u/Clear-Decision4303

So it was a co-workers wedding - we were invited to the ‘party’ aspect of the evening, those from my work that went all have quite an ‘in group’ and do lots of days/nights out together. I (26f) get along well with everyone but I don’t socialise with them outside of work. My best friend (25f) is in this group but we keep our friendship separate from work/group things. A total of 7 of us went.

So, the wedding, we got a bus out as the venue was 45 mins away from the city we all live in. This bus was booked by the bride and was due to return to the city centre around 2am.

My best friend and I both agreed if we were exhausted/drunk/ maxed out we’d call my BF who was happy to come get us. I was sort of holding off on this but she was exhausted and said can we phone him. He agreed to come get us so it was just a case of letting everyone know we weren’t getting the bus back.

Before I know it I’ve got 2 more people asking for a lift home with us as my friend told them we were leaving early, I wasn’t really consulted on this and the seats were taken. Throughout all of this we hadn’t told the other 3, I kept insisting we let them know and asked for a bit of support in this (being the outsider among them I felt a bit uncomfortable dropping this news). Everyone avoided it, so I informed the other 3 that I had planned to leave a bit earlier than the 1am bus and my bf was here to get me. I informed them that word of mouth spread and I was now taking 3 others home as well.

Their faces were nothing short of complete anger. They went mute, wouldn’t make eye contact, made passive aggressive comments and overall just did a complete 180 after such a lovely evening.

Two of them then posted in a group chat making angry comments (I am not in said group chat).

I feel awful, full on shakes and churning stomach from feeling like I’ve caused such offence to everyone else and taken away some of the ‘core group’. All I wanted was to go to have a nice time and leave early if I wanted. I didn’t intend to take anyone else home early but I’m not going to refuse people if they ask.

AITAH - for leaving a wedding early and taking people with me?

I loved the first book written in 1605, it was slapstick and so original with a good pace and some interesting stories within the story. Don Quixote’s insanity was so interesting and watching how people catered to his delusions to bring him to safety or make their own lives easier. That or the hostility and violence. I work in psychiatry and have met many patients who suffer from highly religious delusions and I felt so many relatable moments from my own workplace. Sancho was this brilliant deadpan character who brought such a loud mouth, simple minded energy to the narrative. I wondered what the second half would bring and was excited.

So onto the second half… I was underwhelmed compared to the power of the first book. I understand 10 years passed and that this book was sort of written to make a point against the false author who took the Don Quixote story. Understandable if everyone knows of Don Quixote and his antics then the world adapts to him more, his insanity lessens as the world’s insanity increases. He seemed so ‘tame’ compared to the first book, I felt Sancho took more of a leading role. Towards the end it felt rushed, Don Quixote’s defeat to the graduate just seemed so quick and then the decline was rapid.

I pushed through the second half but it felt like more of an effort compared to the first. I’m kicking myself for feeling this and appreciate why there was a shift, but the enjoyment just wasn’t the same.

Anyone else feel the same way? Was there any parts of the second book people enjoyed most?