Hi đ, My name is Mohammad, and Iâm reaching out in a moment of desperate need. Iâm a father of three young children living in Gaza, and we are caught in the midst of a catastrophic war. Our home is no longer a safe haven, and the future here seems increasingly uncertain. đ
Iâve launched a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $60,000 to relocate my family to a safer place where my children can grow up in peace and have a chance at a brighter future.
Unfortunately, my previous fundraising efforts were abruptly halted when my account was terminated without explanation. However, I remain determined to keep fighting for my familyâs safety and well-being. đ«¶
If you could take a moment to read our story, consider donating, or simply share our campaign with others, it would make an incredible difference. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to safety and a new beginning. đ
I don't talk about my personal life on here a lot, but I've been going through a hard time. I was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and while it isn't cancer, it is still a scary thing to face, and the bills are piling up. There's a lot of doctors appointments right now, so I can't do a traditional 9-5. I work from home as a tutor online. I have 10+ years experience. I'm gonna attach a flyer below, even if you don't need the services yourself, it would really help me out if you could share. I will also post a pic of my current openings (they will be highlighted). Thank you in advance to any and all that help
âGreene, to the nursesâ desk,â comes the announcement over the intercom. Bird sighs and pushes a curl off of her forehead.
âDamn it,â she hisses, finally getting the IV needle in. âThere ya go, Grace.â The doctor stands, snapping her gloves off and tossing them in the trash on her way out of the curtained off room.
Brigid (Bird) Greene is an ER attending at Chicago County General, and she is on her third 12 hour shift of the week. âDammit, Tanner, what the hell is wrong with the AC?â she growls as she makes her way to the lobby. The clerk, Tanner looks at her and frowns.
âThe WIFI is down,â he answers simply.
âWhat the fuck does that have to do with the AC?â
âAC is WIFI controlled.â Bird rolls her eyes as she finally rounds the corner to the nursesâ desk. âFuck,â she breathes when she sees her sister, Rachel waiting for her. âRach? Whatâs up?â Rachel Greene Ernshaw looks up from her phone with a scowl. Rachel and Bird had never been close. Rachel was raised by her mother, Jen, while Bird was raised by her own mother, Elizabeth, following the death of their father, Mark.
âBrigid, hi. I left messagesâŠâ
âRight, sorry, itâs been a hell of a week.â
âMm. I came by to remind you that Markieâs 8th birthday is this weekend. Weâre having a party for him Saturday at 2.â
âSaturday?â Bird scratches the back of her neck. âI might be working Saturday.â
Rachel sighs and rolls her eyes. âBrigid, you canât isolate us forever. You havenât seen Markie and Jenna since Christmas. They hardly know you.â It was all true. Rachel was pretty judgy at times, and she tended to think Birdâs life choices were not as good as her own. And Bird honestly couldnât stand those kids. Rachel spoiled them to no end, and they were terribly behaved.
âI uhh⊠yeah. Iâll try and stop by. 2, right?â Rachel snatches up her purse and glares.
âBrigid, youâre my sister, but I really donât understand you sometimes.â With that, Rachel storms off, heels clicking on the worn linoleum on the way out.
âUggggh,â Bird groans, laying her head down on the admit desk.
âBird, Honey, will you just tell her sheâs a bitch already?â Chuny jokes. âMark is rolling in his grave. Jen raising her was not good for that girl.â
âŠ
The tepid water in the womenâs locker room at County felt delicious against Birdâs tired skin. The opening of the door and the blast of sluggish air that fills the room causes Bird to raise her head. A tall, blonde woman is standing in bloody scrubs. Bird recalls that a new trauma surgeon fellow came to County that day, and she assumes that must be her.
âHey, itâs Greene, right?â the woman asks, beginning to strip.
âUhh, yeah. Look, thereâs only one shower. Iâll be out in 5.â
âYou mind if I join you? Iâm in a bit of a hurry. Weâre both doctors, right? We know all there is to see.â
Bird is a little stunned. âI uhhh⊠ok.â This is awkward but honestly, saying no seems even more awkward, since it means more of the other woman standing half naked staring at her fully nude.
âFuck yeah. Thank you!â she shucks her clothes, tossing them in the biohazard bin and steps in the water. âYour physique is glorious, by the way.â
âUmmâŠthank you.â
âDonât suppose I could borrow some soap?â Bird wordlessly passes her a bottle of body wash, because she was not sharing her bar soap. âIâm Rhea, by the way.â
âBird.â Trying to finish as quickly as possible, she vigorously scrubs her skin.
âWant me to wash your back?â
âNo. Thanks. Iâm done, actually. Itâs all yours.â Bird packs away her things and wraps her towel around her before stepping out into the locker room area. Chuny gives her a wolfish smile.
âSheâs hot, huh? The new trauma surgeon?â
âNot a word, Chuny,â Bird warns, making her way to her locker, just as a bare Rhea steps into the room.
âWhew, I feel better. Hell of a first shift, huh?â the blonde beams.
âŠ
Bird plops down into the booth across from her mother, Dr. Elizabeth Corday. âHi, Mum,â she greets.
âHello, Darling. Rough day?â
âJust your typical day at County, ya know?â Elizabeth smiles.
âI remember. Are we still on for the gala tomorrow?â
âShit. I forgot. Yeah. Iâll pick up a dress on my way home today.â
âLanguage, Brigid,â Elizabeth chides. âYou need my card?â
âNo, Mum, I have enough for a dress. Thank you.â
âI remember how much, or should I say, how little, County pays.â
Bird knew from a young age that she wanted to be a doctor. Her father had died when she was young, but she remembered him as a kind man, and she looked up to him. Elizabeth had stayed in Chicago for a few years before moving back to England, but that hadnât lasted long, and she moved them to New York when Bird was 10.
Bird has always been the top of her class. She works the hardest. She proves herself the most. And she gives what ever she is doing everything she has. And she would like to think that her dad would be proud of her.
âŠ
Bird steps out of her flat to wait by the curb for the car that her mother called to pick her up. She smooths her hands down her black dress and tousles her curls a little.
âBird.â Comes the greeting from behind her. The accent is thick, and Bird closes her eyes and lets it wash over her. She knows who it is immediately.
Itâs Meep! Meep is a bit of a celebrity in the axolotl world. She is believed to have a form of dwarfism and is not significantly overweight, although she looks it especially in this photo.
The owner is a well-known and experienced handler who has four other axolotls that are way more⊠axolotl shaped lol. But she is healthy, not being overfed or suffering due to poor husbandry.
I don't talk about my personal life on here a lot, but I've been going through a hard time. I was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and while it isn't cancer, it is still a scary thing to face, and the bills are piling up. There's a lot of doctors appointments right now, so I can't do a traditional 9-5. I work from home as a tutor online. I have 10+ years experience. I'm gonna attach a flyer below, even if you don't need the services yourself, it would really help me out if you could share. I will also post a pic of my current openings (they will be highlighted). Thank you in advance to any and all that help
Emmett smiles at Shiloh before speaking again, âCan I buy you a drink?â
âOh, ummâŠâ
âShiloh, go ahead, Rick and I have a few things to discuss,â John orders, dismissing her. Shiloh frowns at her father, not pleased that he is dismissing her off with a stranger.
âSure, thank you, Emmett,â she speaks cordially. Emmett offers his arm, and Shiloh slides her arm through it and allows him to lead her to the bar.
âWhatâll it be, Shiloh?â His husky voice is deep and quiet, and pitched for only her to hear.
âRum and coke, please.â
âOne rum and coke and a whiskey, straight,â Emmett tells the bartender, passing over a black credit card.
After receiving their drinks, Emmett leads Shiloh over to a high top table. Shiloh glances around for her father, and finds him chatting with some older men across the room.
âSo, tell me a little about yourself, Shiloh.â
âNot much to tell, I guess, I just work on our ranch,â Shiloh replies shrugging and taking a sip of her drink.
âNow, thatâs not true. Youâre also a hell of a barrel racer.â
âOh, well, ummâŠthank you,â she feels herself blush slightly. Emmett smirks and brushes her cheek with his thumb.
Shiloh, who was in the midst of taking another drink of hers, chokes. âWh-what?â
Emmett pats her back gently. âYour father didnât tell you?â At her blank look, he sighs and continues. âOur fathers have worked out a deal that will be beneficial to everyone. Donât worry, Iâll treat you like a princess.â
âIâm sorry, but youâre insane. My father wouldnât do this. And even if he did, he would have to know I wouldnât agree to it.â
Emmett catches her chin with his thumb. âThen you will lose the ranch,â he says simply. Shiloh gulps.
âYouâre lying.â
âPrincess, one thing I promise you now, I will never lie to you.â Shiloh looks over at her father, who is giving her a hard stare. âListen, you can talk to your daddy later. For now, we need to make our rounds. The more public this is, the better.â And lord help her, Shiloh canât find the courage to ask why that is.
âŠ
That son of a bitch father of hers left her at the venue, forcing her to catch a ride with Emmett. He pulls his black Audi up in front of the house and parks, before coming around to open her door.
âThank you for bringing me home,â she grits out, eager to go inside and tear her father a new asshole.
âNo problem, Princess. Iâll see you soon. Your daddy gave me your number, so Iâll call you tomorrow, ok?â
âSure.â She opens the door, closing it as he leans towards her, and she swears she hears him laugh as she locks it. Taking a deep breath, she kicks off her shoes, gathers every bit of oxygen in her body, and yells, âPAPA!â
She hears a mumble of âShit.â from the other room, and she stomps in that direction. John, Beth, and Jamie are all in the kitchen having a glass of scotch.
âWould you like to explain to me what the hell is going on?!â she demands. John gives her a stern look, and it almost tamps down her tirade, but not quite.
âWell, I guess he told you then,â John sighs, leaning against the counter.
âI wonât do it.â Shiloh folds her arms over her chest defiantly.
âYes, you will,â Beth says. Eyes blazing, Shiloh whips around to face her sister.
âYou marry the motherfucker then! Iâm sure one Dutton pussy is as good as any!â Beth smirks at her.
âOh, no. They asked for you, especially.â
âWhat the fuck is happening around here?!â
âShiloh,â John grabs her shoulders. âThe ranch is in trouble. Big trouble. And the only way to keep it in Dutton hands is to take their help. This was the nuclear option, but Iâve ran through all the others.â
âBut, the cattleâŠandâŠâ
âThe last few years herds have been bad, you know that. Shiloh, Iâm just trying to keep our home, Honey.â
âUGGGGGH!â she growls, stomping out of the kitchen, out the backdoor, and across the backyard. Her bare feet take her to the one place that she feels like she can be heard.
The footfalls on his porch alert him to her presence, and Rip opens the door. âShiâŠâ
âRip, I wonât do it!â
âYou wonât do what, Darlinâ? Whatâs goin on?â
âRip, they want me to marry thatâŠthatâŠugggh!â
âShiloh, Baby, I need you to slow down. Come in.â He takes her hand and leads her inside, she plops down on a leather chair in his living area. âNow, what is happening?â
Shiloh takes a deep breath and steadies herself. âMy father has sold me like a damn prize pig at the county fair.â Ripâs face hardens. âIf I donât marry this Emmett guy, we lose the ranch.â
âAnd John told you this?â
âNo, he didnât have the balls to tell me. Emmett did. But Papa confirmed it.â Rip sat across from her.
âWeâll find another way, Shi.â
âThere isnât one, Rip. I have to marry him. And that really, really sucks, because the only man Iâve ever even thought about marrying was you.â The silence is deafening, and Shiloh buries her face in her hands. âAnd now itâs weiâŠâ
Rip pulls her to her feet, arm around her back, one hand cupping her face. His lips are fierce on hers. And oh. Oh. Holy shit. Rip Wheeler is kissing her. Kissing the hell out of her. Moaning, she wraps her arms around him, tangling her fingers in his hair. She tugs lightly, making him growl. He gropes behind her, finding the zipper of her dress without ever leaving her lips. He lifts her, dress open but still on, and walks to his bedroom, when he sets her on her feet, he finally pulls away from her lips. He slides the dress off, exposing her braless breasts, which he is immediately enamored with. Cuz he knew theyâd be perfect. But then he freezes. There, under her right breast, pink raised lines, heâs all too familiar with. The Yellowstone brand sits on her beautiful body like a dark omen. He looks up at her, only to notice she had gone shy.
âWho?â
âPapa.â Rip clenches his jaw. Heâs never hated John until his moment.
âWhy?â
âI helped Kasey and Monica sneak off and get married. I wasnât loyal to the family.â Rip breathes in through his nose, centering himself, and lifts her by her thighs, laying her gently on his bed, intent on showing her exactly how beautiful all of her is to him.
I was minding my own goddamn business only to suddenly remember this scene exists
I don't know how to explain it, but it's addressing something so visceral in me.
Like. Did anyone ever expand on how Arthur literally didn't even blink before getting up to save Merlin from the onslaught he would have faced for his outrage? He just got up immediately and took Merlin away, held and handled his anger, and even gave him the respite (visiting Gaius) that he needed.
Wtf. Like boy no you're not supposed to be this fucking in sync with your manservant's reactions. But it's as if he predicted it even, because he saw in Merlin the exact same reaction he wanted to do, but had the tact not to because he grew up with boundaries. So he goes on to save his boy instead.
