Jump to content

modern - Stories

    • Fiction
    • FanFiction
    • Poetry
      • 2023- Exploration -Poetry
      • 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember
      • 2014 Poetry Anthology: A Storm Is Coming
      • 2013 Poetry Anthology: Whispers in the Dark
      • 2012 Poetry Anthology: Cracks of Time
      • 2011 Poetry Anthology: Into the Unknown
    • Fiction - Gay Authors Anthologies
      • 2024 - Long May You Run
      • 2023 - Leap of Faith
      • 2022 - Anniversary
      • 2021 - Spring - On The Road
      • 2021 - Spring - Potluck 2021
      • 2021 - Fall - A Winding Path
      • 2021 - Fall - An Unconventional Gift
      • 2021 - Fall - Potluck
      • 2020 - Spring - Full Moon
      • 2020 - Spring - The Storm
      • 2020 - Fall - Bridges
      • 2020 - Fall - Shadows
      • 2019 - Spring - Into the Stars
      • 2019 - Spring - Snapped
      • 2019 - Fall - Fall From Grace
      • 2019 - Fall - Raincheck
      • 2018 - Spring - Now or Never
      • 2018 - Spring - Encounters
      • 2018 - Fall - Fight Back
      • 2018 - Fall - Good Intentions
      • 2017 - Spring - Unintended Consequences & Jagged Edges
      • 2017 - Fall - The Fallout and Secret Spaces
      • 2016 - Spring - Crossing the Line
      • 2016 - Summer - Wicked Games
      • 2016 - Fall - Blindsided / The Forgotten
      • 2016 - Winter - Rewind: Pre-2016 Themes
      • 2015 - Spring - Full Circle
      • 2015 - Summer - Road Trip
      • 2015 - Fall - Blurred Edges
      • 2015 - Winter - Blackout
      • 2014 - Spring - Nature's Wrath
      • 2014 - Summer - The Backup Plan
      • 2014 - Fall - Scars
      • 2014 - Winter - Chain Reaction
      • 2013 - Spring - A Night To Remember
      • 2013 - Summer - Roll the Dice
      • 2013 - Fall - Pandora's Box
      • 2013 - Winter - Recipe for Disaster
      • 2012 - Spring - It Wasn't Me
      • 2012 - Summer - Choices
      • 2012 - Fall - Friends & Enemies
      • 2012 - Winter - Desperate Ends
      • 2012 - Special - Mayan Tribute: End of the World
      • 2012 - Anniversary - Secrets Can Kill
      • 2011 - Spring - People Are Strange
      • 2011 - Summer - Walk on the Wild Side
      • 2011 - Fall - Legends
      • 2011 - Winter - Aftermath
      • 2010 - Spring - I'd Never Do That
      • 2010 - Summer - Out of this World
      • 2010 - Fall - No Going Back
      • 2010 - Winter - Haunted
      • 2009 - Spring - Oops
      • 2009 - Summer - Carpe Diem
      • 2009 - Fall - Something Unexpected
      • 2009 - Winter - Deceptions
      • 2008 - Annual - It's Just a Game, Right?
      • 2008 - Spring - Living in the Shadows
      • 2008 - Summer - Escape
      • 2008 - Fall - Anniversary
      • 2008 - Winter - Ghosts
      • 2007 - Annual - The Road Not Taken
      • 2007 - Spring - Fairy Tales
      • 2007 - Summer - Ending and Beginnings
      • 2007 - Fall - The Rainy Day
      • 2007 - Winter - Worth Fighting For
      • 2006 - Winter - Blizzard
      • 2006 - Fall - Halloween
      • 2006 - Summer - Going on Vacation
      • 2006 - Spring - Day of Silence
      • 2004 - Winter - Christmas
    • Fiction - Story Contests
      • 2017- Halloween
      • 2017- April Fool's
      • 2016 - Secret Admirer Short Story
      • 2015 - Secret Santa Short Story
      • 2011 - Novella Contest
      • 2009 - Novella Contest
    • Non-Fiction
      • Writing Tips
    • Letters
    • Screenplays
    • World Building
     or 
  • With:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Caper
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantic Fantasy
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
     or 
  • Without:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Caper
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantic Fantasy
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
  • Match By:
  • With:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
     or 
  • Without:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
  • Match By:
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
    • Complete
    • In Process
    • Temporary Hold
    • Long-Term Hold
    • Abandoned
    • Author Deceased
     or 
    • Mature
    • Teen
    • Everyone
    • Mature - Member Only
     or 

  • Is story part of a series?

  • Is story part of a world?

  • Is story premium?
  1. Window Stories

    By Ronyx, in Fiction. 03/04/2024 (Updated: 03/28/2024)

    Genres: Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Contemporary Literary
    • mature adult
    • gay
    • serious
    • modern
    • friendship

    I remember my life now as if I'm looking out a window. Streaks of my life flash by me. I try to open the window and catch them, but the window won't open. So, I sit and watch them, and I wonder did they really happen or was it just a dream? Take a journey back in time as 78-year-old Phil Reid relates his life experiences to a younger man.

    • 4 Chapters
    • 15,794 Words
    • 2,559 Views
    • 43 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
  2. Life's a Dreamboat

    By J92, in Fiction. 02/21/2024 (Updated: 03/28/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Drama, General Romance
    • mature adult
    • adult
    • gay
    • workplace
    • suburban
    • no sex
    • medical
    • modern

    Thomas has his own secrets from his past, who he used to be. Zack, Thomas's manager at work, has his own secrets too, with his health declining. At first, they both support each other in their secrets, physically and mentally. However, things get a lot more complicated when they begin to develop feelings for each other and Thomas's past gets more violently involved in his present and Zack's health keeps getting worse. Can they be there for each other, despite all that life throws at them?

    • 6 Chapters
    • 12,303 Words
    • 2,672 Views
    • 14 Comments
    • Everyone
    • In Process
  3. Country Retreat

    By quokka, in Fiction. 03/19/2024 (Updated: 03/28/2024)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Drama
    • teen
    • young adult
    • university
    • rural
    • modern
    • friendship
    • high school

    Meeting for the first time in Boarding school, Oscar Q Kingston settles down to life away from his country home town, until an incident with one of his friends, while at home on a boarders weekend had him ending up in a hospital and afterwards changing schools and living with his grandparents on the outer north-east suburbs, where he finds new friends.

    Months later he bumps into two of his former friends from his old school and after a bumpy start, they form a close friendship that lasts for many years to come, where they go their own separate ways after school ends, and reunite later for a common cause.

    • 6 Chapters
    • 10,665 Words
    • 5,147 Views
    • 23 Comments
    • Everyone
    • In Process
  4. Between Two Mountains 10. Ravello series

    By James Carnarvon, in Fiction. 03/23/2024 (Updated: 03/27/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Drama
    • teen
    • europe
    • no sex
    • fostering
    • modern
    • suicide
    • depression
    • friendship

    A novel in twelve chapters.

    Summer 2020, and the inhabitants of the Italian mountain town of Ravello are making up for lost time after three months stuck at home. Families are celebrating being reunited at last, and the appetite for romance has never been higher.

    However, two teenage boys are navigating this unusual summer alone. Cosmo, a lost soul, and Marco, a recently found soul, find their lives entwined by the fact that everybody seems to have a boyfriend except them. Both of them have experienced pain and neglect in the past; but can they both overcome it to find fulfilment in the present?

    • 3 Chapters
    • 20,345 Words
    • 2,352 Views
    • 61 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
  5. Re-Education 4. New Reality

    By Justin4Fun, in Fiction. 03/21/2024 (Updated: 03/27/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction, Paranormal
    Sub-genres: Coming of Age, Vampires
    • young adult
    • vampire
    • gay
    • north america
    • modern
    • high school

    Greg Fowler has been reborn, reforged his life, and been reunited with his newborn brother. Now we join him as he educates himself about his New Reality. While his travels won't cover many physical miles, his education will cover centuries of tradition. Can he learn all he needs to handle his responsibilities? Can he use his newfound knowledge to help his friends? And more importantly, can he use what he learns to help those he finds along the way?

    This is Book Four in the "New Reality" series. Reading the first three books is a must if you hope to fully understand the world that Greg and his friends live in.

    • 2 Chapters
    • 11,304 Words
    • 2,047 Views
    • 34 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
  6. Secrets 2: Looking Through Different Eyes

    By Bill W, in Fiction. 12/31/2023 (Updated: 03/26/2024)

    Genres: Thriller/Suspense, Paranormal
    Sub-genres: Romantic Paranormal, Shifters, Supernatural Thriller
    • young adult
    • were-creatures
    • gay
    • modern

    Michael (Mac) and Devin are now sophomores (2nd year) at college, and Michael is looking at things with different eyes, since he is also a skinwalker now. This doesn’t merely mean through the eyes of the animals and others he transitions into, but in general he now looks at situations differently, since he has this new ability, but will it change him?

    • 9 Chapters
    • 47,382 Words
    • 10,619 Views
    • 251 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
  7. Widderkin V. O. E.

    By Palantir, in Fiction. 11/10/2023 (Updated: 03/25/2024)

    Genres: Fantasy, Action/Adventure
    Sub-genres: Adventure, General Fantasy, High/Epic Fantasy
    • young adult
    • gay
    • australia
    • light-hearted
    • modern

    Kieran and his friends, returned from the Realms, face troubles of a human kind.

    • 20 Chapters
    • 88,131 Words
    • 11,941 Views
    • 186 Comments
    • Everyone
    • In Process
  8. No going back

    By Robert Hugill, in Fiction. 10/29/2023 (Updated: 03/25/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Drama, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary Literary
    • mature adult
    • adult
    • gay
    • coming out
    • light-hearted
    • modern

    Owain returns to live in his home town, 20 years after leaving when he was disowned his parents for being gay. He needs to rebuild his life following illness and come to terms with his messy family history. There is much to learn and discover, along the way he meets Colin, a builder who has his own family issues. The two explore how to make a life the way that they want, irrespective of the weight of their family experiences.

    The story takes place in Cheshire, UK. The main setting, Netherwich, is my invention based on elements of Crewe and Nantwich. The language uses some regional idiom.

    • 39 Chapters
    • 87,649 Words
    • 78,032 Views
    • 597 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
  9. Touch: A survival story.

    By Rhythminthemind, in Fiction. 02/15/2021 (Updated: 03/23/2024)

    Genres: Fantasy, Action/Adventure, General Fiction, Thriller/Suspense, Paranormal
    Sub-genres: Suspense, Adventure, Drama, General Fantasy, Romantic Paranormal
    • mages
    • magic
    • gay
    • urban
    • coming of age
    • psychology
    • modern
    • friendship

    James Toranaga is a twelve year old boy dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault. He’s doing okay. The memories are tough, and the world feels a little rougher than it used to, but he’s a strong kid with a loving family to support him.

    It sure makes his emerging sexuality harder to deal with, though. He doesn’t want to think about it.

    Luckily, he has the perfect distraction: he can fly.

    But these strange new powers may bring dangers of their own. He is not the only one who has them.

    • 114 Chapters
    • 253,619 Words
    • 177,282 Views
    • 1,265 Comments
    • Mature
    • Long-Term Hold
  10. Special Circumstances

    By lawfulneutralmage, in Fiction. 02/22/2024 (Updated: 03/23/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction, Thriller/Suspense, Paranormal
    Sub-genres: Suspense, Drama, Paranormal Mystery
    • adult
    • gay
    • europe
    • police
    • modern
    • ghosts

    Jamie, mischievously called Leon by his colleagues, is a mid-twenties police officer in London Enfield who loves his job. Having been unlucky with previous relationships, he is scared about his feelings for a new Special Constable who joins his shift, Mike.

    This becomes only one of his problems when an unusual encounter with a suspect leaves him with more questions than answers, putting Jamie into the heart of a secret reaching deep into the UK government and on a path of self discovery.

    • 14 Chapters
    • 64,685 Words
    • 21,239 Views
    • 775 Comments
    • Mature
    • In Process
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..