligrams one tablet per day for a week because of my high blood pressure. Nebivolol made my life sucks more and I stopped it after taking it for 2 days. I couldn't deal with it more. Then these apisodes came back with full steam. Started managing it with Yogurt and cinnamon, but it was not enough. Made anotehr apointmet to another cardiologist for second opinion. The second Docotr, told me that it was I was obese, but my heart was very healthy. I didn't belive that. Also hse told me to take blood tests. I did it and all my blood tests was very good.
She advised me to perfor 10 KM per day at minimum and to lose 10 KG in three months. I did take this advise serously but she didn;t prescribed anything only that I can continue taking yougurt with cinnamon to control my BP. I was not satisifed, because it wasn't a solutuion nor a cure for me. It happened again. They I made an apointment to another Cardiologist. He took EKG but while taking it, I was having panic attack or anxiety attack one of these, and my heart rate was 94 and my BP was 140/90. On the EKG he saw VT displacement and told me to go for Coronography. I was stunned and shoked at first and my BP and pusle got to the roof. Again I was not satisfied.
Then I started to search for the best Cardiologinst in the town and stumble accros it in a Forum where people with really bad heart conditions started to recover from him. Called him and made an appointment. When I got to his office with all my EKGs, Heart Echoes and blood work results, he told me that he saw a really healthy heart and nothing to worry about. For the EKG that showed VT displacement a bit, he told me that this could happen during panick or anxiety attack.
​
He put me on EKG and did these test:
- Normal ekg while I was breathing normally. Showed the same thing. He told me that this is not correct and told me to take deep breath and hold it for t least 30cseconds while he will take another EKG to exclude any heart damage or issues.
- After taking deep breath for 30 secs, my pulse from 95 dropped to 65, and all my EKG was normal without any displacement and any of that shit. He told me that most doctors doesn't bother to do it, because either they don't have the necessary experience or they don't care.
​
Took echo of my heart, my blood vessels, kidneys, liver and arteries. Told me tah teverything is good. And I get panick attacks from the gases that are in my colon, which displace my diaphragm and which in turn displaces my heart. I get extrasystoles and then sudden panick attacks. Prescribed me Concor of 5mg to taking it morning and night by 2x 2.5mg for 15 days, and then 2,5mg for another 15 days and then to throw it away. I did that. No more High BP, ocasionally extrasystoles but when I ate or I feel full and bent over or duck. No more high pusle. I was relieved, very relieved.
​
After this month I decided to stop it as the doctor told me. After 1 week the symthoms got back. Started taking it again only 2,5mg per day. Symthoms managed. Now I am at a crossroad here. Almost every doctor tells me that my heart is good and healthy, there is no heart conditions at all. I started walking and taking medications for my gas issues. Also I turned to the EASTERN MEDICINE (Chinese Medicine) Acupuncture. Today I treid again for almost 5 days I felt good until today which another episode. And I feel again like shit.Heart rate 115-120, couldn't take BP because I was outside and it was really hot (It is summer) and I was in sweat everywehre on my body because of the hot weather. I get back home without feeling my heart rate at all. Got to the bathroom and did my job there, and then BAM -> extrasystole two times. N high pulse more than 120bpm but still it's not good. Took Concor 2,.5mg and my symptoms got away after 10-15 minutes.
​
I need and advise now: To start check for General Panic Disorder or another appoinmtment with my last Cardiologist who was the best at least for me or to look for another dcotor. I am taking also magnesium 500 mg per day as supplement.
​
Thank you guys for your support here!
Much appreciated!

Well the woe is just the price. I have 5 Fridays in a row mixing cover bands (not my chosen career, but so it goes) in a venue that is finally switching back to live music after 3 years of covid-induced DJ entertainment.
FOH mixer is an SC48. I went in to prep the stage and mixer before the first night, as this month is just a trial to see how the punters spend their money when confronted with real live musical acts and energy, and I would like everything to go smoothly.
After being so used to remote control for stage monitors from FOH, I am truly bummed at the situation with AVID consoles. I found V-Remote on the Apple app store (breaks my heart that I had to buy an ipad just for times like this, Android user that I am) and it costs $50 in kangaroo money. Woah nelly.
As a Mixing Station user from the very start, I am taken aback. But, I can see why. Development would have been a pain, because AVID consoles by their very nature apparently prevent remote access to parameter values for channels and FX and whatnot. The developer states in his documentation that the app actually uses OCR and pixel recognition on the remotely accessed display to determine a lot of the channel information.
But 50 dollerydoos. $10 a mix, to be able to hear the wedges as I turn the vocal up in them during soundcheck. I doubt I'll ever see a live SC48 or Profile in the wild again outside of this venue.
Deary deary me. That's 4 pints of cold beer I'll never be able to buy. Yes, beer in this town is also a ridiculous price.
There's no demo mode in V-Remote, and I haven't managed to get it connected to the offline software, so tomorrow night will be a voyage of discovery.
If anyone is familar with the V-Remote software and has some tips, tricks and downfalls to beware of, I am all ears. I can't imagine it's being used a lot anymore, considering the last software update for the actual mixer was 2012 and it's no longer officially supported by AVID.

Why casting both a black and white actor to portray Michael Jackson would be considered racist.
It's two different actors for different eras of his life, unfortunately history as we know it Michael turned paler because of his Vitiligo condition, he was still in his blood a black man, but on the outside he looked like a pale white man.
How do you portray his life?

My partner and I just announced our engagement to our families. The reaction of my partner's family was everything we hoped for, very happy for us and congratuled us. On the other hand, my family's reaction was practically non-existent. I have 4 siblings and only my sister congratulated us. The others just went on a rant on how it's unacceptable, we didn't warn them beforehand so my partner could ask my hand in marriage, it is too soon, I'm abandoning them for my in-laws...
I feel sad and angry but not so surprised. I grew up in a toxic environment with an abusive father and everyone is enabling his behaviour. I'm NC with him since I move out, but all of them keep talking down on me to move out and going NC with him. They've always been like this, but I had hope they would at least make the effort to celebrate this milestone with us. Now, I'm questioning if I want a ceremony or we should just elope, or if I want to invite them or just have a courthouse wedding.
Something that should've been a happy moment for me just turned so bitter.

I have never played a diablo game. However, I think number 4 looks good. Do I need to play the other games. Should I not buy 4 at all as it won't be new player friendly? Can I play this on my own or should I get my friends to buy it too? Any advice is appreciated.

My ex-fiancé , m/31 living in Miami ghosted me after i went back to my home country. We were living together for 8 months(on and off) and been together since 2016. His family said he’s too depressed to talk or continue relationship with me because his greencard application got denied. I waited for for 5 months and i wanted to support him through this ‘difficult time’ . Then a friend in Miami, did some investigation on him. Turns out he had done a sham marriage (2019). But the application for visa(I-130) got denied because they couldn’t establish a clean case. He was alluring 3 more girls at the time he was in relationship with me. And he married again, again a sham marriage, same profile in April 2023. His whole family is involved in this operation. After more digging because i was curious whey he’s so desperate to live in US, i found out that they are involved in money laundering from our home country to Miami. There are a lot of people involved in this (US citizens, people from his home country living illegally)
He has been living illegally since 2019. In December 2022 he was asked to deport back to his country for living illegally and denied any appeal.
I have photographs, paperwork, rejection letters, sceenshots of conversations. And i am collecting more evidence against him.
How can i report him & get him deported. He’s a shame to my homeland.

As the title says. 2012 was an extremely stressful year for me with US immigration. By Dec 2012, I had gained weight and I missed 1 period. I was told that my insulin was high, i had some hirsutism and that I had PCOS. No imaging studies or ultrasound, just a male endocrinologist and one lab draw. I was immediately put on the highest dose of 2000mg metformin which I had to take 4 times a day at 500mg because the 1000mg pill was too harsh on my stomach. The past few years have been increasingly hard for me to manage my condition despite researching so much about the condition. The PCOS diet wasn't working, master cleanse for 30 days would give me 2-3 months relief from GI and weight issues, the supplements barely helped (trust me, I have tried every herb and supplement listed in research to help with PCOS) . I tried spirolactone with no success. My hirsutism was always limited to 2-3 bumps along the jawline. A few supplements for inflammation helped. I was increasingly sensitive to every type of food and tried histamine intolerance diet. I saw an allergist, GI specialist, endocrinologist. I even had a colonoscopy/endoscopy and work-up for celiac disease (negative but some wheat intolerance). My sister paid for food sensitivities testing, and I adjusted my diet (turns out my #1/2 sensitivities were carrots and horseradish...odd, but good info). I was still having post prandial extreme bloating and started to feel sick in the mornings and I couldn't get out of bed. I tried antidepressants, but I kept feeling like it was an organic/physical depression. I gained 60lbs in 6 months. I couldn't sleep, my long time insomnia got worse and worse. I started to experience eyelid swelling, centripetal obesity, moon face. I suspected adrenal insufficiency and started to take melatonin and vitamin d as a remedy for histamine intolerance - with this I could sleep 2-3 hrs max. I felt like I was swelling up like Violet in Willy Wonka. I tried to see my endocrinologist but after a few years of no success and insurance rejecting Ozempic it seemed like she wanted nothing to do with me.
I woke up end of April one morning and my first thought was "I feel like I'm going to die today if I don't get some help". I slowly got myself together, called my mom to come with me and finally went to urgent care with her because of my eyelid swelling. I didn't know what else to do. A doctor there who usually works emergency looked at me and suggested a differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. He said he felt helpless because he couldn't do the workup he wanted at urgent care - but he listened to me. I cried. My testosterone had always tested normal and my AMH was slightly better than ideal for my age (I started my fertility consultation in the fall). Cushing's made perfect sense.
I got an ambulatory referral from him to endocrinology and a new list of specialists. I saw one 2 days later. I changed my diet and supplement routine to Cushing's/cortisol diet and finally no bloating, constipation and my energy returned. I finally lost weight naturally without resorting to extreme methods. I started drinking carbonated water after watching a Dr. Berg video on it and it had potassium chloride and I had extreme diuresis for 2-3 days and puffiness went away. I looked in the mirror and for the first time I didn't have any eye bags. Cortisol creates metabolic alkalosis and edema (where sodium goes, water follows) so sodium-free carbonated water has helped so much in balancing out the edema. Increasing my calcium (fresh cheese only -ricotta) and potassium intake has helped as well. Pomegranate, Garlic, Horsetail, and Stinging Nettle too. I have a list, and I have started to slowly reintegrate some foods. I no longer struggle to process gluten. My sleep is slowly improving. Now that I know the signs of the cortisol spikes (eyelid edema, insomnia etc) I can manage it better. My hirsutism has gone away - still some scars from the repeated inflammation but they are totally flat - not one inflammed follicle. My hair has grown back (I was having androgenic alopecia and had 2-3 bald spots).
Since then, I've had a pelvic abdominal CT, more extensive lab work finally done, and transvaginal ultrasound. I was cleared of PCOS this morning by my new primary care doctor who is amazing and old-school. He told me that I will taper off metformin for the next month or two (I had already kind of started to not take it) and that 10 years of hypoglycemic episodes from the medication likely caused my adrenals to finally quit and protest which is why cortisol took over and it looks like Cushing's - my body was and is sensitive to stress. I'm still getting some additional testing to rule out sleep issues.
I feel like I finally have my life back. Misdiagnosis sucks and I'm still obviously processing everything. I desperately want to lose this weight I've gained but I'm trying to be compassionate towards myself - healing is not linear and recovery will take time.
I know there's a bigger reason to why my path was so hard. I will still hang around and try to offer tips where I can as the androgenic aspect of stresses out adrenal glands was the same as having PCOS. Cushing's/cortisol-dominance and PCOS/estrogen-dominance are hard to differentiate and I am still working through the nuances but I've found some things that work.
Hopefully this story/vent will help you think carefully about your symptoms and empower you to keep pushing forward until you experience the relief and medical responsiveness we all deserve.
TLDR - misdiagnosed with PCOS. If you take anything from this, please let it be the following:

1. Get a second medical opinion.
2. Listen to your body, if nothing is working it may be a sign too. It doesn't always mean you're failing to manage your health. Don't internalize it that way.
3. Doctors are not gods. They don't like to feel helpless but admitting that they don't know the answers may be the first step towards getting healthy - only stick with one that looks you in the eyes and listens.
4. Don't quit. It took me finding a thousand ways that didn't work before landing on misdiagnosis - but the knowledge I've gained from research I hope to help others with someday (I am in my PhD but decided I definitely want to finish my MD that I started as well/transfer to that program).

I think this will be THE solution.
Men probably will swipe right once every day on most women anyways.
Women will be getting 1/1000 of the matches that they get today. This will help with two things: if you have less options to choose from, it is easier to make decisions, secondly, if women don't get matches with every guy, they'll lower their expectations
supply demand....

Hello, everyone!! We hope you're having fun with NieR Re[in]carnation!
This thread is to have a place where you can easily come in and post all your questions about the game. If you're looking for advice on your loadout, suggestions on whether it's worth it to continue rolling for that pesky 4* that the game just won't give you, this is the place to ask!

• Please remember to be polite!
• Patience is much appreciated; let's help each other out!

Megathreads:

• Gacha Megathread

General guides about the game:

• Subreddit Wiki with guides and various info is now up.
• Nier Re[in] fansite for more info about the game.
• Costumes/Weapons Database credits to u/SHINYnamazu

Please use this thread for easy-to-answer questions that don't spark a discussion. Thank you.

I have a compost pile in the woods which is relatively pretty far from my house and I’ve found termites in my pile, it’s something like a cold compost Bcs I just dump all my leaves and whatever I find laying around while I’m doing work and letting it decompose by itself, although I do turn the pile sometimes. Will termites be beneficial to my compost pile or will they have a negative effect on it?

<< Previous Index Next >> (ToC at Chapter 1)
(Original, Contemporary MC in supernatural setting, Magic, Afterlives, Souls)
Schedule: New chapters every Monday and Thursday.

Chapter 8

People became more active and gathered at the building to the left of the Pillar. It didn't look dangerous or too heated, so I joined them.
A young woman was standing on the steps of what could've once been a temple. She was young and had straight black hair and plain, neutral features.
She was standing on the steps, hands pressed together in prayer, her eyes closed, softly carrying a high note in an imitation of a choir, bathed in the pervasive supernatural white light of the place. It looked like a picturesque scene out of a fairy tale. But unfortunately, the illusion was broken by her attire. She didn't wear footwear and was grabbed in a mishmash of gray sweatpants and a cashier's blue vest. It was surreal.
"What is she doing?" I asked an old lady standing nearby.
"Hell, if I know," she spat. "People going crazier by the hour."
I continued to watch with interest. Heck, I expected people to start praying to God and losing their minds much sooner than this. Where were all the hardcore Christian wackos Moeta was so famous for? Where were the cries to repent or face the rupture?
Another girl came up from behind the singer. She was shorter and had red hair. She was carrying something smoldering in her hands, moving in nervous jerky moves, her face red with embarrassment.
The crowd responded with chuckles and jeers.
She made three circles around the singer, tripping slightly on the steps, then held her hands above the brunette's head and let the smoke cascade on her in a waterfall.
The singing girl let the melody slowly die out and then started to pace on the temple's steps while her helper retreated inside.
"We humbly thank the Goddess for the new day and ask her for the strength to bear the difficulties it will bring," she said in a clear preachy tone.
I wasn't the only one that looked around in confusion. What could indicate this new day? The surroundings were unchanged, nobody wore a watch, and there wasn't the slightest sign of sunlight. If she was starting a cult, telling a bunch of confused people what day it was, and being the only authority on the matter was not a bad idea on her part. I could smell the brewing con from a mile away.
I made a mental note to ask about this Goddess if I ever needed anything from her. Preachy people love to talk about their imaginary friends.
On second thought, I should add divine intervention to the list of possible explanations for the situation.
Meanwhile, the preacher transitioned from the impromptu ceremony right into a presentation.
"At this point, everyone here is aware of the dangers posed to us by the ghouls," she presented. "Many must have noticed that we are no longer able to sleep and fully rest and restore our spiritual energy."
The crowd's response was muted. Everyone was waiting for her to continue.
"Here At the Western Temple, we extend a warm welcome to all. We provide Healing and Restoration in exchange for the ghoul bodies."
It looked like she was also calling the cardinal directions now and selling snake oil.
This proclamation was met with incredulous cries from the assembled people.
She waved in someone from the crowd. Then, several seconds later, she tried again more impatiently.
The familiar hulking form of Victor grudgingly made his way towards her, stepping slower than necessary.
He faced the crowd and cleared his throat, waiting for the noise to die.
"Yeah, she fixed me up real good," he showed his hands and ruined clothes with what appeared to be unbroken skin, even patting it firmly several times to show that he was unhurt. "And I do feel rested like I had a good night's sleep, so she ain't lying about that."
The crowd exploded at the impossible admission, demanding more proof or calling them liars. Victor's words were enough for some as they shouted and appealed for her miraculous healing.
She lifted her chin smugly at his admission.
"I'm assembling a group to hunt those things—those ghouls," Victor sounded the world in distaste. "If you wanna join, come find me, and we'll discuss it," he finished resolutely and moved back down the steps.
"As I was saying," she continued her spiel. "Taking care of the ghouls will help all of us, but I will need their bodies to treat you," she made a sad expression that rang false to me. "Without it, I won't be able to help. As much as I would like to do that."
Officer Douglas finally deigned to join the masses. A group of followers surrounded him.
"No going on unauthorized hunts. I don't wanna hear about it," he shouted. "We need to work together and keep building the ramp. If anyone is rearing for a fight, they can stand on guard duty and help everyone here."
He angrily stomped to the girl, and they started arguing, their words inaudible over the ruckus of the crowd.

***

I looked for Victor's recognizable workwear through the crowd and caught up to him.
"Hey Victor, wait up," I called.
"Ah," he recognized me, trying to recall my name.
"It's Nate," I supplied, remembering I didn't introduce myself.
"What did ya think of the show, Nate?" He asked conversely.
"Got me interested," I answered truthfully. "Did she really heal you?"
"I think I'm gonna get that question a lot," he smirked. "Yeah, she did."
He shimmied out of the upper half of his overalls and lowered it to his waist, tying the sleeves around himself in a makeshift belt. The white shirt that was visible now was dirty—brown in places where the blood dried up. He put a finger through the tears in the fabric and moved it around, demonstrating the harm. His skin, on the other hand, was unblemished. Not even a red mark or a scar remained.
I could see Kenny coming up from the side, joining our conversation.
Was he healed the same way my tooth was removed, Kenny's eyesight, and our skin? I could barely believe it, even though it was staring me in the face. I had seen his wounds before, and they were real. And now I saw him healed—and that was also real. Both facts could barely coexist at the same time in my mind.
"How did it happen?" I asked in awe. "How did she do it?"
It was real. This was it. The advantage I was looking for. Even if it doesn't get me closer to understanding where we were or how we got here, she must have found something that enabled her to understand and use the rules this place was operating under.
The cheat codes.
"I don't know," Victor shrugged his shoulders. "She just did."
"But can you describe it?" I pressed. "In detail? What did she say or do? How long did it take?"
"Well..." Victor delayed, "She said she was a witch."
"A witch?" I repeated after him. I looked at Kenny. Was I hearing it right?
"People wanted to lynch a guy because he was Mexican, and she's openly calling herself a witch now?"
"Yeah, well, I don't care if she calls herself a leprechaun," Victor retorted. "As long as we can work together, and I need her, she can call herself whatever she wants."
"That's... brave of her," I hedged.
I believe Kenny intuited by now my stance on this kind of bravery.
"Yeah, so she told me that they took my ghoul, and she wanted to offer me her healing," he continued. "I thought she was a nurse or something. I didn't think she meant thoughts and prayers," he joked.
"I came with her to her temple, we talked for a bit, then she put her hands on me and prayed or cast a spell or something, and I was all healed up. Wasn't even tired no more, like I never missed a night's sleep."
"What did you talk about?" Kenny piped in for the first time.
"She asked me if I am willing to receive a blessing," he recounted. "Ahem. If I would 'receive a blessing to heal my body and mind,'" He sounded awkward as he recited it. "I wanted to go out right there, but she told me it was the only thing required of me, and we would be done in a minute," he defended.
He looked even more embarrassed.
"She spat on her hand and used it to draw on me." He pointed to his chest near the tears in his shirt. "It was this symbol, the one that looks like a cross. The Egyptian one, with the loop."
"An Ankh?" Kenny supplied.
"Yeah, sure, one of those," Victor agreed. "Then she leaned in, whispered to the symbol, and I couldn't hear what she was saying," he thought for a moment. "It looked crazy, but it's a good thing I didn't bolt. Just like that, it worked," he snapped his fingers.
"So, some magical spit, and a symbol, that's it?" I asked.
"It was in the temple, required consent, Ankh with spit and blood, then touch and some words," Kenny reiterated dutifully.
He was much better than me accepting all of this mumbo jumbo, but if it works, I need it to work for me. So I needed to take everything seriously, even the ridiculous parts.
I didn't care how impossible it was; I was going to make use of whatever dream logic governed this place.
"How long was it?" I asked.
"She didn't lie when she told me it would only take a minute. It really was that fast," Victor said.
I shook my head in disbelief. It takes weeks for something like this to heal and months or years for the scars to fade. If they ever do. The impossibilities kept mounting.
"Was she holding anything?" I tried to rack my brain. "A wand?"
"No, nothing I could see," he replied.
"What about the Goddess?" Kenny asked. "Did she say anything about that?"
"I don't think so," Victor tried to remember. "I think she said there were three Goddesses, but I don't remember her saying any names."
Victor looked thoughtful.
"She did just say that she needs the ghouls to do it, but I didn't see her near the thing. It wasn't anywhere I could see it." Victor said.
"Thank you, Victor," I said sincerely, turning to walk away. "I'll return the favor."
He just waved it away, mumbling something about it not being of any good to me.
We had to test it as soon as possible. How long could we go without sleep? Days, probably. While I didn't feel hungry or physically weakened, I did feel the first signs of sleep deprivation. So I had to try taking care of it without going out, risking my life just for some make-believe witch to claim the spoils.

I (28f) entered the university in 2012 and have been in and out of it since then. Last year I was forced to re-enter university by my dad. I told my dad I was sure I won't make it and that it's too tough for me. But he insisted. I thought like ok I will try if I will have a little classes left to study.
Turned out I had to pass just few classes. So I re-entered. I think it was a big mistake. My life turned to hell again. Battling with adhd everyday. Severe procrastination, anxiety. The year of hell.
I failed 1 class in the 1st semester. And failed it again in the 2nd semester. And I'm sitting rn at university and they said if I had come a week earlier, they would have been able to help me pass. But the grades have already been released, and they cannot do anything now. I had just one job... Study this mthfkn class or at least come a week earlier. But I was too afraid. And postponed it. And now I failed again.
I had just 4 things to do this academic year. And I did only 2.
Now I can pass this class in summer semester during 1 month. Then I need to defend my diploma project in December.
But I feel so crashed. If only I came a week earlier! This buffles me the most. Now my stress and anxiety are prolonged till December. Well a month in summer. But I need to complete my diploma project and I will be battling with it till December.
I don't have any power and hope left in me. I don't want to do this again... But so little is left...