Critical Point Bl

"Once in the 10 years people offered the dragon Seraphel a child from the kingdom as bride. This year was slightly different. Since the child offered was not a normal child... he was the youngest prince of Alderias."

"I know where your little sister is. She's still alive." "What are you trying to get from me, to admit something unbelievable? Selena is dead! I witnessed her death with my own eyes!" ... Hoping to believe the man's words, even though they sounded like nonsense, something that tugged on his vulnerability, Sorn agreed to join the nameless independent survival group led by a strange man. Ralf, a mysterious man immune to the zombie virus, someone with unique abilities that sometimes made Sorn think he was not human. The more he interacted with the man, the more confusing things became for Sorn. He was reluctant to admit that being friends with him wasn't entirely unpleasant. Eventually, when Ralf revealed his past, Sorn became more convinced that meeting his sister was a goal worth pursuing. Even so, he couldn't truly believe that his sister was still alive, as Ralf claimed. The memory of watching her get eaten by a horde of zombies was still fresh in his mind. "I promise I'll bring your sister back. Before your birthday comes, you'll see her right in front of you. Will you trust me?" Sorn's chest felt warm and oddly fluttery, he simply nodded, trusting the man in silence—though it was very difficult to say so verbally.

AN 18+ ALPHA MAFIA SERIES BOOK 1# CAPTIVE MATE BOOK 2# RUNAWAY MATE BOOK 3# DANGEROUS MATE -+- Caspian is the heir to Moonstone Pack but when his parents die, he’s cheated out of his birthright and treated like a prisoner. He decides to leave, running off to Haines City to start a new life. His plans are instantly cut short when he's kidnapped and auctioned off, and he is bought by none other than one of the Mafia Kings running the city, Asher Knight. -+- Asher shrugged his coat off, the heavy outfit falling to the ground with an audible thud. Caspian watched this happen in apprehension, Mafia King Asher had looked huge with the coat on, and with the coat off, there wasn’t much of a difference. “Come here,” He ordered calmly, the earrings in his ears visible with his dark red hair slicked back. Caspian shook his head again, he had no intention of speaking, ever. Because that would only give away his gender. “I don’t like to repeat myself, Omega.” His voice darkened. Caspian’s heart thudded painfully in his chest in fear, he really didn’t want to get anywhere near the Alpha. He eyed the window longingly before forcing himself to take a step forward, then another, and another… +- THIS IS AN 18+ MAFIA STORY SO IT WILL INCLUDE VIOLENT AND MATURE THEMES, READ WITH CAUTION.

Before you start reading , or anything. I AM NOT THE AUTHOR, I AM JUST POSTING THE ENGLISH VERSION , thank you for understanding. So this is as the title says . ORV side story. Oh and the author are the married couple Shing Shong.

This is the Revamped version of The New Transfer (BL) ദ്ദി（• ˕ •マ.ᐟ Yuma is a transfer student and a nerd one too because he focused too much on his studies; even his father is calling him that sometimes, and he is 19 years old from Japan, and he is transferred to this school to make some friends and memories while being in this school for only 1 year before moving back to Japan to continue college... But he met an ignorant bastard and a lazy man who doesn't even care about his future and doesn't care if he doesn't pass this grade this year...

In the land of Thebes, Prince Azech-I is a ruler blessed by Anubis, a king whose power is whispered in hushed tones. But when the Pharaoh Cairo-IV's most lethal assassin, Nofri-it, is sent to end his life, fate spins a web of love and betrayal. What was meant to be a death sentence turns into a forbidden romance, as the two men fall deeply in love. But just as quickly as their bond blooms, Nofri-it vanishes without a trace, leaving Azech-I to search the world for his lost lioness. Years later, the truth shatters Azech-I's heart—Nofri-it was never a lover, but a tool sent to kill him. Betrayed and furious, Azech-I discovers that Nofri-it has been imprisoned by Pharaoh Cairo, kept in the dungeons of Memphis for failing his mission. The ruler of Thebes will stop at nothing to reclaim what is his. With vengeance in his heart, Azech-I plans to torment Nofri-it, declaring war on Cairo’s kingdom to retrieve his lover and make him suffer as he once did. When Azech-I drags a fragile, broken Nofri-it back to Thebes, the true torment begins. A man once filled with pride now plans to make Nofri-it his captive once more, keeping him caged and humiliated for the sins of his past. The battle for power, love, and revenge will tear through Egypt—nothing is sacred when the Pharaoh’s wrath is unleashed. "I loved you. You were my lioness. Now, you're nothing but a broken thing." "And yet, you will keep me, won't you? Like a pet, a prize."

Author: Wang Ya Genre: Unlimited Flow, Horror, Supernatural Pesulap Zong Jiu yang sudah tidak bernyawa bertransmigrasi ke dalam novel horor dengan alur cerita yang tak terbatas tentang pertunjukan bertahan hidup, menggantikan umpan meriam yang meninggal secara tragis di babak evaluasi pertama. Pertunjukan ini sangat menarik. Dari puluhan ribu orang, hanya seratus orang yang dapat bertahan hidup, dan posisi c (pesaing terkuat) bahkan dapat memperoleh tiket keinginan universal. Kalau orang lain, mereka mungkin akan ketakutan setengah mati. Tak seorang pun menyangka bahwa Zong Jiu tidak hanya tak kenal takut, tetapi juga menimbulkan kehebohan yang sensasional, tanpa malu-malu memamerkan triknya sepanjang jalan. Setelah tipu muslihatnya berhenti, dan hidupnya dapat dianggap aman dan tenteram, ia berakhir dalam persaingan dengan penjahat besar dalam novel tersebut. Hari ini kau berusaha menyerangku, besok aku akan menyerangmu lagi, bolak-balik, itu cukup menyenangkan, heh. Alhasil, meski hanya main-main, suatu kali mereka terbawa suasana dan benar-benar berakhir tidur bersama. Melihat musuh bebuyutan yang menekannya ke tanah, Zong Jiu dengan malas mengangkat pandangannya. "Jika kau ingin membunuhku, bunuh saja aku, jangan bicara omong kosong." Bahkan saat dalam posisi yang kurang menguntungkan, dia tidak menunjukkan sedikit pun rasa takut, dan malah terus memprovokasinya. Orang itu menggunakan jarinya yang sedingin es untuk menelusuri telinganya, dan gerakan menuju aorta tiba-tiba terhenti. “Sayang sekali. Aku sudah berubah pikiran.” — Dulu dia sangat ingin membunuh Zong Jiu secara pribadi. Setiap hari, dia selalu menyesal karena tidak mencungkil dagingnya, mematahkan lehernya sendiri. Namun setelah orang ini jatuh ke tangannya, keinginan lain yang lebih mendesak tumbuh seperti rumput liar. Dibandingkan menang atau kalah, ia lebih suka melihatnya menangis dan terengah-engah, dengan mata merah, memohon belas kasihan.

Karel is trapped in a teenage novel and must play the role of an 18-year-old villain. However, he feels grateful because the villain character he portrays lives in luxury, so he doesn't have to work hard like in his previous life.

(Check the chapters comments for AI pics of Characters!) In the midst of his already declining mental health, lack of enthusiasm and turbulent work life. Nikolai Parmar, a rising actor went back to his hometown to film a new movie, only to be met by an unexpected Storm of death threats as soon as he arrived. The source remains anonymous, putting a target mark over Nikolai's head, without an explanation. And after the concern for the wellbeing of the actor became overwhelming, Nikolai's current best friend and manager at the same time, Andrea Andreoli, hired a bodyguard to protect and follow Nikolai everywhere he goes. The bodyguard agreed to a crazy list of demands, even to live with Nikolai in his own house and sleep in his bedroom, Just To insure the Actor's safety at all times. A decision that soon, many will regret. And despite that Nikolai himself, was and has always been against the idea of having a bodyguard for many reasons. This time, the reason why he's against the idea is quite personal, especially when the guy who's hired to protect him happens to be... None other than his ex highschool Bully/Boyfriend from seven years ago, Jin Young. So, just like the past seems to haunt both Nikolai and Jin, forcing them to cross each other's paths again and maybe ignite the flame of emotions between them... Others decided to join the dance, uninvited, Some with the intentions to help, and some to hurt. What seemed like an already crazy life for both the actor and his bodyguard, is about to get a whole lot crazier. [Typos are constantly being fixed (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)]

The world is diverse and flourishing. Humanity has changed, and with it, brought in a new era of prosperity. Males and females still exist, but the spectrum from which humanity is cast has broadened. With the introduction of alpha, omega, and beta, humanity has evolved even further. In such a word, Dr. Andrew Knox, known environmental researcher, is happy being a beta male. It has made his life easier by being middle ground, and as much as some wish he was one way or the other, he’s happy being who he is. Thriving even. He works in a world renowned research facility. He makes friends easily, and his projects are always funded. He even found someone who he thinks he could end up marrying if things continue in the right direction. That, and the vacant house next to his apartment building gets bought by a new neighbour. A cute, but cautious omega who relies on Andrew as a beta for help. Andrew couldn’t be happier. He loves being a helper, and loves when people rely on him. All in all, Andrew really thinks he has everything made. That is, until a research project with shoddy data is thrown back into his face that he has no recollection of working on, and all of his reputation disintegrates in between one heartbeat and the next. Heartbroken, it isn’t until Andrew wakes up, chained to a wall that everything becomes clear. He becomes a test subject to one of the scientists that he trusted. That he expected would never harm him. The life he had known, where he was a respected researcher was ripped out from underneath him. His identity and everything he’s ever known is stolen from him from a crazed researcher who he had trusted, maybe even loved. He has to relearn who he is, what he is, from scratch. Thankfully, he has one person in his corner. He just never expected to have to rely on someone whose shoulders were so small. This is an a/b/o story, and will have those tropes associated with it. I hope you enjoy :)

“Happy Christmas Eve!” chuckled the old man as he strapped a watch around Misha’s wrist. “Have a nice trip.” The next morning, the 25-year-old Misha woke up with a pounding headache, sore muscles, and strong nausea. In short, the perfect hangover. But when he saw his reflection in the mirror, he soon realized that the pain wasn’t caused by the terrifying amount of alcohol he had drunk the previous day. His body had shrunk. A lot. He didn’t have the time to think too much about it since his mother suddenly erupted in his room - the next day, his sister did the same thing. Mother and sister who had died a long time ago. The old man wasn't crazy. As he had predicted, Misha did travel back in time, just before losing his loved ones. And so, Misha had now one mission: changing the dreadful fate of his mother and sister and sending away his sister’s boyfriend by all means. They had to break up! Like it or not, that man will bring disaster to the family sooner or later. This time, Misha wouldn't fall for that warm smile and those gentle eyes as he knew they were hiding a cold, insensitive personality. However, things weren’t as simple as he thought, and perhaps the sister’s boyfriend was not the enemy. Perhaps, since the beginning, he had everything wrong and knew nothing of his sister. ________________ *The BL will mostly show up in the second and third volumes. It is a very slow romance, so don't expect the protagonist to fall in love quickly. In the first volume, he has too much on his mind to care about love and such. *There will be contents for 18+ in the second and/or third volume. I will put a warning at the beginning of every NSFW chapter. P@treon: https://www.patreon.com/rsvaesen?fan_landing=true

Silas knew that being born as an omega meant his life wouldn't have many choices—unless you came from a privileged family, where your trait didn't matter and you could live comfortably. When a baron adopted him, Silas saw a glimmer of hope and vowed to repay the man he called father. However, though it was better than life in the orphanage, Silas knew he would never truly belong to the family. He was groomed to obey, and his adoptive father planned to use him to expand connections with noble families. As he grew older, his father repeatedly offered him in marriage to the son of a grand duke, an alpha, only to be rejected every single time. Eventually, just before the grand duke's son left for military service, his father received an answer: the grand duke's son agreed to the connection—but only on the condition that Silas would be a consort. It wasn't uncommon for alphas to have multiple consorts, though it wasn't what Silas desired. Still, as an omega, this was the only way he could repay the baron's kindness. * Silas remembered what Alric was like back when they were at the academy. Cold, quiet, and someone who despised omegas. He knew what kind of fate awaited him and gave up on the kind of love he often read about in books. After all, real life wasn't the same as the fantasies penned by writers. Instead, Silas decided to prepare himself for decorating the "cage" he would live in—a life filled with the constant refrain of "at least, at least, at least." He would get used to it. He had to. But something felt different. Why was Alric treating him so differently now compared to the way he had back in school? Alric's eyes were filled with a tenderness and sorrow that Silas couldn't understand. It was the kind of look that made Silas want to hold him close. — (Read the info for more additions)

Tum an employee fall in love with his college who has a fiancee. He lets him know he's in a relationship but wants their relationship to stay hidden. This is a hot spicy Bl

Beneath the bustling neon metropolis, unknown monsters lurk in the shadows. Martial arts sects, biological modifications, cutting-edge mechas, golden bloodlines, abyssal aberrations... Chen Feng finds himself in a parallel world similar to Earth, only to discover that he can enter a mysterious dreamworld and collect glowing orbs: Limit-Breaking Orb: Enhances martial arts skill proficiency, surpassing limits and leveling up! Attribute Orb: Randomly increases four-dimensional attributes, making you stronger and bigger—level up! Talent Orb: You gain the talent Azure Armor... Skill Orb: You gain... As martial arts gradually decline, with cyborgs and advanced mechas becoming dominant, Chen Feng obtains ultimate limit-breaking powers in the dreamworld. With extraordinary talents fused together, he reignites the martial arts path! Tearing apart mechas with bare hands, smashing aircraft carriers with a single punch! Follow Chen Feng as he writes his own legend in a world filled with turmoil.

[18+, nsfw, mature content, sensitive content] After the death of his parents in a car accident, Akagi Suga sold his parents' house and moved to another area. He raised his younger brother alone, their life didn't go smoothly but at least as long as Suga lived with his younger brother, their life was always pleasant. Until finally people from IHPS (International Human Protection Squad) approached him, making Akagi Suga remember again that his father was a former instructor of that special forces. He didn't want to get involved with people from an organization created by elites under the guise of ‘military’, an organization filled with crazy people, but when Nakajima Yuki, his childhood friend asked Suga to join IHPS, at first Suga refused, however— "It wasn't an accident, both your parents were killed." He already had this suspicion for a long time. 'Will going to IHPS make it easier for me to find out which organization killed my parents?' And why did a madman named Zion Hughes always make it difficult for him to find out about the organization? (ps ; I won't give warning for adult scenes iykwim, I will give warning if there's sensitive content)

My crush~~~~ Head over heels on his boyfriend ~~~~ On his breakup, I took my chance, and it worked out~~~~ His ex begged him to come back, and we broke up. ~~~~ Faith ended up working for his company~~~~ At present, we both are single~~~ turned into fuck buddies~~~ Again, his ex comes into picture~~so now what?

a story about an aspiring actor and a boy who's forced to act. Minho and Haein are quite different from eachother. but they both felt a connection. strange isnt it? how love can come at such random times.

Yamamoto Aito is psychologically affected by his ex's death and promises to avenge her. With the aid of his best friend, Shima Haruto, he began to destroy the lives of those whom he believes, killed her. Aito’s ultimate goal is to join her after completing his revenge for he deems himself as one of the reasons she died. Along came a new student, Igarashi Ryu who destroys Aito’s plans and tarnishes what's left of his sanity by making him fall hopelessly in love with him. Aito is now torn between his guilt and wanting the happiness Ryu gives him. Will Aito be able to complete his revenge and attain his goal or will he choose to let go and love Ryu? But... Is Igarashi Ryu really who he claims to be?

After getting caught up in an accident, Li Xin transmigrated into a fantasy novel called 'The Rise of the Heavenly Demon' and became the ultimate villain, Chen Zoe. Arriving fifteen years prior to the original plot, he decides to change his dark destiny and distance himself from the protagonist at any cost. However, his plans were ruined when the protagonist becomes his disciple, a twist that wasn't even part of the original novel. To escape from this situation, Chen Zoe tries every method to make the protagonist leave his side, but nothing works; in fact, it brings them even closer. They start to develop feelings for each other, but they never expect that their love will bring disaster to the entire world.

Gu Shan had always been into girls. Being a lucky guy,he was handsome,rich, intelligent and most importantly had a girlfriend of his choice. His first misfortune in his life was finding his girlfriend in bed with another man. Out of anger he allowed himself to explore something else by getting involved sexually with Li Yunxi the same man his girlfriend had cheated with. What was supposed to be one time thing with no strings attached developed into something lasting and truthful when fate brought Gu Shan and Li Yunxi together . ----------------------------------------------------------------- "Yunxi...um,"Gu Shan moaned gasping for breath. "I prefer it when you call me Yunxi gege,"Li Yunxi spoke lowering his voice to a sexy timbre dragging the syllables sexily. "When did you become so bossy?"Gu Shan teased him. "Call me Yunxi gege,"Li Yunxi insisted in his sexy voice. "Okay as you wish. Yunxi gege,"Gu Shan said sexily,his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment but Li Yunxi could barely notice it in the dimly lit background. Gu Shan still couldn't believe he would submit to another man and be completely smitten with him.

Min Joon (a jealous overprotective friend) and Kai (a nice guy who gets manipulated) have been roommates for the past year, Recently, Min Joon has become concerned about Kai's safety as he attracts guys who try to manipulate him into doing things he doesn't want to do. To ensure Kai's protection, Min Joon has taken some drastic measures, including installing surveillance cameras in their apartment and instructing Kai to inform him about any guy he plans to bring over. Despite the seemingly overprotective nature of Min Joon's actions, Kai likes that Min Joon cares for him, and protected him from getting raped. Kai has developed romantic feelings for Min Joon and is struggling with whether or not to confess them. This is a story of friendship, love, secrets, and tough choices that take you on an emotional roller coaster.

"Keep begging and I'll pound your pussy until it's gaped!" he threatened, releasing her neck and walking towards the back off the class. She stumbles on the ground coughing as several students rushed to help her. He saw an empty seat and just my luck! It's right next to me. He took a seat and turned around to look at me. "How about I fuck you until your gaped?" he whispered with a smirk on his face. What did he say!? My heart beat quickened. ----------------------- Alex is being bullied by Tyler Noah, the most popular bad boy in the whole school. He has an outgoing reputation, students are afraid of him; even teachers are afraid of him. He finally notices that he has shook Alex to his core, how will he feel towards him?

As the son of the Minister of Health, Han Minjun had always led a privileged life, shielded from the harsh realities of the world. However, when he met the enigmatic Kim Seungjoon, his life took a dramatic turn. The attraction between them was instantaneous, but little did Han Minjun know that his love for Kim Seungjoon would plunge him into a world of chaos and uncertainty. The mysteries surrounding Kim Seungjoon were many, and as their relationship deepened, Han Minjun found himself embroiled in a web of intrigue and danger. Did he know what he was getting into when he fell for Kim Seungjoon? As he embarked on a new journey with Seungjoon, he pondered about the unknown future that lay ahead of them. Questions swirled through his mind about the enigmatic person he had chosen to spend his life with. How many secrets did Seungjoon keep hidden? What mysteries would they unravel together? The anticipation of what was to come was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking....... As the story unfolded, it became apparent that the idyllic fairytale was taking a dark turn. The once-balanced scales between life and death began to tip precariously, and the characters found themselves in the midst of a harrowing nightmare. It was impossible to predict who would emerge from the ordeal unscathed.......

Two years ago, alpha baseball star Logan Whitaker left his omega mate, Noah Bennett, to chase his dreams—just as Noah’s world was falling apart. Now, an injury sends Logan back to the small town he abandoned, and to the mate he left behind. But Noah is no longer the soft omega Logan remembers. He’s the head coach of Logan’s new team, the father of a son he never knew he had, and the cold fire in his eyes makes it clear: forgiveness is off the table. Noah has no interest in reopening old wounds. But Logan isn’t the same selfish alpha who left, and he’s determined to win back the family he didn’t know he had. Can two broken hearts find their way back to each other, or will Logan strike out for good?

Cesare Caruso, a renowned actor and a global superstar, appeared to have it all—fame, fortune, and an impeccable reputation. Yet, hidden beneath the surface was a secret he had guarded for years—he was an Omega. That carefully guarded secret came crashing down in one fateful night, during a glamorous masquerade ball aboard a luxurious cruise ship. Overwhelmed by an unexpected heat cycle, Cesare loses control of himself, devoured by his own desires and falling into the arms of a mysterious Alpha—a reckless moment that changed everything. [Zahir al-Tamid. That’s my name.] To his shock, the Alpha was Zahir—a proud prince from an oil-rich kingdom and an unwelcome figure from Cesare’s past. Worse, that night left Cesare unexpectedly pregnant! Before Cesare could make sense of it all, Zahir made a grand entrance at Cesare’s mansion by helicopter, uninvited, catching the attention of major media outlets around the world, demanding a settlement claiming that Cesare shall be responsible for ‘imprinting’ a royal family like him! “...Seriously, it’s not as if I have a ludicrous $2 billion just lying around, you know.” “Thus, marry me, Cesare.” Pregnancy, imprinting, and a royal marriage proposal—showered by a series of unwanted events, Cesare is desperate to find a way to cut ties with Zahir. But Zahir, stubborn and relentless, has no plans to let go. Can Cesare outrun the tempest, or will it pull him under? #BL #Omegaverse #Obsessive #Crybaby #One-sideLove #Prince #Superior Text copyright ⓒ 2024 by Kim Sol Da All right reserved. The Korean edition was originally written by 김솔다, Korea Translated and Published by We’ve Lab.

Kevin was on his way to work, thinking about how his life was a huge failure, but that changed when he died in an even more pathetic way, even the gods felt bad about the young man's accident. That's the reason why he reincarnated as Thelris Angelini Savoy, the second son of King Cylaros. But who said this would make his life easy?

Welcome to ALVAACAD, a prestigious school in the Alvarez Empire, where extraordinary humans with superhuman ExSkills are nurtured. Fire, Gravity, and Petrification are just a few of the extraordinary abilities possessed by these exceptional talents. But what drives these powers - magic, science, or something more? Within ALVAACAD's walls, memories of love, hate, hope, and despair are stored, waiting to be uncovered. Join the chaos as Ish navigates this complex world, where the lines between power and emotion blur.

Synopsis: "I’ve seen enough, I’m done." Lie Zhanfeng muttered to himself, watching with satisfaction as Xie Dongyi, the tragic villain of his favorite novel, finally seized an ancient inheritance. The villain had finally fought back! But just as he was about to read the next chapter, a bolt of lightning struck him to death. When Lie Zhanfeng opened his eyes, he found himself in the very novel he had been reading, inhabiting the body of a lowly village thug—fated to die at the hands of the protagonist. Worse, he hadn’t even finished the book! Assuming the villain would meet the usual tragic fate, Lie Zhanfeng decided to protect Xie Dongyi, shadowing him like a hen guarding its chicks. But Lie Zhanfeng didn't know that after getting the inheritance, Xie Dongyi awakened an Ancient demon bloodline, becoming even stronger than before... ------ Xie Dongyi’s past life had been filled with pain and suffering. Abandoned by his family, betrayed by those he trusted, he lived in the shadows of others’ expectations. When he finally awakened his dark, sinister demon bloodline, he embraced it without hesitation. After years of practicing, his power grew rapidly, and with it, his thirst for vengeance. When he finally had the chance to destroy everything, he did so without regret, wiping out his enemies and sealing his fate with his own self-destruction. But death didn’t mark the end for him. Just when he thought it's over, Xie Dongyi was reborn in the past. The moment he opened his eyes, he was no longer alone. A strange man—Lie Zhanfeng—kept appearing, protecting him from harm, something Xie Dongyi had never experienced before. His world, once filled with isolation and betrayal, now had someone by his side. Xie Dongyi’s gaze hardened as he looked at the man who had been his shadow through it all. "Don’t ever betray me," he said, his voice icy with a threat that could shatter mountains. "Or I’ll drag this world to hell with us." ADDITIONAL TAGS: 1v1, Accelerated Growth, Alchemy, Beast Companion, Doting Protagonist, Magical Space, Multiple Realms, Overpowered Protagonist, Overpowered Love Interest, Protagonist Falls in Love First, Seme Protagonist

In a world where the echoes of a forgotten civilization linger, Ichika, a young boy with the soul of an old man, discovers his unique abilities during a mysterious "God Blessing." But his awakening is far from peaceful. Haunted by a chilling vision and plagued by a strange sense of déjà vu, Ichika embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery. Guided by his fiercely protective older sister, Ichika grapples with the weight of his past life and the uncertainties of his new reality. As he navigates the dangers of a world shrouded in mystery, he must confront the lingering trauma of his "God Blessing" and unlock the secrets of his past, all while forging a deeper connection with his sister and the world around him. This coming-of-age fantasy blends elements of magical realism with poignant reflections on loss, family, and the enduring power of human connection.