In January 2023 I matched with someone on Tinder who lives on the other side of the country. Back in January, he had let me know that he was coincidentally going to be visiting my side of the planet in May 2023 to see his old friends, and while he wouldn't be in my town specifically, he would like to come and meet me.
By May 2023, we still kept talking and enjoying getting to know each other. Then, the NIGHT before we were going to meet, like at 11pm the night before, he told me he needed to cancel..... Because apparently he was "kinda seeing someone" (eyeroll at how he said "kinda"), and they never discussed exclusivity- he thought they weren't exclusive, but she did. So, he had to cancel seeing me. I told him that it's best if we just don't speak anymore until he gets his situation sorted out, and that if he ever wanted to reach out to me, he knows where I live, and he knows how to find me etc, but going forward I just don't want him to message me anymore.
I then kinda caved in a few days later and asked him if he resolved his situation and could see me before he left my area (now further away from my town, but still very doable as a day trip). He didn't answer that message.
It's been 2 weeks since I have been left on seen by him.
I miss talking to him a lot. I feel really sad that this was all his dumb idea anyways for the last 5 months.
What do I do? I hope this doesn't sound stupid, but at my grown age of 28 years old, I did feel like we could've been very serious relationship partners. Like, to put it in context, I enjoyed talking to this person for 5 months. So, since I asked him to not talk to me anymore, is it okay if I then initiate a message like "hey, I miss talking to you", or is that very self deprecating and embarrassing to my self worth to do?
Also, no, he is not a catfish- I have video called with him before, and I also looked him up online. Everything I found online matches up with what he said about himself- hometown, careecertifications, etc. I genuinely believe he did cancel on me because he never had a talk or an agreement with his current partner (that I didn't know about until then).
TL;DR- I have no idea if it's a low self esteem move to reach out to someone who flaked on me.

So over the summer I (22F) managed to get a job at a dude ranch/resort in the Middle of the country side. I’m a server and I work with 8 other people who are around my age. I honestly love my job and the people that I work with, the thing is I have struggled to make friends for the three weeks I’ve been here.
There are about 70 of us working here and since we are pretty far away from any towns or city’s the majority of us live in property. They provide us with food at a dinning hall and each us have a building we live in.
The first issue I’m having is that the ladies I live with are quite a bit older than me. They are the massage ladies at the resort. They seem nice enough but we just really don’t have much in common.
This also makes me feel quite secluded from the kids my age. I feel like I don’t know what’s going on as the ladies I live with don’t exactly go out and do the stuff on the ranch.
The other issue I’m having I that I mainly work with guys my age. I get Along with them pretty well at work, but I’m terrified to ask to come along with them on hiking trips or trips to town as I don’t want to make them uncomfortable or feel like I might want something more than a friendship.
I feel at a loss here because I hear all my coworkers talking about the things their doing, but I just go home and play video games. It makes me feel like a loser. I was hoping this summer I would be able to go hiking, swimming horseback riding ect. Instead I spend my nights at home alone.
My mom says that I need to put my self into situations where I can talk to them outside of work but my only option for that is sitting in the dinning hall, and I have a feeling I’ll just end up sitting in my own. I’m at a loss as to what I should do. Any advice as to what I should do would be much appreciated!!

The Farmers have decisively named their Presidential nominee, Al Gore. Webb met his loss with magnanimity, smiling as he shook hands with his fellow Senator. In a short but sweet acceptance speech, Gore said, among other things, "I have my vision. It's comprehensive and sweeping. I've traveled to every part of this country during the last six years. And during my service in Congress, I have always taken the initiative. And I will take the initiative here in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection."
It's now time for the Vice Presidential nomination. It's time for the candidates to make their case...

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana

Despite coming in third out of three in the Presidential nomination race, Landrieu still keeps in the race as a possible Vice Presidential nominee. She would be the first female Vice President in Confederate history if Gore wins the election (though some history buffs joke she would be the second, referencing First Lady Edith Wilson). Her moderate reputation is solid, and she could lock up the female vote. Plus, if Louisiana's vote in this election was ever in doubt, it wouldn't be going forward.
That's the thing, however. Louisiana, and the broader Deep South, are near-guaranteed to vote for the Farmers this election. There's also still the question of Landrieu's relative social conservatism, which could cause problems in the minority votes, not the least of which being the black vote. But then again, if not the Farmers, who would win the black vote?

Senator James Webb of Virginia

Although he couldn't clinch the nomination this time, some still think James Webb would make an excellent Vice President. Webb is certainly unique in that he's a Farmers Party Senator from the infamously conservative Virginia, and could lock down the Dominion State, which hasn't voted for a Farmers candidate in its history. He also brings a hard-hitting and straight-talking persona which might contrast well with Gore.
But as mentioned before, Webb walks a fine line between a fighter and a strongman. His previous Vice Presidency may also have him being seen as damaged goods. Even Webb himself seems less than enthusiastic about being the Vice Presidential nominee another time, despite his endorsement of Gore.

Governor Dexter King of Georgia

An unorthodox choice would be to choose the highly controversial, newly-minted Governor of Georgia, Dexter King. The son of the former revolutionary leader Martin Luther King Jr., who is infamous for his leadership role in the New Afrika Insurrection in the 60s, King ascended to the Governorship of his native Georgia in what was termed "The Savannah Miracle," becoming the Confederacy's first-ever black Governor, even amidst cries that King cheated somehow. King has many times over denounced his father's violent actions back in the 60s, and did attend and speak at the 50th anniversary of the Centennial Incident. He makes for a very "high risk, high reward" choice for the Vice Presidency, guaranteeing the black vote nationwide and possibly sealing the deal in Georgia, if the Farmers are lucky.
But, even looking past his controversial arrival to the office of Governor and his family, King has a few problems. First, and perhaps foremost, is that he's only just become Governor, and has held no prior political office. He was formerly the President of a non-profit, but his actions as President were suspect, slashing the staff to bare minimum at a bad time and having a falling-out with even his own family over the matter. And even looking past that, the disastrous 1994 election, the last time the Farmers ran a black Vice Presidential candidate, is still in the back of the Party's minds. Gore himself is even nervous about the prospect of having the controversial Governor on his ticket.

Fmr. Secretary of State for Internal Affairs Hodding Carter III of North Carolina

A Vice Presidential option that has a surprising amount of support is that of another former Carter cabinet member, alongside James Webb. Hodding Carter III (no relation to the former President Carter) has been President of a non-profit committed to the arts and journalism since 1998, but has reentered politics at the request of Webb. In general, Carter appeals to old Farmers who have since voted for the Populists and Dixiecrats, and they might come back to the fold with a former Carter cabinet member. He could also appeal to both Florida and North Carolina which, when put together with the expected Farmer victories in the Deep South, would make the election a slam dunk.
But Carter is an unexciting choice. For one thing, he's been out of politics for over 20 years now. And even if that weren't the case, he's getting rather long in the tooth at the age of 77. And if he can't help carry North Carolina or Florida, then he does little else. He's also not particularly interested in the Vice Presidency, having only put his name forward because an old friend, James Webb, asked him to.

John Wolfe Jr. of Tennessee

A relative unknown candidate from Tennessee, businessman (and perennial political candidate) John Wolfe Jr. could potentially appeal to the pro-business wing of the Farmers which, although few in number, are not exactly thrilled at Gore's nomination. His appeal is mostly on the economic front, pushing for the use of antitrust laws and having the national Treasury department sponsor an "alternate" Treasury Reserve to loan out money to small businesses and individuals, arguing that the current system only benefits the major banks. He enjoys a small but noticeable degree of popularity in Missouri and Louisiana as well, and if Missouri can be turned green, that would be a large win.
But Wolfe would have the Farmers putting all their eggs in the Tennessee basket, and there's not much reason to do so. Wolfe is also well to the left of Party orthodoxy, going so far as to push for national government-sponsored single-payer healthcare, the constitutionality of which is... debatable at the very best. Wolfe and Gore are also rumored to really dislike each-other, and it's imperative that the Farmers put forward a united front to win.
The options have been presented, the candidates have made their speeches, who will Al Gore be campaigning with this election season?
View Poll

American here (31M, Los Angeles). Just got back from a 2.5-week solo trip to Germany. This was my first visit there, so I wanted to share my experience.
I stayed in the following cities:

• Frankfurt - Amazing skyline, loved viewing it from green spaces throughout the city. The Messeturm, Commerzbank, and St. Bartholomew's Cathedral were my favorite sights.
• Tübingen - Beautiful, brightly-colored medieval buildings. Surprising amount of graffiti, which seemed to clash with the character of the city. But the Neckar Riverfront is lovely to walk along.
• Munich - Gorgeous city. Lively, yet well-kept. I was in a good mood the whole time here. The Residenz Palace and Theatine Church are incredible.
• Nuremberg - Absolutely fascinating place. Well-preserved old town and excellent museums (Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nazi Documentation Center, Nuremberg Trials Memoriam).
• Dresden - The most elegant city. Truly breathtaking architecture (Frauenkirche, Royal Palace, Academy of Fine Arts, etc.). Especially impressive so much of it was rebuilt after WWII destruction.
• Berlin - So unique with so much to enjoy. Reichstag, Fernsehturm, Museum Island (Pergamon and Neues), Charlottenburg, the Wall memorials, East Side Gallery, etc. I can see why Berlin is so beloved.

I also took day trips to the following places:

• Mainz - Very charming and relaxing break from the bigger cities. So many pretty churches, especially the Mainzer Dom, the Christuskirche, and St. Peter's.
• Hohenzollern Castle - Delightful, really cool variety of turrets and towers. Great brown and blue-gray exterior, and more attractive interior than expected.
• Neuschwanstein Castle - A dream. The castle has a great design, and the setting in the Bavarian Alps is spectacular. The interior was surprising, but a fun look into the mind of Ludwig II.

Some general thoughts:

• German people are very friendly, about equal to the French in my experience (I visited France last year). Germans' energy feel more similar to Americans than the French, however.
• English is not as widely spoken as expected. This was generally a non-issue, as most people were helpful and willing to try their best English when I struggled with my German. Younger Germans seem more confident with their English than older Germans do.
• Despite the above, 93% of music played in public was English-language (Lady Gaga, The Offspring, R.E.M., etc.).
• German food is very good, if a bit repetitive (so much pork and potatoes!). The Franconian sausage is my favorite main dish, and the Mandelrolle is my favorite pastry.
• German beer is great too. Augustiner Edelstoff is my favorite. Ayinger Bräuweisse and Augustiner Lagerbier Hell are also good.
• Public transport in every city is fantastic! Rules are a bit inconsistent and confusing though. Example: In Munich, a ticket I bought for the U-Bahn in the city center required validation, but a ticket I bought for the S-Bahn at Leuchtenbergring station was too big for the validation machine. The latter ticket didn't require validation, but I didn't know that until I asked a German for help.
• Deutsche Bahn train system between cities is generally good, but more delays than I expected.
• Despite May temperatures in Germany being roughly the same as France last October, German apartments get much warmer at night.
• If Germany doesn't do air conditioning and you're expected to keep windows open, why no screens to keep out bugs? So many mosquitos, moths, and gnats...
• Smoking shockingly common, especially among young people.
• I respect the frequent bike usage and got used to the bike lanes. But bikes zooming through public squares and such made me jump several times.
• I have never seen more construction in my life.
• As a gay guy, Frankfurt and Berlin have the hottest men. Dresden's pretty good too.
• Germany is a verdant and beautiful country. Loved the mountains and farms of Barvaria, the hills of Saxony, the castles along the Rhine Valley, and the copious amount of parks and green space.

Overall, I had a great trip! Very glad I got to explore Germany and would love to see more of it (Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, etc.). Thank you for making an American feel welcome!

American here (31M, Los Angeles). Just got back from a 2.5-week solo trip to Germany. This was my first visit there, so I wanted to share my experience.
I stayed in the following cities:

• Frankfurt - Amazing skyline, loved viewing it from green spaces throughout the city. The Messeturm, Commerzbank, and St. Bartholomew's Cathedral were my favorite sights.
• Tübingen - Beautiful, brightly-colored medieval buildings. Surprising amount of graffiti, which seemed to clash with the character of the city. But the Neckar Riverfront is lovely to walk along.
• Munich - Gorgeous city. Lively, yet well-kept. I was in a good mood the whole time here. The Residenz Palace and Theatine Church are incredible.
• Nuremberg - Absolutely fascinating place. Well-preserved old town and excellent museums (Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nazi Documentation Center, Nuremberg Trials Memoriam).
• Dresden - The most elegant city. Truly breathtaking architecture (Frauenkirche, Royal Palace, Academy of Fine Arts, etc.). Especially impressive so much of it was rebuilt after WWII destruction.
• Berlin - So unique with so much to enjoy. Reichstag, Fernsehturm, Museum Island (Pergamon and Neues), Charlottenburg, the Wall memorials, East Side Gallery, etc. I can see why Berlin is so beloved.

I also took day trips to the following places:

• Mainz - Very charming and relaxing break from the bigger cities. So many pretty churches, especially the Mainzer Dom, the Christuskirche, and St. Peter's.
• Hohenzollern Castle - Delightful, really cool variety of turrets and towers. Great brown and blue-gray exterior, and more attractive interior than expected.
• Neuschwanstein Castle - A dream. The castle has a great design, and the setting in the Bavarian Alps is spectacular. The interior was surprising, but a fun look into the mind of Ludwig II.

Some general thoughts:

• German people are very friendly, about equal to the French in my experience (I visited France last year). Germans' energy feel more similar to Americans than the French, however.
• English is not as widely spoken as expected. This was generally a non-issue, as most people were helpful and willing to try their best English when I struggled with my German. Younger Germans seem more confident with their English than older Germans do.
• Despite the above, 93% of music played in public was English-language (Lady Gaga, The Offspring, R.E.M., etc.).
• German food is very good, if a bit repetitive (so much pork and potatoes!). The Franconian sausage is my favorite main dish, and the Mandelrolle is my favorite pastry.
• German beer is great too. Augustiner Edelstoff is my favorite. Ayinger Bräuweisse and Augustiner Lagerbier Hell are also good.
• Public transport in every city is fantastic! Rules are a bit inconsistent and confusing though. Example: In Munich, a ticket I bought for the U-Bahn in the city center required validation, but a ticket I bought for the S-Bahn at Leuchtenbergring station was too big for the validation machine. The latter ticket didn't require validation, but I didn't know that until I asked a German for help.
• Deutsche Bahn train system between cities is generally good, but more delays than I expected.
• Despite May temperatures in Germany being roughly the same as France last October, German apartments get much warmer at night.
• If Germany doesn't do air conditioning and you're expected to keep windows open, why no screens to keep out bugs? So many mosquitos, moths, and gnats...
• Smoking shockingly common, especially among young people.
• I respect the frequent bike usage and got used to the bike lanes. But bikes zooming through public squares and such made me jump several times.
• I have never seen more construction in my life.
• As a gay guy, Frankfurt and Berlin have the hottest men. Dresden's pretty good too.
• Germany is a verdant and beautiful country. Loved the mountains and farms of Barvaria, the hills of Saxony, the castles along the Rhine Valley, and the copious amount of parks and green space.

Overall, I had a great trip! Very glad I got to explore Germany and would love to see more of it (Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, etc.). Thank you for making an American feel welcome!

I am a recent college graduate who is considering getting a different car once my finances will allow me to do so. I currently have a 1995 Civic LX 4-door, which I inherited back in 2017 when I first got my license. It only had 60k miles on it at the time and was in absolutely mint condition. I've loved this car and it surprisingly still turns heads everywhere I take it. Six years later and it now has 183k miles on it and is starting to show its age. It's an automatic and the acceleration is very underwhelming (11 seconds 0-60 on a good day 😂). It's also starting to have some annoying problems that keep nickel and diming me (electrical problems with headlights/brake lights, occasional fluid leaks) and I'm concerned it may start to become unreliable in a few years.
I'm looking to get a car that's fun to drive, must be a manual transmission, preferably rear-wheel drive, though I'd be open to front-wheel drive, no AWD though, and preferably small and light weight. I'm ok with 2 or 4 doors, although I'm leaning towards 2 doors. Rear seats would be nice too, but not a requirement. Also must be reliable enough to be a daily driver. I live in Southern Arizona and it rarely, if ever, gets snowy or icy, and it doesn't rain much either, so weather won't be an issue. Ideally I'd want something with a 0-60 time of under 7 seconds. I also prefer Japanese cars.
So far I've looked at the early Lexus IS 300 (which is really hard to find in good shape and with a manual transmission), and the Subaru BRZ, which I'm kind of leaning towards.
My budget would be roughly $15,000 max, but I'd be willing to look at something cheaper if it checks all the boxes.
Any other advice on what I should get would be very appreciated. I'm sure there are lots of other options I haven't thought of.

Hey all, it’s me Frank Jones again. I wrote that post a while ago about why you shouldn’t be a paranormal investigator and a lot of you liked it. Since settling into my hideaway in the mountains, life has become quiet and I thought about checking in. The plague hit us like nothing and now that everyone is wanting to travel again, I thought to say hi. I want to say thanks to all of you who commented and gave me those weird pointy thingies this social media does. Some of you even figured out my post office box address and sent me letters. I appreciate it (and don’t do it again).
The common strain among your posts was wanting to know if I had ever encountered other things as an auditor. Of course I have but I have been reluctant to tell you because I don’t want to shine some sort of light on all of it or make it sound like some romantic adventure. It’s “pissing yourself” fear all wrapped up in a waking nightmare with a side of gory terror. I am one of the few who actually made it to retirement…if that’s what you could call this life I’m living now.
But, I have nothing else to do really. Carl only visits once in a while when he’s passing through and I cannot risk any other sort of company knowing I’ve pissed off a lot of people…and things. So, I’m back on this internet board and sharing. So many are curious, I thought maybe another story can scare you all straight. This was the first time complacency almost got me and another killed.
This story takes place somewhere in the 90s in a small New England town. It was one of those places nestled along the banks of a serene river, historic brick buildings line the winding streets, their facades adorned with weathered signs that hint at the town's seafaring heritage. A place where everything smelled like either the ocean or decaying fish. I’m not going to specifically name the town to protect the young lady that may still be living there but in the heart of the town, there’s a renowned drawbridge which stands as a testament to the place’s affinity for water. Its ancient mechanisms creak and groan when allowing vessels to pass through the calm waterway. It also had some of the best outdoor markets I had a chance to stop and check out.
I didn’t pass through this part of the country that often as my boss preferred me to do the long hauls across the country but there was a dead haul nobody wanted.I took it cause I wanted a change of scenery. I was already working as an auditor and part of a loose alliance of others who investigated and dealt with any weird things. I actually had a few monsters under my belt. I honestly had the foolhardy idea that I could handle anything out there. God, I was an idiot.
The supernatural never crossed my mind until that evening, stopping to fuel up my red 1992 Peterbilt 379 and paying for the gas with the attendant and restocking up on those beef jerky sticks and coffee.
That was when I noticed her. She was a young woman about in her mid 30s looking like one of the corporate types with the short hair cut and business suit. I would have not paid her any mind if it wasn’t for the touch of apprehension on her face as she talked on one of those new fangled bright yellow Nokia cellphones. Soft strands of chestnut hair framed her face, their gentle sway moving as she glanced around while talking on the phone. As I observed her, I couldn't help but notice the way her fingers trembled slightly, when trying to get money out of her pocket. I’ve seen that type of fear before. So, like a creep, I eavesdropped on her call.
“Yes, it happened again,” she had said as the nickels finally made it to the counter to pay for her snacks. “I could have sworn there was something outside the window near the edge of the forest….no, of course the security cameras didn’t pick up anything. They’re cheap. Ronald was a skinflint when it came to things like this. Hope he’s rotting in hell wherever he is.”
My mind began to drift away, more annoyed I couldn’t get a move on it. It sounded like a problem for the police and if anything, I was gonna tell her that. It was what she said next that made me stop and brought back the reality of the world.
“Yeah. like nine or ten feet tall. I’m thinking kids are playing around with scarecrows or something. Won’t come from the edge of the forest and when I check, I can see foot impressions and stuff. I already put in a call to the cops. They found nothing.“
“Did it sway a bit and its eyes seem to glint like a cats or owl?” I asked without thinking.
The look I got from both her and the gas attendant made me realize what I had done. Well, too late now.
“I’ll call you back,” she said quickly, eyeing me as she hung up the phone and slipped it back into her purse.
“You need me to walk you to your car, ma’am?” the attendant asked, staring at me.
Of course, I forgot that The Truck Stop Killer had only been arrested a few years before.
“I’m fine, thank you,” she said, quickly gathering her stuff and making for the door. I slapped the one hundred and seventy bucks on the counter to pay for my diesel guzzler ignoring the change and followed her out but making sure to not move in a way that caused the teenager in the station to call the cops.
“Ma’am,” I called out to her and she turned to me while hurrying up her pace.
“I’ve got pepper spray. Stay away from me.”
“The thing in the woods. You could have sworn you smelled fresh dirt like mulch and it seemed to sway back and forth like it could not keep its balance.” I threw it out there in desperation.
She froze and turned to look at me. Eying me up and down as I kept my distance and angled to head towards my truck.
“How do you know?”
“I…uh…dealt with something like that before. On a job in Canada.”
“Who are you?” she asked, looking at my faded shirt and company logo. “A trucker?”
“I moonlight as a problem solver. Like an auditor of sorts.”
“Who is it?” she demanded, eyes still affixed to me and hand in her purse.
“Better question is ‘what is it?’,” I answered.
I have learned to pick up on the contempt and disbelief from people who hadn’t seen what I have. I was already being dismissed as a whack job.
“You have tracks on your porch you have written off as animals, especially if you own a dog. If you did own a dog, it’s missing. Cops told you it ran away. You got a garden?”
“Yes,” the certainty had started to leave her voice. “A walled garden.”
“And anytime you’re in there, you feel like you’re being watched.”
At that, her hand came out of her purse empty and she approached me with the fear I had seen in her eyes now on her face.
“How did you know?”
“I’d rather not explain out here,” I said sheepishly running my hand through my sandy brown hair that only started getting flecks of gray. “But you got a…pest problem.”
“And you can do something about it? I’ve had exterminators, cops, nature lovers…even a priest.”
“None of those won’t do you any good and I don’t want to scare ya but it’s more active which is not a good sign.”
For a few moments, I could see the indecision in her eyes. The desperate want to dismiss me as a lunatic but whatever she had heard or seen won over.
“Fine. You can follow me to the house.”
“Mind if I hitch a ride?”
The woman started but then looked at my truck. “Promise. I mean you no harm. I really think you’re in danger.”
That was when I found her name was Isabelle Walker.
We left my truck in long-term parking after she told the attendant that I was a long lost relative and that’s why the change of demeanor. I don’t know if he believed her but at that point, I don’t think he cared. I left my truck with its metallic frame standing tall and proud amidst the rows of other vehicles.
I did not realize how desperate this woman was until we got going on the road. I had loaded myself in the passenger seat after pulling out my military backpack from the war which I also used for my auditing services and tried to look as harmless as a man of my stature could.
For the first fifteen minutes of the drive, her focus was on the lonely road, those beautiful eyes darting to me anytime I shifted my weight. I didn’t want to scare her so it was her that spoke first.
“What is it?”
“I really don’t know but the people in my profession call it a Bone Walker.”
The nose crinkled in disbelief.
“Halloween is not for a few more months, Mister…”
“Jones. Frank Jones.”
The James Bond reference caused her to snort in amusement.
“I don’t know what to tell ya, ma’am, except I’ve dealt with some pretty scary things out there. Normally I’m never this forward as most people try to call the cops on me or dismiss me as a lunatic. I mean, I could be a lunatic but I know what I’ve seen.”
“And that is…?”
“You know. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves. They’re real. They’re not common but real nevertheless.”
“Really?”
There was still the disbelief in Isabelle’s voice but I grew to ignore things like this.
“Sure. I mean, think of all the things you experienced and be open to alternate answers.”
Isabelle was quiet for a few minutes and then sighed. “Either you are telling the truth or you're the biggest liar and I’m a fool that’s not going to live through this night.”
“I promise,” I tried to reassure her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
After a few more minutes and off the main highway, we approached her home. The large house stood resolute amidst the dense, ancient forest, its weathered exterior a testament to the passing of time. It was a grand structure, its imposing presence commanding attention. The sprawling estate exuded an air of mystery and faded grandeur, as if it held stories whispered through generations.
As we pulled in, the main house loomed before me, its facade adorned with intricate woodwork and worn stone. Ivy crept along the walls, weaving an emerald tapestry that hinted at the passage of years. The windows, framed by elegant yet slightly cracked panes, stared out into the world with a mixture of curiosity and melancholy.
To the side, a large shed stood detached from the main house, its weathered boards echoing tales of forgotten tools and lost endeavors. The wooden structure sagged under the weight of time, its roof covered in a patchwork quilt of moss. Inside, shadows danced amidst remnants of a bygone era, rusty equipment and dusty shelves attesting to the once-bustling activity that had long since ceased.
Not far from the shed, a family cemetery nestled amongst the ancient trees. Tombstones, adorned with intricate carvings and weathered inscriptions, dotted the landscape. The hallowed ground exuded a solemn tranquility, as if time stood still in reverence for those who rested eternally in its embrace. Wisps of fog clung to the grassy knolls, lending an ethereal quality to the sacred space.
At the far end of the property, an old walled garden stood as a testament to the house's former splendor. Once vibrant and lush, the garden now appeared overgrown and untamed. Stone paths meandered through a sea of tangled foliage, leading to hidden nooks and forgotten corners. Dilapidated stone benches, adorned with intricate carvings, sat scattered throughout the garden, silent witnesses to a time when laughter and conversation filled the air.
As I stood amidst the silence of the forest, the house, shed, cemetery, and walled garden formed a tapestry of history and mystery. They were a testament to the ebb and flow of life, the remnants of a bygone era that clung to the present. Within their weathered walls, secrets whispered and memories danced, waiting to be discovered by those who dared to venture into their enigmatic embrace.
“Great place to be haunted, huh?” she said with sarcasm. “My ex left it to me in the divorce. Was only going to be here long enough to sell it but no one wants it and my job wants me to move to this state anyway.”
“Where are you originally from?”
“California.”
“So, this is definitely a change of scenery for you,”
Isabelle only hummed back at me as she fumbled for her keys in the dying light of evening. I pulled my backpack closer to me as my eyes scanned the treeline where the shadows had begun to deepen. Nothing stood out against the silhouettes of ancient trees which was a good sign. I wasn’t too late.
Stepping through the weathered front door, I entered the interior of the old house, greeted by a mix of nostalgia and faded elegance. The air carried a hint of mustiness, a reminder of the countless years the house had to have witnessed. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the stained-glass windows, I could make out the clash between old decor and the modern furniture Isabelle had bought.
The foyer, adorned with a worn, threadbare rug. The walls, once adorned with portraits and intricate wallpaper, now bore the markings of time's passage. The wooden banister of the grand staircase, polished with use, creaked softly under my touch as we made our way towards the living room.
Moving further into the house, I found myself in a spacious living room. Large, ornate windows which would have allowed slivers of daylight to filter through the heavy velvet curtains. The walls were adorned with faded wallpaper. An aged fireplace, its stone mantle adorned with trinkets and old photographs, served as the heart of the room.
“You want some coffee?” Isabelle asked, throwing her keys on to the coffee table. I sat down on her couch and dropped my backpack on it with a clunk.
“Sure.”
“Sugar?”
“A lot.”
The kitchen light clicked on and I heard her moving about setting up the coffee pot. The adrenalin was now pumping through me as my mind raced. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail on what a Bone Walker is but it’s a creature that usually haunts the western coast. It being so far out east was strange. I pulled out my old gun bag and unrolled it. My Stevens Model 520-30 “Trench” shotgun was the first thing I reached for as I popped open the internal pouch holding he high flash shells I was glad I packed. It was the startled sound from Isabelle that made me quickly look up.
She stood there with my coffee, eyes locked on the shotgun in my hand. I slowly held up one of the cartridges I was planning to load.
“Flash powder shotgun shells. No load. Just makes a loud noise and a bright white light. What we’re facing lives in the shadows and hates light…normally,” I had heard stories that they could strike in the day but it was extremely rare. She didn’t need to know that.
“Oh,” was her quiet response. “Do…do I need a gun?”
“You know how to use one?”
“No.”
“Then it’ll do more harm than good. You got any flashlights?”
Isabelle nodded mutely, the gravity of the situation sinking in at the array of weapons and items in my pack laid out in front of her.
“Go get them.”
While she was gone, I quickly unloaded the silver bullets out of my Makarov pistol (a gift from a Viet Cong officer and a story for another time) and placed normal 9mm rounds in the clip. I had it holstered under my jacket with the two back up clips when she returned with three cheap flashlights.
“One in your hand and one in your pocket.”
“Why?”
“In case you drop the one you are holding.”
The woman obeyed silently.
As night fell quickly around us, I slung my shotgun over my shoulder and with Isabelle close, we made our way upstairs. There were tell tale signs I needed to check as the only advantage I had over this thing was the fact it stuck to a pattern. If it was at the stage I thought it was, there would be signs.
“Which room is yours?” I asked.
Isabelle pointed to a door down the hallway across from a large window. Approaching it, I quickly shined my flashlight at the mahogany door frame. It was the glint that caught my eye. Deep gouges in the wood.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Claw marks,” I responded. There was no use sugar coating anything now.
“This thing was in my house?” Isabelle said horrified.
“For the last few weeks now,” I said, my nose picking up the faint odor of dirt and mud.
“Why didn’t it attack me then?”
“It wasn’t time.”
“What?”
Talking was going to be the only thing to keep her focused. I had felt the world shift a bit as night fell and I needed her not to panic.
“Bone Walkers are ritualistic creatures. They are very choosy over their prey. It can take a month or two before they move in. That’s why they are so hard to catch.”
“Criteria? Like what?”
“We don’t know.”
That was the honest truth. The only reason we knew their existence and patterns was thanks to blind luck and people surviving their encounters. I showed my light around looking for other signs. Discolored stains in the corners where shadows would naturally form, healthy moss and mold that shouldn’t be there. I found a patch around her bed. She did not notice and I did not want to tell her that it probably stood over her through the night watching her sleep. The sooner I buried this thing, the better.
“Frank!”
There was a trill of terror in Isabelle’s voice and I immediately looked to where she was. The woman was standing by her bedroom window staring out at something. I quickly moved and spotted what she saw. In the forest, at the edge of the shadow cast by the moonlight was an almost, imperceptible form. It stood nine feet, hunched over like a broken scarecrow, its owl like eyes staring back at us.
“Shit,” I muttered. Thank god we had turned on the lights as we went.
It was the flash of light and the crack of thunder that heralded the arrival of the storm. The lights of this old houses flickered which caused my belly to flop a few times. My brain was on fire as I glanced back from the lightbulb to where the creature was and found it had vanished.
“Where did it go?”
I did not have time to explain as another crack of lightning caused the lights to dim. I grabbed Isabelle roughly by the arm and yanked her back down the hallway towards the living room where I had left my stuff. We barely made it to the living room when the lights dimmed low. I grasped the glow sticks out of the bag, cracked a handful and scattered them about, their bright yellow light beginning to glow. The power then went out bathing us only in the eerie glow of the emergency lighting.
As we waited in breathless anticipation, the storm struck, its wrath manifesting in torrential rain. The mansion seemed to respond, succumbing to a power outage that plunged us into an abyss of blackness only moments before.
A trill of terror coursed through me. I knew this Bone Walker thrived in darkness, using it as a cloak to conceal its malevolence. We auditors were not sure if it actually teleported or it preferred to move in pitch darkness. I just knew that the black was our biggest threat.
For a few moments, we could only hear the ragged breathing of the two of us being drowned out by the pounding rain against shingle and glass. Isabelle had wound her hand into my jacket pocket and was gripping it tightly, I could feel her shaking with terror. I kept my shotgun gripped tightly in my hand listening for the tell tale sound of its arrival.
It was the movement out of the corner of my eye and the fact her grip got tighter on my jacket. I swiftly turned on my high-powered flashlight as I spun around and the brilliant beam pierced the obscure corner of the room. No matter what I had read or seen before did not prepare me for what I saw.
It stood there in the corner, its eight foot height engulfing that section of the house. My eyes strained as it appeared the thing was struggling to stay in focus. Its arms were too long for its body, spindly and almost to the floor while the legs appeared backwards giving it a strange forward leaning look. It wore a hunter’s long coat and trousers but through the rips and tears I could make out something squirming and moving underneath. The air filled with the stench of decaying plants and diseased vegetation. Its face was covered with what looked like the remnants of a cheap bandanna but its owl-like eyes gleaned back with malevolence.
Isabelle whimpered, her fear palpable in the room and the Bone Walker lunged toward us. Even though my fear was ripping through me like an unstoppable train, I had the sense to pull the trigger of my shotgun aimed in its direction. The flash and resounding roar painted the entire room in a brilliant black and white shadow causing every corner and edge to appear thick and vivid. The creature screamed and fell to the side into the shadow not illuminated by the weapon’s fire.
Isabelle had thrown herself on the couch and was huddled there, trembling with terror, while I moved quickly to crack a few more glow sticks and toss them into the dark corners of the room. In one, I saw its foot recoil back into the kitchen where it was darker than night itself. This was quicker than I had anticipated. The plans I had been formulating on the drive were no longer viable. I wanted to lure it to where I controlled the battlefield but that was not an option anymore. This had become a cat and mouse game and I knew this was with a predator I could not even hope to understand and had years to hone.
Out of the kitchen again this thing charged forward, relentless in its pursuit, it was trying to find a way around my light barrier which only appeared to slow it down. With shaking hands, I fired several more rounds, each blast forcing the creature to retreat and the girl to scream in terror. As soon as it retreated to a dark part of the house, I turned to where the woman of the house had been. To my horror, Isabelle's fear had gotten the best of her. In that moment of panic, she darted from the safety of the light, towards the hallway and the door outside.
“Isabelle! Stop!” I yelled trying to command her back with my voice but I doubted she heard me. Between the abject horror and the relentless rain, she was going to take her chance. A chance I knew she did not have.
I only took a step when I sensed it. The musty smell of an organic landfill overwhelmed me as the form silently darted past me, its long arm clobbering me up the side of the head. The world spun as pain burst through my brain. I felt the world tilt and fall heavily to the ground, flashlight and shotgun falling away.
As I slipped in and out of consciousness, I knew I was a sitting duck for this thing. There was no way for me to stop it from ripping me to shreds like some of the corpses I had seen. As I blinked, I came to my senses and realized I was alone. How long I had actually been on the ground, I did not know.
I sat up, my head pounding and I could see the door hanging open, the wind slamming the door on its hinges and the rain soaking the hallway floor. Struggling, I found my flashlight and gun and pulled myself together.
There was a slim chance that Isabelle was still alive. I had to think. Where would it go? I ran all the stories I could think of and then it hit me. The garden. The walled garden.
I charged into the rain-soaked night. I sprinted toward the enclosed garden at the edge of the property. As I grew closer, I saw that the rusted door was open and hope flickered in my soul. As I came to a stop, I brought my flashlight up again with my shotgun and saw it.
This creature stood there in the middle of the overgrown garden, its massive clawed hand wrapped around Isabelle’s chest and holding her up. Out from under its bandanna mask, putrid vines had appeared and led up to Isabelle’s face where they were forcing their way down her throat and up her nose. I could see the wide terror in her eyes as vines were snaking their way around her waist and I did not want to think about what they were planning to do.
I brought up the shotgun again and fired. Knowing that I had distance, the flash of light caught the creature by surprise. It shrieked as it fell back. Trying desperately not to release its prey. I did not hesitate to grab the machete at my side and hack at its arm until Isabelle fell down free of it.
It’s claw swiped at me striking me on the leg and easily tearing through my pants leaving bloody lacerations but I put the weapon point blank and fired another round. I do not know if it was the flash, the combination of the creature, or that the almighty above was looking out for me, but the creature caught ablaze from the spark.
It fell back swinging wildly as the fire spread unnaturally fast catching the plants around it on fire. Within a matter of seconds, the walled garden had become ablaze with the bone walker in the center. As I ripped the vines out of Isabelle’s mouth and dragged her towards the door, I looked up to see those owl-like eyes looking at me with such abject hatred that the look stick with me today.
I honestly don’t know how we survived. I had helped Isabelle to her porch and we both passed out against our will from the sheer terror and exhaustion. We were awoken by the sound of a siren. The lights had come back on sometime in our sleep and the rain had drifted off to a comforting drizzle. The fire was still raging in the garden but contained by the ancient walls. At least two fire trucks, an ambulance and cops were flying up the private road towards us.
This entire hunt had been ill-planned and stupid. I knew it. As the cops approached with their hand on their pistols, I knew that I had allowed my own ego to get in the way. I should have taken Isabelle somewhere else until I had done a proper reconnaissance. I shouldn’t have taken her home where it was waiting. And now, the cops were looking at two thoroughly soaked humans, one a trucker with a wound and a gun and a young lady in distress. I was pretty sure I was going to go to jail.
“Isabelle?” One of the cops and his voice caused her to sit up, relief washing over her.
“Derek!” she wailed. “We were attacked! In the garden!”
Another two cops that had arrived had taken off in that direction while Derek helped the girl up and took her towards the ambulance. The other cop with a comically large mustache looked at me with keen eyes, his hand still on his pistol, sergeant stripes glowing in the light.
“Attacked?”
“Yeah,” I said, sitting up slowly and keeping my hand away from the shotgun and trying not to show the one under my jacket. “Someone came after Mrs. Walker. They were in the garden.”
The cop watched me closely but there seemed to be a recognition in his eyes.
“You by any chance Frank Jones?”
My heart jumped and I must have looked startled as the cop’s face broke into a smile. To my relief, his hand fell away from his holstered sidearm.
“I’ll take that for a yes. My guess is you don’t remember me. Clay Wilson. Santa Fe PD, about six years ago. You helped my partner with a...problem. Nellie Nelson?”
I knew the name but the face escaped me.
“She told me you helped her audit a police union building.”
“Ah, yes,” I said, remembering dealing with the wraith and the twinge in my right arm from it’s bite.
The cop looked towards the fire that was slowly being put out by the fire fighters.
“Any chance this will be one of your audits?”
“Yeah.”
He seemed to think for a few minutes and then nodded.
“Then I think you need to grab that shotgun of yours and hitch a ride with me before too many people ask questions. Whatcha think?”
I nodded. I was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I collected my stuff quickly from the living room and made my way back out where he was waiting. As I limped with the cop to his car, I looked towards Isabelle who was being held by the other. She gave me a look of thankfulness as the cop looked at his partner with confusion.
“Her brother’s got her,” Clay said, opening the back door for me. I was not gonna argue or fight. If he took me to jail or not.
And that was it. My leg was not as bad off as I thought and wrapped it in the back of the police car. Clay only asked where I wanted to go and he took me back to my truck. With that time, I was back on the road with that small town in the rear view mirror.
I never did find out what happened to Isabelle after that, if another creature came looking for her or if she had a chance to live in peace. I just knew that we both barely made it out alive and that was due to my own stupidity. I was furious with myself for weeks after that and told myself I wouldn’t put another person in jeopardy like that again. At least, despite my idiocy, another life was saved and another monster was put in the ground...I hoped. I never did find out if they found a body.

Hi I bought my car in 2020 with 72 monthly payment for $281. I thought I could manage it but I was only making $30,000/yr at the time so I’d say it was a huge financial mistake. This was also before I knew of the 15% rule for cars which now says I have a budget of max $534 because my take home income is $3624.
I recently came to realize I spend over $335 a month in phantom costs (gas, insurance, parking). So in total I spend around $616 per month for a car that’s used for commuting around town.
My idea: Trade-in my 2018 Hyundai Elantra for $10,000-13,000. I would get $0-$3000 positive equity towards a new car and go with a cheaper model with 48 month payments of no more than $190. My credit score is 755 so interest won’t be too high.
I’m at $70,000 now so I could afford it if I cut into my savings and spending money but after 3 years of being broke behind this car I’d rather just start over with lower payments for a car that I’ll keep forever (which was my intention with this car initially). I have 3 years of payments left which feels like a lot.
If I sell my car and lower my car payments to $190 a month that would lower my fixed costs every month. They currently take up 70% of my paycheck every month so saving is really hard.
Would this be beneficial for me financially in the long run? Or even in the short term?
I’d rather be able to save more money than continue to pay for this car. I’d be perfectly happy driving something from 2012. I just don’t want to wind up paying more money. I have about $10,000 left on my loan and my car is worth about $13,000. I think I’ve paid around $7,000 for it so far.
I’m looking to get a used Honda Civic or Toyota Camry. I have $2000 for a down payment.
If I keep paying my loan will that result in more positive equity for me? I would ideally make a purchase in October or around Black Friday.
TLDR: spent too much on car payment initially. will it be beneficial to sell my car for a used one to get lower car payments?
I live in Baltimore btw.

You had everything you could ever dream of. You were Rich, you were dating the Quarterback, You were the head of the Cheer Squad, Had all the most popular girls in school begging to be your bestie just for the social credit it brought, You were even the most beautiful girl in all of town! You had it all. The Queen of our little town. You lived it up, burning cash like it didn't mean anything. A Party every night, countless amounts of booze and drugs, and just the most active of sex lives to keep up with your urges. But after one of those such nights...Everything went wrong.
Who would have known letting your Boyfriend drive you home would have been such a bad idea. And how the hell were you supposed to know how much he'd been drinking or how much coke he'd done, you were a busy girl! You didn't babysit him at every party...And who would have known blowing through a single Stop sign would have been such a poor life choice. You could have handled a cop, you had plenty of money to blow on a ticket or you could always have flashed him...that usually worked if it was a guy. You could even have handled a night in prison! What you couldn't handle...Was an 18-Wheeler hauling lumber. Jake, your Ex, was practically unharmed, getting out of the accident with a few broken ribs and a hell of a lot of bruises. But you on the other hand...Your dad had always told you to keep your feet off of the dash, but that was just to keep the dirt off. Turns out that when an airbag deploys, it kicks really fucking hard...
You woke up in the hospital after 6 weeks in a Coma. The mix of blunt force trauma, internal injuries, and minor brain damage had forced them to put you under till your condition improved. Your face was bruised and broken, but they told you that you'd make a full recovery. Your hands were shattered, and while they'd never be 100% again, they told you that you should regain 60-80% functionality if you stuck to the therapy they assigned. What they couldn't fix...was the spinal damage. You originally woke up in a panic, the terror of the situation you had survived weeks ago finally making its way to your brain. The scramble to stand up led to a tumble to the ground as your legs just...wouldn't move...You were thinking so damn hard but they just lay there as the tears started flowing like mad. You actually ended up puking from the stress and anxiety. So obviously, the next few days were...a blur. Barely taking in any information, just...gliding by on autopilot...Something about therapy sessions, something about the new ramps and assistants your father was hiring and having put in...But the entire time this was going on, Not a single one of your friends came to visit. None of the cheer squad, none of the other Party Girls, Not even Jake...You couldn't even text him because your hands were still so damaged, but the few times you tried to call with help, he never picked up.
It took a while till your doctors cleared you to go back to school. And when you got there...It was horrible. Jake had seemingly already moved on, your friends treated you like filth...All your status, all your fame, and reputation were down the drain. Because now you aren't cool anymore. You aren't the girl who has sex in the back of Jake's Mustang whenever he feels like it or the girl does so many shots she blacks out or does so much coke she could fuck all night...Now, you're just the girl who couldn't even go to the bathroom unless there were rails to hold on to. Your life is nonexistent now. So you convinced your Dad to buy a new house halfway across the country to get away from it all...Your father staying behind to deal with his business, but he promised to visit as soon as he could. And so you moved, by yourself emotionally, even if your father had arranged for your new physiotherapist to be on call at all hours.
Today is the first day of your new life, The first day we meet, and the first day you've laughed in months...

Hey there, I know this is a bit of a dark story but I've always had a bit of a thing for dark stories anyways. This is meant to be a slow-burn, wholesome romance RP of an Ex-Popular girl meeting someone who genuinely cares for her despite her injuries. She's not meant to have any major physical deformities, but more than likely has scarring and lots of mental problems since her life changed so much so fast. As I said in the story, her hands were injured in the accident, so you can have them be as functional or dysfunctional as you want, just remember even if they function close to normally, she still has the trauma. If you have ideas or questions, feel free to ask them in a Chat or DM. I hope someone out there is interested in taking a dive into this plot with me. Must be 18+

Hey! I’m currently nomading in Costa Rica, around San Jose. I don’t like San Jose, but I wanted to stay in a good AirBnb, with the idea to work for a few days, and then travel a few days.
I’m thinking about where to move next. I’m considering a different town in Costa Rica or an entirely different country. I don’t want to be too far away from civilization, that’s the reason I’ve rented Airbnb in San Jose, despite everyone saying that this city is terrible. I want an Airbnb with a good kitchen, as I mostly cook at home, and washing machine. Access to grocery stores is also a high priority.
How are other regions in CR in that regard? From what I saw, most of the listing on Airbnb in towns like La Fortuna or Monteverde-are more tourist oriented, rather than day to day living.
What about other countries? I’m considering Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico. South America is not a consideration.
As I’ve mentioned, I’m looking for a place oriented towards day to day living (so kitchen, washing machine, easy access to grocery stores either physically or delivery). Safety is also high priority. A vibrant location with cool places is also nice to have. Access to nature for multi day trips is a high priority. Preferably cheaper than San Jose. Edit: obviously internet access is mandatory.
What would you recommend?

Please note that names have been changed for the sake of anonymity, as have also some events for the sake of simplicity and to help you understand the personalities.
Our city, once a humble town nestled in the embrace of the Andes Mountains, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. Evolving into a bustling capital and a prominent city within our country, it now stands as a symbol of progress and growth. Yet, beneath its surface of modernity and development, lies a hidden truth, a dark side that lurks in the shadows, concealed from the eyes of the uninitiated. It is a truth woven into the fabric of our city's history, whispered in tales of terror, and attributed to the elusive and enigmatic presence known as the "Twilight Menace." While outsiders may dismiss it as mere legend or the machinations of a criminal underworld, we, the locals, know better. We live in perpetual fear of this unseen terror that haunts our city.
And now, I find myself compelled to share this story with you, even as the memetic hazard surrounding the Twilight Menace threatens to erode my sense of reason. It is as if I am speaking to an inanimate object rather than a person, yet something within me tells me that you, a foreigner, possess the curiosity and open-mindedness necessary to understand and appreciate the fascinating and eerie history of our city.
Let me provide you with some much-needed context. The Twilight Menace is a term we have assigned to a group of nocturnal predators that have plagued our city for generations. They consist of ten distinct subspecies, each possessing its own unique characteristics and hunting techniques. Allow me to shed light on a few of them.
First among them are the Shadow Stalkers. These humanoid creatures boast pale or dark skin, sharp features, and unnaturally elongated limbs. Strikingly, they lack eyes, relying instead on their heightened sense of smell and acute hearing to track their unsuspecting prey. Like all members of the Twilight Menace, they are vaporized upon exposure to sunlight. Shadow Stalkers move with eerie silence within the shadows, patiently observing their targets for hours, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. It is worth noting that the largest known hunting party of Shadow Stalkers comprised a mere four members, prompting them to refrain from attacking when faced with a numerical advantage or disadvantage. The only known defense against them is to gather in groups of five or more, for it seems that their hunting instincts are deterred by such a formidable force.
Next, we encounter the Night Terrors, smaller and more agile than their Shadow Stalker counterparts. These creatures are adorned with fur as dark as the night itself, possessing razor-sharp jaws, claws, and piercing, luminescent eyes that aid their vision in the darkest of environs. What sets them apart is their uncanny ability to create illusions, disorienting their prey and rendering them vulnerable to capture. Similar to their brethren, they dissipate into nothingness upon exposure to sunlight. Unlike the Shadow Stalkers, however, the Night Terrors exhibit no hesitation in attacking their victims even when faced with a numerical disadvantage.
Another subspecies of the Twilight Menace is the Dread Fiends, hulking creatures draped in dark fur and bearing piercing yellow eyes that emit an otherworldly glow. They possess unmatched speed and move through the darkness with uncanny silence, often launching surprise attacks from behind. Their powerful jaws and claws allow them to mercilessly rend their victims apart, reveling in sadistic pleasure as they toy with their prey before finally delivering the fatal blow.
We must also contend with the Blood Mist Creatures, amorphous blobs of mist capable of shape-shifting at will. These entities often assume the form of a menacing, misty cloud, complete with glowing red eyes that flicker ominously. Their method of attack involves engulfing their prey in their ethereal mist, suffocating them while simultaneously absorbing their life-giving blood.
The ranks of the Twilight Menace also include the Silent Horrors, tall and gaunt figures reminiscent of the Shadow Stalkers. They possess long, spindly limbs and an eerie absence of facial features. Swift and soundless in their movements, they strike from the shadows, relying on their ability to induce paralyzing fear within their victims before delivering the final, fatal blow.
Another formidable adversary is the Dark Whispers, small and ghostly creatures resembling a swirling black mist adorned with gleaming green eyes. These elusive entities can effortlessly traverse through walls and floors, making them virtually impossible to evade. With their insidious whispers, they sow seeds of madness in the minds of their victims, driving them to the brink of insanity before ultimately sealing their fate.
The Graveyard Ghosts, skeletal apparitions with glowing red eyes, haunt the resting places of the deceased, emerging from the ground to assail unsuspecting victims. Their unique ability to phase through solid objects grants them an advantage in their pursuit of prey.
Among the Twilight Menace, we also encounter the Moon Howlers, creatures reminiscent of wolves with their black fur and hauntingly radiant blue eyes. These formidable hunters operate in packs, utilizing their sharp teeth and claws to bring down their chosen targets. Their haunting howls under the moonlight have a paralyzing effect, rendering their victims immobile with fear and vulnerability. The Moon Howlers are known to encircle their prey, amplifying the terror and panic experienced before delivering the final, fatal strike.
No discussion of the Twilight Menace would be complete without mentioning the Soul Snatchers, small and elusive creatures cloaked in shadows, their purple eyes glowing with an unholy light. Possessing an ethereal nature, they can effortlessly phase through walls and floors, rendering physical barriers futile. The Soul Snatchers are infamous for their ability to steal the very souls of their victims, leaving behind only empty shells of once vibrant beings.
Lastly, we have the Phantom Hunters, tall and ethereal figures that appear ghostlike, their piercing white eyes glowing with an otherworldly radiance. Often found in areas burdened by great tragedy or loss, these relentless hunters show no mercy to their prey. With the ability to pass through solid objects, they haunt their victims relentlessly, seizing control of their very essence before ultimately snuffing out their lives.
The abilities possessed by these entities may indeed instill terror and a sense of hopelessness. It may appear as though there is no conceivable way to counter their menace. However, there exists a method to confront and challenge them, albeit one that is only accessible to a chosen few. Fortunately, I am among the privileged individuals bestowed with this ability. My means of defense manifests in the form of a sword, an instrument of freezing cold capable of temporarily banishing these entities back to their home realm, known as the twilight lands.
You may wonder about the fate of those who lack the means to defend themselves. Do they inevitably succumb to the Twilight Menace? This is where the second part of the legend takes hold. We possess a protector, a human chosen from the multitude, tasked with wielding the fabled sword of Nott. Despite its connotation in certain languages, the sword stands as a potent tool bestowed upon the most loyal subject of the sun god, harnessing the very power of the sun itself. Any adversary unfortunate enough to cross paths with this radiant weapon is instantly consumed by its searing light, vanishing into oblivion. This chosen protector assumes the mantle of "Phantome."
The enigmatic Phantome remains veiled in mystery, an elusive figure who seemingly possesses the ability to be present in multiple locations simultaneously. They are the sole individuals granted permission to traverse the realm of the Twilight Menace, engaging in communication with these ethereal beings. Although no one has ever laid eyes upon Phantome, the blinding brilliance of the sword's collision with the enemy stands as a testament to their unwavering presence and devotion.
Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Sean van Delphi, and I'm no ordinary teenager. At just 15 years old, I have already faced more dangers and challenges than most adults. As a monster hunter, it's my job to protect the city from supernatural threats that lurk in the shadows. But that's not all there is to my life. When I'm not fighting monsters, I'm just a regular high school student. I attend New Lands, a private school located near my home. To get there, I ride my trusty electric bicycle - I mean, why waste energy on pedaling when I can conserve it for hunting down creatures of the night?
My house may be small, but it's my home. It was built when this area was still rural, but over time it has become a suburban haven, located just outside the bustling capital city. And believe me, when I say that what I'm about to tell you might sound unbelievable, I really mean it. But I need you to trust me, because what I'm about to share is the truth - and the truth can be stranger than fiction.
I live with the monsters I hunt.
My last name is not commonly found in this part of the world, with its European roots (until I experienced the supernatural firsthand, I was skeptical of the legends). My parents, a Dutch father and a Polish mother, chose this small Andean city as the place to start their new life together, and I was born shortly after their arrival. While I wish I could say more about them, my memories of my parents are few, but I do know that they loved me dearly and sacrificed everything for me. Their loss is one of the main reasons why I hunt monsters.
After my parents' death, I was left alone in the world. I spent at least a year wandering the city like a vagabond before stumbling upon my new family: a group of Phantom Hunters. They were searching for survivors of an explosion that had occurred in a nearby restaurant and, in my desperation, I was prepared to become possessed by a supernatural entity. Instead, they took me in and brought me to their home. I still don't understand why they were willing to take such a risk on a stranger, but I am eternally grateful for their kindness and generosity.
With the context out of the way, I’ll tell you my story and how it changed this city forever. It was a normal day, as normal as it can get in this city. I was at school, bored out of my mind, the teacher was giving a lecture about Figurative Language. I guess it was important to learn English but the way the teacher spoke about it just made me want to sleep. I yawned, then nudged my friend Mike to keep him awake. If I was going to be tormented by idioms, he was going to be tormented by metaphors and similes too. I glanced at the clock, it read 1:15 p.m.. Only 5 more minutes until recess, I thought, you just need to stay awake for 5 more minutes Sean. I then glanced at the schedule, I groaned, it was a monday, which meant we had English, recess and then English again. I wanted to kill myself, I wouldn’t be able to last those last 40 minutes. Time ticked by extremely slowly, I swear I nodded off at least 15 times before the bell rang, indicating that recess had started.
As I did every day, I headed to the nearest court, where all my friends were, to play volleyball. Today, however, the teacher denied us a ball, so we were left on our own trying to find what to do. I remember myself thinking Oh god, first English class and then this while I made my way to the parking lot, where there are 2 basketball courts. On the way, I passed through some young ones playing soccer. I figured I had nothing else to do so I took a seat at the edge of the field and watched the game unfold. I knew some of the people that were playing because my adoptive… foster brother was their age and up until some years ago he had been in the same school as me, that was until he decided to change to his old school. Oh, sorry I forgot, over the years, my family has adopted 2 other people, my brother (not related by blood) who is 12 years old, and my little sister (also not related by blood) who just turned 5 last week.
As I was saying, I had just taken a seat to admire the game when I was approached by 3 girls, they seemed the same age as my brother so I dismissed it as probably some of his friends coming to ask me “Oh, are you Jean’s older brother?”. I won’t disclose a lot of details about this conversation because I don’t really remember it that much, but I remember the start of the conversation because it was hilarious.
“Hi! Do you know she likes you?” the girl to the left, she was of average height, had a slightly tanned skin tone and wore glasses, greeted me cheerfully at the end of her dialogue she pointed to the one in the middle, a little bit taller than the first had a pale skin tone and a dark brown hair, the latter put a hand on the girl’s mouth only to recoil with an “EWWW”; they started bickering and wouldn’t calm down for at least five minutes.
“I’m sorry for my friends’ behavior,” The third girl interrupted, by far the tallest of them, standing just five or six inches shorter than me, even though I’m a good 5’9”, she had the appearance of a foreigner, I didn’t know many locals who were blonde with blue eyes, she spoke with a slightly off tone and when I looked at her in the eyes, I felt like my fight or flight instinct was kicking in, panic bells rang off inside my head, but not because I was talking to someone I liked, I didn’t, this feeling… I had only felt this feeling when my life was in imminent danger, like if I was being followed by a shadow stalker. “Name’s Zeph” It took me a moment to react, “Sean”. “Good to meet you” she said, and then proceeded to introduce her still bickering friends. “She’s Holly” she said as she pointed to the one in the middle, “and she is Sam” she pointed to the one on the left. The conversation that ensued in something I can’t recall, the only thing I remember is feeling weary all the time. There was this aura of calmness emanating from Zeph, it was so calm that it bothered me, like how a silent horror would attack its prey.
After the conversation, I left the soccer field and headed to the basketball court where Mike and the others were. I quickly told them what had happened, and Mike was ecstatic. “You’ve got yourself a girlfriend, Sean!” he said, with a huge grin on his face. “Shut up, Mike, I don’t even know if she likes me like that,” I replied, rolling my eyes. We started playing basketball, and I couldn’t stop thinking about Zeph. There was something strange about her, something that made me feel uneasy.
The bell rang, indicating that recess was over, and we headed back to class. I couldn’t focus on the lecture, my mind kept wandering back to Zeph. I decided to look her up on social media, and to my surprise, I found her profile easily. I scrolled through her pictures, trying to learn more about her. There were pictures of her at the beach, pictures of her with her friends, and even pictures of her playing guitar. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was something off about her, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The next day passed by slowly, and as soon as the bell rang, indicating that classes were over, I rushed home. I went straight to my room, turned on my computer, and started researching. I spent hours reading about different cultures, different religions, and different beliefs. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Zeph, but I knew that there was something.
Days passed, and I couldn’t get Zeph out of my head. I tried talking to her, but every time I did, I felt the same uneasiness that I felt the first time we talked. I decided to talk to my parents about her, but they didn’t seem to know anything about her. I tried talking to my friends, but they just laughed at me, thinking it was some sort of lame excuse to try to throw them off of bothering me with her. Then, one day out of the blue, the group of three decided that I was their perfect victim to their bickering.
As I waited for my parents to come and pick me up from school, I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that crept up on me. My bicycle had been totaled in an earlier fight, and I didn't feel comfortable walking, especially in the areas where darkness lingered, tempting unsuspecting victims into traps. Ignoring the ominous atmosphere, I tried to focus on something else, anything else.
"Hey!" Suddenly, I felt someone grab my arm, sending shivers down my spine. Sensitivity to touch was a part of my condition, and physical contact with others often made me feel claustrophobic. I turned to see who had grabbed me and found myself face to face with Holly. The proximity made me jump, and I knew I had to keep my guard up in case of a fight.
As I tried to compose myself, I felt something move behind me. I tried to turn around, but when I did, there was nothing there. Dread filled me, and I debated whether to draw my sword or not. In the end, I decided against it.
I turned my attention back to Holly, only to be met by Zeph, who appeared out of nowhere and scared me out of my wits. The uneasy feeling in my gut grew stronger, and I couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble I had gotten myself into.
Out of the shadows emerged Sam, whom I hadn't noticed before. My gut feeling intensified as I looked around, trying to find a way to escape. I was trapped, backed against a tree and surrounded by a group of wild 12-year-olds.
"How are you doing?" Sam grinned, her glasses reflecting the sun, hiding her eyes. I searched for a way out and saw Holly standing arrogantly in front of me, while Zeph was on my right. As soon as I met Zeph's gaze, I expected to feel a sense of dread, but instead, I felt nothing.
“Hey, don’t be rude. Sam asked you a question,” Holly said, stepping closer to me. I could feel her breath on my face.
“I’m fine,” I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just waiting for my parents.”
“Oh, we know,” Zeph said, stepping closer to me as well. “We just wanted to chat. You know, get to know each other better.”
I swallowed hard, feeling like a trapped animal. “I really need to go. My parents are waiting.”
“Oh, come on,” Sam said, moving closer to me too. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
But I knew better. These kids were trouble, and I had a feeling that they were up to no good. I looked around, trying to find an escape route, but I was surrounded.
Just as I was about to panic, I heard the sound of a car pulling up. Relief washed over me as I saw my parents getting out of the car. The group of kids scattered, disappearing into the shadows like they had never been there
I quickly walked towards my parents, feeling safe now that they were there. As we drove away, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble those kids would get into next. And I made a mental note to avoid them at all costs in the future.
I got into the car, my dad was there, the vehicle was dark, so his shining white eyes were so easily found. “Who are those people that were talking with you” He said, his speech a mix of natural sounds and low screeches, it was the Twilight Lang, their form of speech I had learnt through the years.
“They are some weird friends” I answered him, shuddering, then added “Thanks for saving me there, you were just on time”
I don’t know if he knew something was off or he was just suspicious of something but he looked directly at me through the rearview mirror, his pale face a mix of worry and relief.
“I’m glad to be of help, as always” We didn’t speak more during the return trip, he left me to wonder what my fate would’ve been if he hadn’t shown up just then.
As we arrived home, I went straight to my room, feeling exhausted and relieved at the same time. I lay on my bed, thinking about the events that had just occurred. I knew I had to be more careful in the future and avoid getting into situations like that.
But the nagging feeling in my gut wouldn't go away. I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to the encounter than what I had seen. I wondered why those kids had targeted me, and what they had wanted from me.
I went to school the next day, still feeling a bit uneasy after the encounter with the group of kids. As I walked through the halls, I caught glimpses of the girls from the day before. It was strange, but I didn't feel the same sense of dread that I had before. In fact, Zeph seemed different somehow, as if her aura of calmness had suddenly disappeared, at least for me.
As the day went on, I tried to avoid them as much as possible. I didn't want to get involved with them again, especially after what had happened the day before. However, they seemed to be everywhere, like they were purposely trying to cross paths with me.
At lunchtime, I sat alone in the cafeteria, trying to eat my sandwich in peace. But soon enough, Holly and Sam appeared at my table, uninvited.
"Hey there," Holly said, smirking at me. "Mind if we join you?"
I didn't really have a choice, so I just shrugged and nodded. They sat down across from me, and I couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"So" Holly said, looking expectantly at me. She didn't say anything more so silence reigned over our table.
"So?" I asked, eager to break the muteness in the air
Holly leaned forward, a wicked glint in her eye. "We were just wondering if you've changed your mind yet. About joining our group, I mean."
I shook my head, they hadn’t asked me anything before, but I wasn’t going to join their group even if I wanted to die. "No, I haven't changed my mind. I don't think I want to be a part of your group."
Holly's smile faded, and her expression turned cold. "Well, that's too bad. We could've had some fun together."
I tried not to let her words affect me, but I couldn't help feeling a little scared. What did she mean by "fun"? And why did they seem so fixated on me?
The rest of lunch was uncomfortable, and I couldn't wait to leave the cafeteria. As I walked down the hallway, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Zeph walking towards me.
"Hey," she said, her voice soft and hesitant. "Can we talk?"
I was surprised by her sudden change in demeanor, but I nodded anyway. We walked to an empty classroom and sat down at a desk.
"I just wanted to apologize," Zeph said, looking down at her hands. "For what happened yesterday. We didn't mean to scare you like that."
I wasn't sure if I believed her, but I appreciated the apology nonetheless. "Thanks," I said, still feeling wary.
Zeph looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. "I know Holly and Sam can be a bit intense sometimes. But they're not all bad. We just...we have our own way of having fun, you know?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of fun?"
Zeph hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's hard to explain. We just like to do things that are a little...different. Things that other people might not understand."
I couldn't help but feel a little intrigued. "Like what?"
Zeph smiled, seeming to relax a little. "Well, for example, we like to explore abandoned buildings. Or go on night hikes in the woods. Stuff like that."
I wasn't sure how to respond. On one hand, it sounded kind of exciting. On the other hand, it also sounded kind of dangerous.
Zeph must have sensed my hesitation because she quickly added, "But of course, we only do those things when it's safe. We're not stupid or anything."
I nodded, still not completely convinced. "I don't know, it just seems kind of risky."
Zeph shrugged. "It's not for everyone, I guess. But if you ever change your mind, you're always welcome to come along."
With that, our conversation ended, and we left the classroom. As I walked away, I couldn't help but think about what she had said. Maybe there was more to these girls than I had originally thought.
Oh how correct I was.

Hi! I’m going on a 40 day solo trip to Japan next June. (I know that’s a long way away but I love to plan.) I’ve always loved the idea of solo travel and the culture in Japan but I’ve never had the chance to experience it myself.
As it is so far away and don’t like to have a ridged schedule I haven’t planned my exact day to day but I have a list of places I plan to visit while in each city.
Not sure if this is worth mentioning but I will be 18. I’m not sure how much this changes with Japanese laws.
Tokyo - 7 Nights
I would prefer to arrive at Narita as I believe it’s closer to Shinjuku which is where I’ll be staying. I don’t plan to do much the first day.
General things to do and places to visit while staying in Shinjuku:
-Gyoen National Garden -Omoide Yokocho -View from Government Building -Kabukicho Tower -Kabukicho -Izakaya Hopping (but with ramen) -Book and Bed -Samurai Museum -Takadanobaba
Sapporo - 3 Nights
I would fly from Tokyo to Sapporo to get around the 10 hour train ride. (It’s also cheaper)
-Sapporo TV Tower -Odori Park -Tanuki Koji Shopping Street -Nijo Seafood Market -Susukino District @ Night -Ramen Alley -Mt. Moiwa -Fushimi Inari Temple -Hokkaido Modern Art Museum
Otaru - 2 Nights -Ice Cream -Walk around canal -Otaru Museum -Music Box Museum -Antique Shops -Sushi
Furano - 1 day (28 July) -Biei Pond -Shikosai no Oka -Cycling -Melon House??? -Hike
Nagoya - 2 Nights
Once again I would be flying to save money and time.
-Toyota Factory + Museum -Nagoya Science Museum -Osu Shopping Street -Explore Sakae -Walk Yamazaki River
Osaka - 5 Nights -Dotomdori District -Universal Studios Japan (probably not) -Osaka Castle -Shinsaibashi-Suji Shopping Street -Kuchu Teien Observatory -Namba Shops -Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine -Kuromon Market -Teamlab Osaka -Tenjinbashisuji
Kyoto - 3 Nights -Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine -Kinkajuji Shrine -Sanjusangendo Temple -Arashiyama -Gion -Monkey Park -Nishiki Market -Kyoto Tower -Mt Shosha
Hiroshima - 2 Nights (posibly 1 more for cat island) -Hiroshima Peace Museum -Hiroshima Castle -Miyajima Island -Ao Island (maybe)
Fukuoka - 2 Nights -Kushiro Shrine -Ohori Park -Uminonakamichi Seaside Park -Tenjin Underground Shopping -Fukuoka Tower -Nokonoshima Island -Momochi Seaside Park -Jim US Burger -Kuiyoiken Ramen
Okinawa - 3 Nights
I would be flying from Fukuoka to Okinawa.
-Shuri Castle -Churaumi Aquarium -Diving -Okinawa Peace Park -Mihama American Village -Kokusai Dori Street -Cape Manza -Miyako Island -Zamami Island
Hakone - 1 Night
I would fly from Okinawa to Tokyo. Then take a train to Hakone.
-Hot Spring -Chisuji Falls -Lake Ashi -Hakone Shrine
Enoshima -Iwaya Caves -Terrace Mall -Kamakura day trip -See the Town As cringe as it is I saw an anime a while back that impacted me. It is supposedly 1 for 1 set in the Enoshima area so it would be super cool.
Tokyo - 7 Nights (again)
This time I would stay in the Shibuya area.
-Meiji Jingu Shrine -Shibuya Crossing -Yoyogi Park -Hachiko Dog Statue (from that movie) -Takeshita Street -Cat Street -Shibuya Center-Gai -Shibuya Sky -Shibuya 109
If you have anything to add or suggestions, please share!
I would not be getting the JR pass as with the changes and my length of stay I would spend dramatically more money than I ever would just paying for everything with a Suica card (will all trains accept this? I know most will but will it pose a problem?)
Please let me know if you have any tips comments or concerns with my plans. I have a bunch of extra days laying around in Tokyo so I might do some day trips. Let me know if any you recommend.
I am expecting to spend about 8,000 USD on this trip. My breakdown is this. Does this all make sense. Obviously the less the better so if I hear I’m wrong that would be great. My plan for staying is AirBnB. In most places I would like to have a small kitchen. From the little bit I’ve seen I expect to spend 75 USD on average.
Budget: $125 Daily Outline —————————————————— $70 Housing $40 Food $15 Misc —————————————————— Total Daily: $5,000 —————————————————— +$1,200 Flight +$504 IC Card +230 In Country +$75 Sim Card +$1221 Misc —————————————————— Total Total: $8,000
Thanks a bunch!

our 2015 xv just recently passed 100k miles and im taking it in to get some other work done soon. im not savvy about cars at all but i want this car to continue to run. i want to take care of it. are there maintenance concerns i should ask about? i feel like ive read opposing views on having the transmission flushed and fluid replaced.
thanks yall i appreciate it

I am an adult female living in the UK who is now looking for new friends. I have long waist length hair and enjoy watching films, reading novels, and travelling. I love meeting new people and sharing experiences of each other's lives. I work very hard at my job, but I also enjoy relaxing and having fun in life. I enjoy exploring the towns and markets of the UK, walking along beautiful country lanes and learning about the culture and history of the area. I hope to find some like-minded people who I can meet to sample good food, explore new places or just chat together in the comfort of my home. If you share my interests, drop me a line and I look forward to getting to know you!

Background: been together five years. No pets no kids no marriage not living together. We live in the same country and he lives about two hours away.
My bf told me that he change his job, move to a town alone, started living alone and took a job that pays less all because of me. He said those changes really bother him, as in he would not have done those things because of me.
I appreciate his intentions, but, when he was looking for a job I explicitly told him not to move because of me, and he should consider his career prospects more than the relationship. He is now holding me guilty/ accountable for his actions and he is also saying that I don't appreciate him enough. I now feel that he making me feel guilty for what he has to go though now - new environment and loneliness. Should I be concerned?

TLDR My boyfriends mental health has turned into a cycle of abuse and we don't want the same things for our future. I am burnt out and I don't see much change happening in the future.
I (21F) have been with my boyfriend (22M) for almost 4 years and have been living together with his family for 3. I moved in with his family in 2019 during Covid to take care of my reptiles since I couldn't bring them back to my parents house (way too early to move in). I'm not happy with our relationship. He has ADHD, PTSD, panic disorder, and has a horrible fear of karma and medical things and is only medicated for panic attacks when they happen. I don't hold anything against him for his own problems but it's getting harder and harder to deal with. He's no longer able to work a normal job and we are waiting for disability so he can pay for his car. I play the role of therapist, doctor (to research diseases he's worried about), caretaker, and girlfriend. I pull my own weight around the house along with his (laundry, cleaning, dishes, etc). All of this makes it hard for me to be intimate and he's noticed. Because of his mental health, I can only work 2-3 days per week which is just enough to cover all of my bills and to put some money into savings. We're not going to be able to move out for a long time. And I don't think I'll ever be able to live anything close to a normal life again. I feel like I'm not able to go out with friends alone, I always cancel on them, I've had to take leave from work twice and almost got fired for calling out too many times to stay home with him. I can't keep putting him before myself on my priorities. I have seen improvement in his mental health since he started going to therapy. But that hasn't changed the mean things he says when we fight. And it hasn't changed the fact that he doesn't apologize for them after the fact. Many times he does apologize, it's because he's worried that karma will get to him and give him cancer. I get it, he gets mad but it doesn't excuse saying mean things and being able to get away with it. I've just learned to never hold grudges unfortunately. I'm tired of being a pushover. I was enough of one before we met and he hates that about me, that I let people walk all over me at work. His therapy also doesn't change the fact that we want different things. He wants to travel and wants to move far away from our hometown. Im terrified of traveling. I go with him to therapy which is in our states capital city (about 1 hour away, 1.5-2 hours with traffic) and for the first few months, I would throw up before we left and be shaking the entire way there. I can't imagine moving to another state or country. Can this relationship be saved with counseling or should I just spill everything on him about how I really feel and break up? I can go live with my parents who live a few towns away and would love to have me back home. I know which possessions are mine, we don't have any shared ones so that's also not an issue.

TLDR My boyfriends mental health has turned into a cycle of abuse and we don't want the same things for our future. I am burnt out and I don't see much change happening in the future.
I (21F) have been with my boyfriend (22M) for almost 4 years and have been living together with his family for 3. I moved in with his family in 2019 during Covid to take care of my reptiles since I couldn't bring them back to my parents house (way too early to move in). I'm not happy with our relationship. He has ADHD, PTSD, panic disorder, and has a horrible fear of karma and medical things and is only medicated for panic attacks when they happen. I don't hold anything against him for his own problems but it's getting harder and harder to deal with. He's no longer able to work a normal job and we are waiting for disability so he can pay for his car. I play the role of therapist, doctor (to research diseases he's worried about), caretaker, and girlfriend. I pull my own weight around the house along with his (laundry, cleaning, dishes, etc). All of this makes it hard for me to be intimate and he's noticed. Because of his mental health, I can only work 2-3 days per week which is just enough to cover all of my bills and to put some money into savings. We're not going to be able to move out for a long time. And I don't think I'll ever be able to live anything close to a normal life again. I feel like I'm not able to go out with friends alone, I always cancel on them, I've had to take leave from work twice and almost got fired for calling out too many times to stay home with him. I can't keep putting him before myself on my priorities. I have seen improvement in his mental health since he started going to therapy. But that hasn't changed the mean things he says when we fight. And it hasn't changed the fact that he doesn't apologize for them after the fact. Many times he does apologize, it's because he's worried that karma will get to him and give him cancer. I get it, he gets mad but it doesn't excuse saying mean things and being able to get away with it. I've just learned to never hold grudges unfortunately. I'm tired of being a pushover. I was enough of one before we met and he hates that about me, that I let people walk all over me at work. His therapy also doesn't change the fact that we want different things. He wants to travel and wants to move far away from our hometown. Im terrified of traveling. I go with him to therapy which is in our states capital city (about 1 hour away, 1.5-2 hours with traffic) and for the first few months, I would throw up before we left and be shaking the entire way there. I can't imagine moving to another state or country. Can this relationship be saved with counseling or should I just spill everything on him about how I really feel and break up? I can go live with my parents who live a few towns away and would love to have me back home. I know which possessions are mine, we don't have any shared ones so that's also not an issue.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this, if it is, please redirect me to the ideal subreddit.
A bit of context: I'm talking about a friend I made in discord. At this point we're really close to a relationship, and we've been for years. The only thing keeping it away is that we didn't have the chance to meet IRL, since we're not in the same country. We've been talking for 4 years now, and we were gonna meet in about a month. Important details are: I know their full name. I approximately know where they live (exact town and general area in the town, just not the specific street or house address). I don't have any way to contact their IRL friends, nor their family. They have social media, but barely use it and without any relation to anyone I could contact.
They're a very smart and gifted person; although very stubborn. Due to this, their parents are really strict and want them to have the best possible future. You probably know how this goes. They sent them to the most prestigious kind of school there. They're in the very last year of what would be high school there (it's not the US education system).
They've been lonely most of their life. Had suicidal thoughts in the past too. I somehow was able to help them out. Their parents sent him to therapy, but since they're so stubborn they weren't willing to talk at all with the therapist, so there's nothing he could do. Parents bought them a cat to help with loneliness, and that has been a big help for them. Now, they're dealing with exteme burnout. Really strict school with really strict parents means they almost don't have a life outside of studying. It's been like that for who knows how long.
Since the burnout is so extreme, they weren't really able to focus on this last school year. They desperately need a break. They've been failing most of the school year because of the extreme lack of motivation. Now they're facing the finals in a week; which cover the entire content of the course. They're doing their best for studying, but they're so extremely anxious and stressed that they are more focused in their other plan. They've been thinking about it for quite some time now. First time they told it to my other Discord friend. If they fail the finals, they'll off themselves, as they don't want to deal with the hardest school year yet again, without any motivation, with the pressure that their parents will pour on them and so on.
This was months ago. I've been trying since then to subtly make them talk about it. I wasn't able to. Last night, they were in a party and they got really drunk, so their tongue slipped. They told me that they're gonna let a train run over them. Today, they insinuated it again. Tried to make them talk but wasn't able to. They really DO not want to talk about it and will avoid it at all costs, but it's still in their head to do it.
I tried to gently comfort them. Been doing this every single day I noticed they've been feeling bad. I let them know they're listened, and that if they need to talk with someone I'm always there, and always will be. With how evasive they are, contacting police is a very last resort. They never agreed to talk with the therapist. As soon as police knocks the door, they will hate me for the rest of their short life, as they will now try to end it as soon as possible. I tried to convince them to talk to me immediately about finishing the exams, and I was rejected. Talking doesn't seem like the solution. I don't have anyone to tell them so they can protect them. They're completely set in stone and it doesn't seem like I'm able to help, unlike years ago. I have no ideas on how to tackle this anymore, but I feel like if I don't do anything they will end with their life. Please, any ideas are welcome. I'll be paying close attention to this thread and I will be responding to everything necessary (that doesn't dox them). Thank you.

Can someone explain the differences between all the various transmission fluids? And how big a deal is it if you put the wrong kind of transmission fluid in your vehicle?
2001 Ford F-150 nearly 300k miles. Transmission fluid was low (there is a known leak). Normally I use the high mileage ATF fluid, but the store was sold out, so I added a quart of Mercon V. Is that a big deal?