B (27:10)

Class is now in session and the UPS store is here to help you ace arriving on campus, our certified packing experts can pack everything you need, from desktops to decor. Plus, when you pack and ship with us, you get our exclusive pack and ship guarantee. Your items arrive safe or your money back. Restrictions and limitations apply. To get a 20% off packing coupon and for full details, visit theupsstore.com Packing Tito's Handmade Vodka is America's favorite vodka for a reason. From the first legal distillery in Texas, Tito's is six times distilled till it's just right and naturally gluten free, making it a high quality spirit that mixes with just about anything from the smoothest martinis to the best Bloody Marys. Tito's is known for giving back, teaming up with non profits to serve its communities and do good for dogs. Make your next cocktail with Tito's, distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly.

A (28:12)

My mom has always struggled with her weight and body image, so I suppose that's what drew him to her. Despite her problems, she never let it ruin her spirit and zest for life. There was never a day a smile wasn't on her face. She was smiling the day he walked through the doors of the community center and introduced himself as the genius behind a radical new weight loss program. He was as skinny as a rake, gangly, gaunt and tall and. And yet he claimed to have been medically diagnosed as morbidly obese just a week prior. I didn't like the look of him. I always came with my mom to her Weight Watchers meetings for moral support. I never had an issue with any of the other people who took the class. But this man. There was something unnerving about his piano key smile and his slick black hair. Door to door salesman. Look, just take one pill a day and the weight will just drop off. He grinned as he held up a black capsule in his fingers. What was most upsetting was the eagerness of my mom and the others to try these pills out. I strongly and vocally protested against using them. I mean, the pills could have been anything, and diet pills aren't exactly known for being safe at the best of times. However, my mom and the others looked at me like I was some outsider, an intrusive voice, who didn't know what it was like to be one of them. Well, young man, I understand your hesitation, but I assure you I have taken them myself. They are perfectly safe and totally organic, preached the salesman. Ken, a great swell of a man, asked how much they would cost. Nothing, nothing at all, answered the man with a wide grin. If I wasn't suspicious before, I was now. Nothing in this world is free. I could see my disbelief was offending the group and upsetting my mom. So I kept my mouth shut whilst my mom and the others rushed up and snatched box after box. One pill a day for one week, eat anything you want and gain nothing. That saying, if it sounded too good, it probably is, comes to mind. However, I didn't want to upset my mom, so when she started taking the pills, I was supportive and kept my doubts to myself. To my surprise, it seemed to be working. She would gorge herself like a beast, devouring an all you can eat buffet in one sitting. And yet, when she'd get on the scales the next morning, she hadn't gained a pound. Stranger still was the slime. Around the same time of my mom's new diet, slime trails, like that of a slug, began to appear in the house. They were far larger than slug trails, though, and they seemed to slither through the house and out through the cat flap. I told my mom, but she didn't seem bothered. In fact, all she was interested in was eating. I wasn't sure if it was because she was actually hungry or whether it was because she wanted to prove how good the pills were. McDonald's, Domino's, KFC and Wendy's. You name it and she would shovel it in. She was like a starved animal, gluttonous and unending in her appetite. But she told me not to worry. She had the pills. They would keep her from gaining weight. Eventually, though, her pills ran out and that's when things went from weird to bad. Mom started dropping the weight like crazy. She went from like an XL to a large in a day, and then a day after that. She was down to a small in a matter of a week. Her body was like a skeleton, her clothes hanging off her like blankets. But she was thrilled. Look how thin I am. Aren't I beautiful? She said, looking at herself in the mirrors. I wanted to tell her she was always beautiful, but I didn't. Yeah mom, you look amazing, I said. However, she just got thinner and thinner. After my mom became bed bound and nearly unable to breathe, I stayed by her bed every night, often falling asleep in the armchair near her. One night I heard an unusual spirit sound, slurping. The sound was disgusting and eventually it roused me from my slumber. When I opened my eyes, I let out an audible gasp, swallowing all the air in the room. Before me was a shocking sight. Sucking on my mother's flesh were countless white bulbous leech like things. They were everywhere, each the size of a football and all of them voraciously snacking on my mother. Shocked and reviled, I began yanking and pulling their sucker like mouths from her skin. Yet no matter how many I removed, more seemed to appear out of nowhere. Each of the slimy slugs sucked and slurped upon my mother, her skin shriveling around their mouths. Where did they all come from? I thought. But as I started snatching them from her, I got my answer. One of the bloated white things swelled from my mom's stomach, growing from her like a fat filled boil before wriggling free from her. All of a sudden the worming fat spawn stopped feeding and began wriggling away from her, dropping to the ground and slithering in unison as if they were following an invisible road. I followed them to the back door where they exited through the cat flap and journeyed outside. Stepping outside, I found the strange salesman standing there in his skeletal frame, wrapped in a tight fitting black suit. Desperation. There's nothing sweeter, is there? The man grinned, his white crooked teeth smiling like a hungry animal. I went to demand what he was doing in my back garden when it happened. He plucked up one of the white fat spawn and swallowed it alive and wriggling. Delicious. The man smiled. I asked what he was, and he took great delight in telling me. I'm the hunger in all beasts. I'm the fowler of water. The whimper of the starving. I take all you have and rob the land, he declared. One by one, the wriggling white worms crawled onto the man, sinking into his skin and clothes. They became one with him, fed him. Even the process caused him to let out a disturbing orgasmic sound that gave me shivers. I demanded that he saved her, stop whatever he had started, but he refused. Instead, he just kept laughing to himself, entertained by my utter inability to do anything. You're a clever kid. Your mom should have listened to you. Alas, I can't help you. I've got a prior engagement with my brothers. The man grinned. Then out of the night came striding a great black stallion. It was as emaciated as the salesman and had large white snooker ball eyes. This horse, this man. I knew who he was. I went to Sunday school, my mom demanded. Was famine the great hunger? My shock and bewilderment brought a smile to the gaunt fellow's face as he mounted his horse. I picked up a wooden fence post, but before I could move towards him, his head twisted around and froze me with his gaze. My stomach clenched up, my skin tightened, and my head spun inside its skull. Hunger can't be fought, lad. He smirked. And with that, I fell. Fell to the ground, exhausted and drained. I could do nothing to stop him as he rode off into the night. I never saw him again, and people just seemed to forget him. Even me and my mom couldn't recall the name he gave us when he entered our community center. The only thing he left behind, the only evidence of his presence, were the hungry mom. Ken, Mrs. Hodge from down the road, and the rest of the Weight Watchers bunch were all hospitalized with a case of deliberate starvation. I explained to the doctors that it was the pills and the man, but they didn't believe me. The weight continues to drop off my mom and continues to crawl away to where the fat worms slither. I do not know. She's little more than a skeleton now, but my mom always looks to me every day with a wheezing smile and asks if she is still beautiful. And I always say the same thing. Yeah, mom, you look amazing, I'd whisper. So let this be a lesson. If a man offers to make you thin, do not trust him. Do not take that pill. You are perfect just the way you are.

B (37:38)

Eczema isn't always obvious, but it's real and so is the relief from Ebglis. After an initial dosing phase, about 4 in 10 people taking EBGLIS achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks, and most of those people maintained skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing.

A (37:57)

EBGLIS Librekizumab LBKZ a 250 milligram per 2 milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals, or who cannot use topical therapy. Eglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to Ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Ebglis. Before starting Epglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection searching for real relief.

B (38:31)

Ask your doctor about eglis and visit epgliss.lily.com or call 1-800-lilyrx or 1-800-545-5979.

A (38:38)

She's made up her mind to live pretty smart. Learn to budget responsibly right from the she spends a little less and puts more into savings. Keeps the blood pressure low and credit score raises boring money moves. Make kind of lame songs but they sound pretty sweet to your wallet. BNC bank brilliantly boring since 1865, Gatorade is the number one proven electrolyte blend designed to hydrate better than water so you can lose more sweat and raise your game. Gatorade Is it in you? Okay, so a bit of backstory. This story involves me and my friend. We were both around 12 and 11 and we were both alone at the park as it wasn't far from my house and our village is pretty small where everyone knows everyone so our parents weren't worried about us and we're in England so not as much fear of kids being alone. Big mistake. My friend and I were both messing around on the swings and car watching as there was a private road to some fancy houses so some nice looking cars came down. Every now and then I noticed this nice looking bright white BMW come down the road and commented to my friend that it must be a Pain in the butt to clean and keep that way. About a minute later, the car drove back up the road. I noticed it and just wrote it off as them maybe picking something up and then returning again. Then it came back down slower. The driver drove up and down the road a total of about five times. At that point, we both looked at each other, kind of scared and wondering, what is this person doing? We were told whenever we were in town to be careful of anyone you don't know approaching you if our parents weren't around. You know that classic line that you get bored of and just find annoying when it's repeated 24 7. We both decided it was weird and so she grabbed her phone and I grabbed my water bottle and we started walking up the lane. The way to get to my house was either across the road, after you go up the path, walk up the driveway a bit and through the back gate, or up the lane further, turn left and walk along and then go down our drive and through the front door. We got about halfway up the lane when the car came back slower than ever, and then it stopped. When it stopped, I knew something wasn't right and I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the field. To anyone else, it looked like we were running off to play on the hills at the back of the field. But we both knew there was a path behind some trees that led to a bunch of storage units and houses where one of our other friends lived. About halfway across the field, we turned back to see the guy had gotten out of the car and was jumping the wall. We ran to the trees and through the secret exit. Right as we cleared the little alley, we heard it. A gunshot. No one around here has guns, so this scared the hell out of both of us. We were terrified as we hadn't heard much warning about guns. We knew they were harder to get here than other countries. We both ran up the road through the storage areas to the other friend's house. Neither of us breathed a word about what we experienced to anyone. Probably not a smart idea, but nothing happened after that that everything went back to normal. I probably should have told my parents, but I was young and dumb and I'm not going to tell them now that it's been three years. It's not like they'd be able to do anything about it now. I wish the story ended there, but there is a little bit more. About a year later, a friend and I were shopping in a nearby town with her mom when I saw a familiar car, a white BMW, parked on the road. It triggered my memory and I pointed it out to my friend. She nervously laughed and we walked past it. But then I heard the little noise that goes off when the doors get unlocked by the keys and I see the light flash out of the corner of my eye. I turn around and I saw him. It was the same guy. He was with a woman who looked a little younger than him and who was wearing stilettos. I whispered to my friend and she dragged me around the corner. After our other friends hushedly ranted to me, asking whether he had seen me, if I thought he recognized us, etc. She seemed more freaked out than me and I did something I wished that I didn't. I lied to her. He had definitely noticed us, but whether he recognized me, I don't know. I told her I didn't get a good look at him and that it had been a year year and I wasn't entirely sure. I know it was him and it still creeps me out to think that by sheer coincidence we ran into him again. I don't know what would have happened if we didn't run to that back lane, if we hadn't crossed the road. I'm not sure I want to think about it. Who knows why he had a gun and what he would have really done if he had caught up with us. It was 2009. I'm in high school and I'm a male. I live in an island where most people live near the coast. But my childhood house is deep in the mountains. Imagine a house in the woods, but at the very top of the mountain. The house is surrounded by thick mist every night like in a bad horror movie. And the woods around it start less than two feet from the outer walls of our house. Our closest neighbor is about a 15 minute drive and five minutes away, there's an abandoned house. There's no street lights and there are all kinds of animals roaming the area. This is important to the story because even though you couldn't see a group of 10 people hiding 1 meter away from you in the woods, you could hear absolutely everything up to a couple kilometers away way. If we saw car lights or heard a car approaching, my family and I would turn off the lights and hide. I don't know why. Shy, antisocial, whatever you want to call it. I think that's enough to set my story up, but I'll add a little bit more detail that might be important. My house is small, but our family car was a good one. I don't know much about cars, but my dad Always says that without a really good car, we wouldn't be able to go up and down the mountain we lived in. Also, there's currently eight people living inside our house. This happened one night at about 11pm so I'm at the dining table enjoying some cereal while I watch some anime, having the time of my life. The lights in the house were on, so nothing could be seen in the darkness outside. There's a window in front of me that faces the front of the house, house and the road. Something calls my attention, but I don't hear or see anything. Suddenly I think I slightly see a human silhouette outside, but it's not moving, so I just ignore it as some effect of the lights in the house or maybe my own reflection. More anime, more cereal. Then I think I see something moving at the other side of the window. And this time, time, the silhouette is waving at me. I felt my heart jump out of my chest and I froze. There was a person outside waving at me. After maybe 10 seconds in which I had just looked up with a spoon halfway to my mouth, he decides to call out, hello. I need help. My parents hear him and approach the window, which made me sure I wasn't looking at a ghost. The man outside starts telling a story about how his car was stolen and he needs help. My parents are surprised that nobody heard his footsteps, so they whisper their theories among themselves. For the mysterious guy's story to be true, he had to have been mugged more than a mile away, gotten his car stolen, and then walked for half an hour in the dark through the woods, following the dim light of our house. My parents still decide to believe him and they offer to call the police. Our visitor begs to say the stupidest thing he could have. Don't call the police. I don't have a gun. My parents stay silent for a while. The guy outside knows that he messed up, but proceeds to make his request. Can I please get a ride downtown? My dad nervously chuckles and gives him an excuse. He mentions the time, the fact that he felt the guy was lying and that he had already called the police. This is when my favorite part of the story begins. I stand up from the table, shaking. I go to a closet, and even though I can't see the guy's face, I know he's following my actions. I grab two machetes that are half my size and run to the other room. I was terrified and looking for. Looking back, I probably took away the only weapons my parents could have used to protect themselves in case of an altercation. I Opened a door to the room where my siblings and I sleep and they were watching some silly show. My sisters are loud and my younger brothers are 4 years old, 7 years old and 9 years old, so their laughs are angelical by day and demonic by night. I signal at them to shut up and they do so, joining me and my parents in our fear. There's silence, and then suddenly we hear the guy say, it's okay. If you can't help me, I'll go to the next house. My dad replies, there's no next house. You should wait for the police here. I don't need the police. I'm good. This goes back and forth. The guy is now in good shape to walk an hour down the mountain to reach downtown. My dad offers a rusty metal tricycle from our porch so that he can go downtown as a joke. The guy accepts this offer and grabs the tricycle. I assume he just wanted to leave with something. This tricycle is 20 years old and it definitely doesn't work. And this guy definitely wouldn't be able to ride it even if it did. We hear the screeching of the tricycle for a couple of seconds as the stranger struggled to be able to ride it and then stopped not too far away from the house. It seemed like he stopped and we didn't hear any footsteps that indicated the guy had left. After trying to identify if he was still in sight, to no avail, my dad calls the police. We wait in silence, looking at the road from the front windows. Fifteen minutes later, the police finally arrived and as soon as the red and blue lights show up, they illuminate the entire road up to the abandoned house. The tricycle is sitting by itself on the road, not too far away. The police claim not seeing anyone on the road, so they just took a look at the woods with a flashlight and called it a night. The cops were clearly freaked out by the eerie look of our house and did not stay more than five minutes. Nothing else happened that night. I slept with two machetes under my bed, which I remember angered one of my sisters. We have no idea who this person was. No carjackings were reported the next day. And even though a lot of weird things happen around my house, we never saw this guy again. It's pretty obvious he was up to no good, but there were a few things that we could never understand. Where did he come from? Where did he go? If his story was true, he had the worst luck in the world. I think the situation was interesting because I think about his point of view and Our horror night turns a bit comical. I mean imagine this, you go rob a house. Turns out the people inside speak calmly. There is a scrawny, seemingly mute kid that tries to be sneaky and grabbing some huge machete and then hide somewhere in the darkness of the house. Then you hear children's laughter coming from a room and then absolute silence. I think we were lucky, but probably out creeped this creep that night. I don't see any other reason for this guy to back out of his plans. The guy clearly had a gun and bad intentions, not to mention his ability to ninja walk through a forest where we even hear wild cats walking around. Also, no neighbors witnessed or heard anything. I am sure some other person would have told this story better, but I gave it a shot. Obviously I hope I never see this guy again, even though I wouldn't know if I did because I never saw his face. So this story needs a little bit of background backstory. I am a 21 year old female and at the time of this story I was 19 and had just started a new job at a Greek restaurant in my town. I had also just found out I was six weeks pregnant and still in the process of comprehending this, but ended up losing the pregnancy about two weeks after this incident. So needless to say I was wrecked emotionally. This new job meant basically waiting tables for about six six to ten hours a day and for anyone who has ever experienced morning sickness knows that it does not just strike in the morning. So I was pretty nauseated most of the day and exhausted, which meant I wasn't exactly the most alert. I was incredibly tired all the time, but I tried my best to still appear alert and focused. I woke up bright and early and put on a long sleeve, button down black slacks and non slip shoes. On my first day at this new job I was immediately walked through and introduced to the other employees. One person in particular stood out immediately. He was probably in his mid-40s to early 50s, overweight, dark, unkempt hair and beard, glasses, no smile. He stared like he was trying to direct me with his eyes and seeing to be analyzing every part of me to this day, it is still something that can send a chill down my spine. I think it is also worth mentioning that because I look younger than I am when I am not wearing makeup, I was continuously being asked what high school I went to. Most of them assumed I was like 16 years old and I had never been formally introduced to this guy or even learned his name. So as far as he knew I was 16 years old I didn't see the point in correcting them since I was pretty used to being mistaken for younger when my arms were covered. Throughout my entire shift, I could feel eyes on me no matter where I went in the restaurant. And over time I would turn to the kitchen and see his cold, unmoving, deadpan expression locked onto me like a heat seeking missile. For the most part on the first day this is all he did. Aside from that, he left me alone, but for me it was already enough to put me on edge. I would also catch moments where he and my manager would be speaking with one another, look over at me and then speak again. At first I thought okay, that is just the hormones, I'm being crazy. Then towards the end of my shift I let my manager know I would need to leave exactly at closing because I need to walk to my bus stop and if I miss that bus I'm kind of screwed. Until the next one comes at a little before midnight. He agrees and says it will not be a problem. He also mentions that I am dressed so formally and that casual would be better. So the next day I decided to just wear the same thing as I saw other female co workers wearing and I came in for my shift. I am wearing an all black short sleeve T shirt, black yoga pants, non slip shoes and my apron. I also happen to have multiple tattoos, most of which are on my wrists, forearms and inner arms. Not a full sleeve, but pretty visible to most of the co workers. This was enough to show them I was in fact over 18, but it also made me more interesting of an object to leer at during my shift for him. As I was restocking some of the sauces we put on the table, he approached me and stared down at me intently. I looked up startled to see him so close to me and just said yes. He just stared at me for a few seconds and then said want some coffee? We had a machine we used to to make various coffee drinks that we kept in the back. So I assumed this is what he meant and responded, uh, okay, sure, thanks. I'd appreciate that. He seemed really content and just walked away without another word. He never actually brought me coffee and I thought that was kind of weird, but I just went back to doing my job. A few hours later and it's finally time I can take my lunch break. I quickly place my to go order and run to the back room to change into a sweater. When I came back from changing my food is ready and he hands me the food and I notice there is a piece of paper on top and he is smirking at me then looking at my manager with a smile. I realize later that the piece of paper is his phone number. When I come back from my lunch I am asked by my manager to go into the storage unit behind the restaurant and grab cases of soda to restock the fridge. I agree and head back. This storage unit was basically a metal shipping carrier that was in the parking lot behind the restaurant. There was one big heavy metal door to get in and no light on the inside. While I was in there I had my back turned to the metal door while I was knelt down looking for all the cases of soda on the shelves. Hey. My heart nearly stops and I let out a sharp squeak of terror and quickly turn around to see him. I chuckle half heartedly to try and make it seem like I wasn't on the verge of passing out and then just quickly ask am I in your way? Silence. I slowly stand up and brace my back against the wall of the the shipping container realizing that I may not be in the safest position right now. You never texted me. He slowly starts to move towards me and I half cry, half shout I have a boyfriend. Dead silence again. He simply slams his fist into the shipping carrier door and walks out without a word. His shift ended with one hour later and mine was set to end in another five hours. He seemed to have left and I got through the rest of my shift almost completely without incident. I notice a car in the parking lot of the restaurant going out through the entrance and I think to myself how stupid. Why would he go that way. The car goes towards the intersection and then u turns to be driving the same way that I'm walking at this point. It is about 10:30pm and I had just finished closing up and began walking towards my bus stop only about a mile away at the train station. As I am walking I stay on the phone with my godmother and walk along the train station. As I reach my stop I realize that there is a car that just keeps circling. I had noticed it while I was walking for my job but thought it must just be because I was on a straight road for so long and when I notice the lift badge on it I assume it is just someone looking for their passenger. I know that it can be dangerous waiting at night by myself since the trains had already stopped running that night and I had another 30 or so minutes before my bus would arrive. I keep pepper spray on me just in case and a whistle in my backpack. For this exact reason I place my backpack down next to me on the bench and pop in one of my earbuds so I can have my playlist queued up and ready to go when my bus arrives. 15 more minutes go by and I see the car circle again. Another 10 minutes and it pulls up directly in front of me. I take out my earbud to preemptively say I'm not your passenger. Sorry. The window on the car rolls down and you guessed it, it's him. Get in. He demanded quickly. I am dumbfounded and freeze. No thanks. My bus will be here soon. He smiles eerily. Don't you see who it is? You know me. Get in. I tense up. No. I really don't want to. Please leave me alone. My voice is shaking and breaking on every word. I reach slowly for my backpack and freeze. Get in the car now. I feel my entire body lock up and I want to scream but nothing comes out. I hear his door unlock and I start to panic, thinking this is going to end very badly for me. The bus pulls in and I see the driver door of his car slam shut and he peels off down the road. I run into the bus and quickly take the closest seat to the driver I possibly could. As soon as I get through the door of my room I see my boyfriend and burst into tears and sob. I was shaking the entire bus ride with the realization that he had followed me in his car for a mile to the bus stop and then circled and waited until I was completely alone. I felt so ashamed that I had all the tools I believed I needed to keep myself safe and I froze up. I went to the police the next day and was told that even though they agreed it was extremely concerning and it could escalate further that they could not do anything until he flat out stated his intent to hurt me or stalked me for at least 48 hours. I was completely devastated but all also determined to stay away from him at that place. I quit over text message the next day because I was never going to go back in person. I really really hope I never see him again.

B (61:22)

Abercrombie Denim is everything right now. Denim should feel like this. Confident, easy, like your butt has never looked better if you didn't know Abercrombie's Curve Love Denim went viral in 2019 for eliminating waist gap and it's still a game changer. Between that and their classic fits with a straighter line from waist to hip, the perfect denim does exist. Shop Abercrombie Denim in the app online and in store. This episode is brought to you by State Farm Checking off the boxes on your to do list is a great feeling. And when it comes to checking off coverage, a State Farm agent can help you choose an option that's right for you. Whether you prefer talking in person on the phone or using the award winning app, it's nice knowing you have help finding coverage that best fits your needs. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there on top of building this fake volcano for months I give my daughter Smartypants vitamins to support her brain health, so her science fair project sounds more like and less like. And while I may say it's not a competition, of course it's a competition. Choose Smarty Pants vitamins to support your kid's brain health and save the science fair. Shop on Amazon smartypantsvitamins.com or at Target today.

A (62:47)

Lowe's has the Labor Day deals you need to give your home a new look. Buy one, get one free select interior paint via Visa gift card rebate then add the final touch with two for $8 on select 2.5 or 3 quart mums. Refresh your home and save big while doing it. Lowes we help you Save valid through 93 mums offer in store only. Selection varies by location while supplies last. More terms and restrictions apply. Seeloes.com rebates for details bundle and safe With Expedia you were made to follow your favorite band and from the front row we were made to quietly save you. More Expedia made to travel savings vary and subject to availability. Flight inclusive packages are atoll protected. Today there was a test of the civil defense siren in the region I live in, and the sound of it brought back a memory of something I have not thought about for years. In my country, it is common for these sirens to be placed on school buildings, and so it is very memorable the few times a year it would be tested. Back when I was in middle school at the age of 14, I was like most other kids my age, trying to fit in. In my case, that meant I was trying to blend into the crowd of older emo kids. I was attending a creative course and because the entire school ground was getting renovated, there were multiple old buildings that were going to be demolished. Because of this, me and some older emo kids were pretty much allowed to do whatever we wanted with those buildings for an art project and for the upcoming school fair. So we were painting random stuff on the walls and painting the stairs into waterfalls and such. On this day we were getting close to the end of our project. It was the end of the day, so School was pretty much empty and the sirens were going to be tested. Funnily enough, those sirens that probably originated way back from World War II were placed on top of the abandoned school buildings where said event was going to happen. Among the emo kids, there was this guy that was a few years older than me that I always found very weird, named Paul. The only way to describe him is that it was like he was constantly pretending to be unpredictable and crazy for laughs. Most of the time, this just meant that he was clowning around. He was friends with another emo guy my age, Andrew, who was openly obsessed with me. He was a very annoying daily thing that I had to deal with, who constantly followed me around school saying weird sexual stuff and sniffing my hair. But despite his stalkerish behavior, it never went past that. Paul, too had soon joined in on Andrew following me around, and so I skipped school a lot because no one wanted to take me seriously. They thought I was just being whiny about this comedic duo of pursuers, and even my mother would laugh if I complained about it. Despite them both being really creepy and annoying, I felt bad for them because Andrew was getting bullied for being feminine and gay, even though he clearly was not, given how he acted around me. And I felt bad for Paul because I knew he came from a very tragic and troubled home. This one day, I was walking downstairs from where my friends were painting to the empty first floor so I could get outside of the building. The sirens had started and it was so loud it was impossible to hear anything except during the small breaks. Suddenly, someone grabbed me before I managed to get outside and just moved me into the other hallway where a wall blocked any view from the entrance of the building. He literally held his hands in front of my mouth as he suddenly pushed me and lifted me up against the brick wall there, so I was shocked and kind of out of breath. As he faced me, I saw that it was the weirdo Paul, who was, for the record, very tall compared to my tiny frame. The sirens were going off loudly and he did not say anything, just stared at me with completely crazy eyes. Back then, I was so completely innocent and the fact that he could do anything bad did not cross my mind right away. I just nervously laughed while I said that he scared me and asked him to please put me down, but he didn't and I was starting to freak out because no one could hear me or knew where I was. Just then, before anything could happen, this older emo girl who was one of my friends appeared peeking out around the corner because she was looking for me. When she saw what he was doing, she did not hesitate for a moment. She walked over screaming at Paul and kicked him as hard as she could in the knee. He dropped me as he crouched down in pain and my friend just grabbed my shoulder and brought me outside to the school yard. After that, we did not really talk about it, just called him a creep and laughed it off. During my last few years in middle school, I drifted away from that crowd as they were all older and moving on to high school. As I have grown older and wiser, I have come to realize that just how close I had come to something really bad happening to me. Because of the sirens, no one would have been able to hear me scream. And because we were in the abandoned building, there was a lot of secluded rooms that he could have dragged me to. So I'm so thankful that my old friend walked in before he had the chance. Without her, the story may have been very different. Lastly, I would like to add that I saw this guy again in high school because he was dating a friend of a friend. He was often waiting around school grounds for her to finish classes and even though I tried avoiding him, he ran up and hugged me once. I felt very uncomfortable and just sort of froze. After that, I told my friend that he was not the right person and she said she knew he was abusive to her friend. After that, I told my friend that I really believed he was not the right person.