I've never met him, so why does he feel like someone I know? (Nostalgia for stuff I've never experienced)

I saw this man randomly on Facebook and god, I genuinely cannot stop thinking about him. 😭 It’s been two months since I saw him and somehow I still think about him way more than I should.

The funny thing is, I literally only know his name and his occupation. That’s it. I don’t know if he’s single, I don’t know what his personality is like, I don’t even know how old he is. I’m pretty sure he’s probably a lot older than me too, which somehow makes this even more ridiculous. 😭

But there was just something about him. I don’t know how to explain it without sounding completely insane, but he felt familiar. Like if I actually knew him, I could picture myself being so comfortable around him. And now my brain keeps wandering into these little daydreams about what life with him would be like.

I catch myself wondering what kind of husband he’d be, what he’d be like when he’s comfortable, what his laugh sounds like, what he’s like when he’s annoyed, all of it. And I DON’T EVEN KNOW THIS MAN. 😭

I genuinely didn’t want to get into the whole praying/wazifa/tahajjud thing because, hello, this is a man I have never even spoken to. But I can’t help making dua sometimes. Not even in a “this HAS to happen” way. More like… if there’s something good here, I hope Allah lets our paths cross properly.

I’ve never really felt this strongly about someone without knowing them. Maybe I’m just projecting an entire personality onto a handsome Facebook profile, which is entirely possible. 😭 But two months later and I’m still here, quietly wondering about him.

Anyway, I hope he’s single. That’s honestly the first plot twist I need Allah to clear up. 😭
I think what gets me the most is that it genuinely doesn’t feel lustful. Obviously I find him incredibly handsome, but that’s not even the part that has stayed with me. It’s more like I have this inexplicable feeling that I already know him somehow. Like there’s a familiarity there that makes no sense because I’ve never actually met or spoken to him. I don’t know anything about his life, yet I keep wondering about the person behind the face rather than just the face itself.

And I know realistically our paths probably aren’t going to cross. We have no obvious reason to meet, and I’m not expecting some movie-like coincidence to happen. But I still find myself wishing they would. Just once, I’d like to meet him properly and find out whether this strange feeling was completely in my head or whether there really was something about him that I somehow sensed from afar.

Accidentally deleted my last post 😭

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What was life actually like for the everyday servants (concubines& kalfas) in the Ottoman Imperial Harem?

We always talk about the powerful Sultanas Hurrem, Kosem, Turhan or the royal princesses, but I’ve been reading up on the structure of the Ottoman Imperial Harem and got really curious about the actual majority of women living there. Most women in the harem weren't royal concubines sleeping with the Sultan; they were regular enslaved workers, staff, and supervisors known as cariyeler (ordinary servant girls) and kalfas (senior officers/managers who ran the daily operations).

Because these women were brought in from all over the empire and abroad (the Caucasus, Balkans, Circassia, etc.), historical accounts mention they were selected for beauty, intelligence, and adaptability. But what did daily life actually look like for these low-to-mid ranking women?

Specifically, I’m interested in a few questions:

  1. Protection and Abuse: How were these young servants protected from physical abuse or sexual harassment/rape? The harem was heavily guarded by Black Eunuchs (Kızlar A体事 / Kızlar Ağası), and men were strictly forbidden from entering. But within the hierarchy, were lower-ranking cariyeler safe from abuse by higher-ranking kalfas or palace officials? What happened if someone crossed the line?

  2. Illicit Affairs & Secret Relationships: Since only a tiny fraction of women ever even met the Sultan, what happened to the rest of the young women's romantic or sexual lives? Were illicit affairs (with eunuchs, guards, or outside vendors through secret messages) common, and how harshly were they punished if caught? ( I am a Muslim and Zina is a huge sin in our religion)

  3. Life After the Harem: I read that after ~9 years of service, many cariyeler could request manumission (freedom), a pension, and help finding a good marriage outside the palace. How common was this transition to normal life, and did ex-harem servants hold higher social status in Ottoman society?
    Would love to hear from history buffs or anyone who has read academic sources (like Leslie Peirce's The Imperial Harem) on what the ground-level reality was for these women beyond the dramatic TV tropes

u/Significant_Golf_939 — 3 days ago

Anastasia Tsilimpiou deserved more screen time—her innocence set up Beren Saat’s iconic Kösem so perfectly.

The Innocence of Anastasia (Anastasia Tsilimpiou)
Greek actress Anastasia Tsilimpiou was only 17 years old when she was cast out of hundreds of candidates across the Balkans to play young Anastasia (later named Mahpeyker). Her casting was a deliberate artistic choice: producers wanted a genuine Greek actress who could naturally embody the raw, untamed innocence of a young girl ripped away from her home on the island of Tinos.
Before stepping into the Topkapı Palace as a captive, Anastasia represented an untainted era of Sultan Ahmed I’s reign:
The Pure Romance: She didn't view Ahmed through the lens of political leverage or dynastic power. Her initial dynamic with Ekin Koç’s Sultan Ahmed was rooted in youthful fascination, escape attempts, and genuine, uncalculated affection.
The Reality Behind the Role: Tsilimpiou learned Turkish specifically for the role, delivering her lines with a authentic accent that emphasized her character’s outsider status in the Imperial Harem.
The Tragic Cut: While the story required Kösem to harden after facing brutal harem betrayals and smallpox outbreaks, the transition felt rushed. Seeing a few more episodes of Anastasia navigating the harem with her initial softness would have made her ultimate transformation into a hardened political mastermind feel even more poignant.

Anastasia Tsilimpiou deserved more screen time—her innocence set up Beren Saat’s iconic Kösem so perfectly.
Also Can we talk about how special the first few episodes of Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem were?
I know the recast in Episode 7 is always a big debate in the fandom, and while I absolutely adore Beren Saat as Kösem, I really wish we had gotten to see more of Anastasia Tsilimpiou before the transition happened.
Anastasia brought such a genuine, untainted innocence to young Nasia.

You could truly feel her heartbreak of being torn away from her home on the island of Tinos. Her chemistry with Ekin Koç (Sultan Ahmed) wasn't about harem politics, power moves, or dynastic survival—it was pure, naive, dynamic youthful love. She made you remember that before Kösem was a terrifying political mastermind, she was just a girl who wanted to go home.
That being said, when Beren Saat took over the mantle, the shift was absolute perfection.
Beren was born to play Kösem in her imperial era. The moment she stepped out in front of the rebellious Janissaries after Ahmed caught smallpox, she shifted the entire tone of the series from a coming-of-age romance into a high-stakes political thriller. Beren brought unparalleled poise, gravitas, and that sharp, protective Valide energy. She captured the exact moment Mahpeyker died and Kösem ("the leader") was born.
Anastasia gave the character her heart, and Beren gave her her crown. I just wish we had a few more episodes with Anastasia's softness before the Topkapı Palace inevitably hardened her into an empire’s ruler.
What are your thoughts on how the transition was handled? Do you think Anastasia's era should have been extended?

ALSO HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS RED DRESS ACTUALLY WAS

u/Significant_Golf_939 — 12 days ago

Atike Sultan: The Most Frustrating Character in Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem

If there is one character in Season 2 of Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem (MCK) that made me want to pull my hair out, it was undoubtedly Atike Sultan
In a show filled with political masterminds, ruthless strategists, and high-stakes dynastic warfare, Atike’s entire storyline felt like an out-of-place, juvenile teen drama. While her mother Kösem was trying to keep an empire from collapsing and her brother Sultan Murad IV was executing traitors left and right, Atike was entirely consumed by one thing: her obsessed, unrequited crush on Silahdar Mustafa Pasha.

What She Did to Gevherhan (and Why It Was Unforgivable)
The worst aspect of Atike’s character arc was her complete lack of empathy and emotional maturity regarding her older sister, Gevherhan Sultan.

  1. Self-Centered Blindness: Atike threw endless tantrums over Silahdar, treating him like a prize to be won. She remained blissfully and almost maliciously oblivious to the fact that Silahdar did not love her.
  2. Sabotaging Gevherhan: Gevherhan and Silahdar had developed a quiet, genuine affection for one another. Instead of acting like a supportive sister, Atike used her status as the "favorite, coddled baby sister" to manipulate Kösem and Sultan Murad into forcing Silahdar into a marriage with her instead.
  3. The Wedding Tragedy: Gevherhan, broken by the betrayal, isolation, and constant sacrifice expected of Ottoman princesses, committed suicide right at Atike and Silahdar's wedding feast slitting her throat in front of Kösem and the entire imperial harem.
  4. The Victim Complex: Even after her sister’s blood was spilled on her wedding day, Atike’s character continued to act like the ultimate victim, wallowing in self-pity because her forced marriage wasn't a fairy tale.
  5. Making Gevherhan commit suicide over a mediocre Pasha was a huge dramatic gamble by the showrunners—and completely historically inaccurate that sacrificed one of the most dignified princesses just to give Atike more unearned screen time.

The Real History: Kösem’s Powerful, Overlooked Daughters
In reality, Kösem Sultan’s daughters were not swooning teenagers ruining their sisters' lives over palace guards; they were major political players used by Kösem to forge critical alliances with Grand Viziers and powerful statesmen.
Here is what the show should have focused on instead:

  1. Ayşe Sultan (c. 1606–1656) — The Political Pawn
  2. Ayşe was Kösem's eldest daughter and arguably the ultimate political bride in Ottoman history. 
  3. Marriages: Married at least 8 times to high-ranking officials, including Grand Viziers Nasuh Pasha and Hafız Ahmed Pasha. 
  4. Life: Many of her husbands were executed by her brothers or killed in Janissary revolts. She spent her life navigating court intrigue, holding immense wealth, and serving as a key anchor for Kösem's network in the capital.
  5. Fatma Sultan (c. 1607–1670) — The Unbreakable Princess
  6. Fatma Sultan rivaled her sister Ayşe in both political importance and sheer number of marriages. 
  7. Marriages: Married around 7 times. Her alliances were specifically crafted by Kösem to secure loyalty among statesmen during unstable reigns. 
  8. Personality: Known for her extravagant taste, boldness, and political cunning, Fatma survived the bloody reigns of Ahmed I, Osman II, Murad IV, Ibrahim I, and Mehmed IV.
  9. Hanzade Sultan (c. 1609–1650) — The Court Broker
  10. Marriages: Married to Bayram Pasha (who later became Grand Vizier).
  11. Influence: Unlike the tragic portrayal of princesses in MCK, Hanzade used her marriage to build a formidable political faction in Istanbul, maintaining strong sway during the reign of her brother Ibrahim.
  12. Gevherhan Sultan (c. 1605–1660) — The Real Survivor
  13. In actual history, Gevherhan did not commit suicide over Silahdar Pasha! 
  14. Marriages: She was married first to Öküz Kara Mehmed Pasha (Grand Vizier) and later to Topal Recep Pasha. 
  15. Legacy: When Murad IV executed her second husband, Topal Recep Pasha, Gevherhan stood her ground. She lived a long, respected life well into her fifties, outliving most of her brothers. 
  16. Atike Sultan (Real History vs. MCK)
  17. Historically, Atike Sultan was actually known for being a supportive, calm figure. She played a significant role in raising the future Sultan Mehmed IV and acting as a caretaker in the royal household, rather than causing chaotic love triangles. MCK's writers completely reinvented her personality to create soap-opera drama at the expense of historical depth

What We Missed Out On
By prioritizing Atike’s fictionalized, whiny love story, Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem missed the chance to explore the true "Regency of Princesses". Showing Ayşe or Fatma Sultan navigating six or seven political marriages, dealing with the executions of their husbands, and managing the factional warfare of the Ottoman court alongside Kösem would have made for far more compelling television than watching Atike pine over Silahdar.

Atike wasn't just immature; she was actively toxic to her own family. While every other woman in the Topkapi Palace was fighting for dynastic survival, political leverage, or the protection of their children, Atike spent Season 2 acting like the president of the Faria Fan Club, systematically destroying her own sisters and sisters-in-law in the process

Also why was she going nuts over princess faria like hello wtf!???

u/Significant_Golf_939 — 15 days ago

Why can’t I just stay unmarried? (Posting for my cousin)

I am 26 recently got done with my mbbs from one of the best universities in Pakistan. My step 1 is clear and I’ll take step 2 in sometime. Currently I’m doing house job and I’ve been in a thing with this guy from when I was 23. We have age gap of few years. We met at a family event. He’s great and I love him. No matter what I say ahead I love this man so much it hurts. It’s been 3 years since we are talking and there’s rarely been fights that lead to us thinking that we should call it all off. He comes from a great family, he’s wealthy and he joined his family business a couple of years back.

I have always wanted to do my specialisation at least from America and come back eventually to Pakistan because I want to serve my own people. I got into medschool at the age of 20 but I retook the examinations and restarted in another university just so I could easily clear Usmle. And it’s one of the best decisions of my life.

Recently, we started talking about doing stuff formally and get married. I have no rush of marrying but I’m not against it either. But his family wants him to get married because he’s the oldest son and he wants to get married because one of our topic of arguments is girls around him. Not many people know about our relationship so yea. So just as what a mature adult would do I bought up the conversation of me moving to USA. We have been talking about it for years and he has always been supportive of it. He inspired me to keep going, we didn’t even talk for weeks because I was buried in studying but now it just he felt a little reluctant. Our goal always was that we will get married, I’ll be living in USA and he will keep on living back and forth between Pakistan and US. His wealth and business allows him the freedom. It’s not possible for me to live 6 months in USA and 6 months in Pakistan. Because residency is full time. It’s not my OWN start up or generational wealth that no one will mind what I’m doing. It’ll take me at least 6 years full time In USA and he always knew this.

Now recently his mother told me that I should consider doing fcps. What for? And why? I spoke about it to him and he told me if the only reason you want to move to USA is because of earning better, you should consider staying in pakistan and he will provide that luxury lifestyle for us. He will give me the money and everything but money was never even a consideration. I could’ve stayed in Pakistan and lived off my brothers and dad too. But I wanted to broaden my horizons and have license in USA too. He always knew it idk why he thinks it’s up for discussion. I’ll get easily matched and I’ve already spent hell of money over this exam.

Even if I stay in Pakistan, I can’t be the perfect little trophy wife. I cant just play dress up all my life. And now that his parents want me to stay in Pakistan so my parents also think it’s perfect. I love his parents with all my life. They’re great people. They’ve always treated me like their own child. I love his siblings and his family and the last thing I would want is for him to be away from them. I’m not trying to snatch anyone’s son or brother. I’m just struggling to keep my ambition, my dreams and my man with me. And even if I stay in Pakistan I can’t be the perfect wife. It’s not possible for me because being a resident is hard and it takes long time.

He’s the first person i have ever been with. I never dated anyone before him. I don’t want to be with anyone else. Idk what to do and how to do. He didn’t tell me that you have to stay here in pakistan. He just told me to consider it but his mother was sooo confident about it.

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u/Significant_Golf_939 — 21 days ago

Why can’t I just stay unmarried? (Posting for my cousin)

I am 26 recently got done with my mbbs from one of the best universities in Pakistan. My step 1 is clear and I’ll take step 2 in sometime. Currently I’m doing house job and I’ve been in a thing with this guy from when I was 23. We have age gap of few years. We met at a family event. He’s great and I love him. No matter what I say ahead I love this man so much it hurts. It’s been 3 years since we are talking and there’s rarely been fights that lead to us thinking that we should call it all off. He comes from a great family, he’s wealthy and he joined his family business a couple of years back.

I have always wanted to do my specialisation at least from America and come back eventually to Pakistan because I want to serve my own people. I got into medschool at the age of 20 but I retook the examinations and restarted in another university just so I could easily clear Usmle. And it’s one of the best decisions of my life.

Recently, we started talking about doing stuff formally and get married. I have no rush of marrying but I’m not against it either. But his family wants him to get married because he’s the oldest son and he wants to get married because one of our topic of arguments is girls around him. Not many people know about our relationship so yea. So just as what a mature adult would do I bought up the conversation of me moving to USA. We have been talking about it for years and he has always been supportive of it. He inspired me to keep going, we didn’t even talk for weeks because I was buried in studying but now it just he felt a little reluctant. Our goal always was that we will get married, I’ll be living in USA and he will keep on living back and forth between Pakistan and US. His wealth and business allows him the freedom. It’s not possible for me to live 6 months in USA and 6 months in Pakistan. Because residency is full time. It’s not my OWN start up or generational wealth that no one will mind what I’m doing. It’ll take me at least 6 years full time In USA and he always knew this.

Now recently his mother told me that I should consider doing fcps. What for? And why? I spoke about it to him and he told me if the only reason you want to move to USA is because of earning better, you should consider staying in pakistan and he will provide that luxury lifestyle for us. He will give me the money and everything but money was never even a consideration. I could’ve stayed in Pakistan and lived off my brothers and dad too. But I wanted to broaden my horizons and have license in USA too. He always knew it idk why he thinks it’s up for discussion. I’ll get easily matched and I’ve already spent hell of money over this exam.

Even if I stay in Pakistan, I can’t be the perfect little trophy wife. I cant just play dress up all my life. And now that his parents want me to stay in Pakistan so my parents also think it’s perfect. I love his parents with all my life. They’re great people. They’ve always treated me like their own child. I love his siblings and his family and the last thing I would want is for him to be away from them. I’m not trying to snatch anyone’s son or brother. I’m just struggling to keep my ambition, my dreams and my man with me. And even if I stay in Pakistan I can’t be the perfect wife. It’s not possible for me because being a resident is hard and it takes long time.

He’s the first person i have ever been with. I never dated anyone before him. I don’t want to be with anyone else. Idk what to do and how to do. He didn’t tell me that you have to stay here in pakistan. He just told me to consider it but his mother was sooo confident about it.

reddit.com
u/Significant_Golf_939 — 21 days ago

How to stop caring about age and what other people think? (Please ya’ll don’t skip)

I’m 19 and I’ll turn 20 this September. I’m taking the MDCAT this year, and hopefully I’ll get into a medical school—any medical school. But what’s been weighing on me constantly is the fact that I couldn’t get into my dream university.
The truth is, there isn’t another medical university in my city that excites me. Most of the available options feel mediocre to me. Ever since I was young, I’ve imagined myself studying at my dream university. It’s not just about prestige; I genuinely believe it would offer me opportunities, exposure, independence, and a kind of personal growth that I don’t think I’d find elsewhere.
Part of me wants to try one more time. But doing that would mean restarting my first year, which means I’d begin medical school at 21 instead of 20. That thought terrifies me. I’ll be older than most of my classmates, and I’ll probably graduate around the age of 25 or 26. I keep wondering—is that too late? Am I wasting time? Will everyone think I’m behind?
Then there are the other worries that never seem to stop. What will my relatives—especially my uncle—say? How will I convince my dad that restarting is the right decision? What if he doesn’t agree? I can’t even focus on preparing for the MDCAT because my mind keeps spiraling into thoughts about my future.
As a girl, the pressure feels even heavier. I worry about marriage, about finding someone who’s actually my type, about whether delaying medical school will affect my chances of pursuing residency in the USA, and whether I’m making a mistake that I’ll regret forever. Every possible scenario keeps running through my head until I’m overthinking the most irrational things.
I feel stuck between accepting what’s available now and risking another year for the place I’ve dreamed of my whole life. I don’t know which choice I’ll regret more, and that uncertainty is consuming me.

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u/Significant_Golf_939 — 1 month ago

Posting for a friend

I’m 20 and currently in ziauddin. I’m in first year. The environment ain’t working out good for me. I’m having hard time adjusting but my studies aren’t too bad. It’s just I am not able to make a single friend and it just sucks to be me right now. The people there are not it.
I gave AKU test and if god wills, I’ll pass it but do you guys think It’ll be worth it?
I will have to restart entire first year and I will be 21 while starting uni. It literally is gnawing me rn because AKU has always been my dream university but I’m kind off in a dilemma.
also, to people who gave AKU interview test while being in another university, how did you guys do it? I mean were you honest to them during the interview about it?

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u/Significant_Golf_939 — 1 month ago

Confused and baffled

I’m going through one of the hardest phases of my life right now.
I was supposed to take the MCAT this year and finally get a chance to apply to my dream university. But the night before the test, my aunt passed away, and we had to leave for our village. Because of that, I missed the exam.
This was already my second gap year, and now I feel like my life is completely falling apart.
I’ll take the MCAT this year and, hopefully, get into a medical university. But the thought that it probably won’t be that particular university is eating me alive. It feels like someone has ripped my heart out. I can’t stop thinking about what could have been.
The biggest reason I’m so devastated isn’t just the university itself. I needed to leave my home. I come from a toxic family, and getting into that university meant living away from home and finally having the freedom to build my own life. Now it feels like I’ll be stuck here, and I honestly don’t know how much more I can take.
I’m constantly questioning everything. Should I get into any university this year and then try once more for my dream university? Would that be a terrible decision? Is graduating at 25 or 26 really that bad? I keep thinking about my career, finances, marriage, and my future, and it feels like my entire life has been turned upside down.
I know many people will say, “Just go to any university.” And I understand why. But for me, this isn’t only about the university’s reputation. It’s about escaping an environment that has been holding me back for years. I truly believed those few years away from home would help me break the cycle.
Right now, I feel completely lost. I don’t know what the right decision is anymore, and I’m on the verge of giving up. If anyone has been through something similar or has any genuine advice, I would really appreciate hearing it.
Even if I do get into that university next year idk what to tell people. My uncles and everyone and their kids will make fun of me and call me stupid for wasting so many years. And my dad probably won’t even let me switch. Please tell me what to do
Ive been sick ever since I missed the uni test and can’t stop anxiety attacks and gagging

reddit.com
u/Significant_Golf_939 — 1 month ago

Perplexed, baffled, confounded

I’m going through one of the hardest phases of my life right now.
I was supposed to take the MCAT this year and finally get a chance to apply to my dream university. But the night before the test, my aunt passed away, and we had to leave for our village. Because of that, I missed the exam.
This was already my second gap year, and now I feel like my life is completely falling apart.
I’ll take the MCAT this year and, hopefully, get into a medical university. But the thought that it probably won’t be that particular university is eating me alive. It feels like someone has ripped my heart out. I can’t stop thinking about what could have been.
The biggest reason I’m so devastated isn’t just the university itself. I needed to leave my home. I come from a toxic family, and getting into that university meant living away from home and finally having the freedom to build my own life. Now it feels like I’ll be stuck here, and I honestly don’t know how much more I can take.
I’m constantly questioning everything. Should I get into any university this year and then try once more for my dream university? Would that be a terrible decision? Is graduating at 25 or 26 really that bad? I keep thinking about my career, finances, marriage, and my future, and it feels like my entire life has been turned upside down.
I know many people will say, “Just go to any university.” And I understand why. But for me, this isn’t only about the university’s reputation. It’s about escaping an environment that has been holding me back for years. I truly believed those few years away from home would help me break the cycle.
Right now, I feel completely lost. I don’t know what the right decision is anymore, and I’m on the verge of giving up. If anyone has been through something similar or has any genuine advice, I would really appreciate hearing it.
Even if I do get into that university next year idk what to tell people. My uncles and everyone and their kids will make fun of me and call me stupid for wasting so many years. And my dad probably won’t even let me switch. Please tell me what to do
Ive been sick ever since I missed the uni test and can’t stop anxiety attacks and gagging

reddit.com
u/Significant_Golf_939 — 1 month ago

The show wanted to make Selim look like a womaniser but they ended up making Mustafa look like that 🤣

Mustafa had over 7 woman throughout
He easily jumped to bed with most of the women and easily fell in love too.
But apparently it’s Selim who was a womaniser but yea he stayed loyal to one woman… lmaooo the show is super contradictory. Mustafa was a womaniser while Selim was loyal to Nurbano, the only woman before her was Dilsah and he stopped seeing her too. Unlike most of the kings Selim didn’t lecture Nurbano when she said to him that there will be no other woman.
Love love love him and Nurbano

u/Significant_Golf_939 — 2 months ago

My Prince deserved more time on screen…

I know most people here don’t like his acting but I loved his character so much. Most pure, uncorrupted prince who truly deserved the throne. I wish they showed it more that why Suleiman wanted him to be the king but since the writers and directors were hell bent on showing Mustafa as the rightful and perfect one, they completely ruined characters of Hurrem’s sons…

u/Significant_Golf_939 — 2 months ago

AKU DELAYED

guys I’m sorry for the clickbait title but my cousin had her aku test tomorrow
Her dad isn’t ok, she won’t be able to take the test tomorrow.
She has already taken one attempt and if she skips the test tomorrow due to these valid reasons and email the university do you think her attempt will be safe?
She’s in a desperate condition right now and going through multiple panic attacks

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u/Significant_Golf_939 — 2 months ago