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The folklore around Christmas says it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Its jolly ambiance and fairy lights should put anyone in a festive mood, right? Yet to some people, the holidays bring problems ranging from family drama to stomachs rejecting Christmas food, among other things. Therefore, they tend to seek comfort from folks in similar situations. Thankfully, online communities make it easier to relate and offer compassion to others.

Reddit user bleachspot has asked his fellow Redditors what has ruined their Christmas. Loads of people were willing to share! We have combed through the answers and gathered some examples; a few amusing ones, most—gut-wrenchingly unfortunate. Each is due to engage someone who can relate or provide some much-needed emotional support. Scroll down for the stories and feel free to share yours if you wish!

#1

"Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas I unexpectedly and suddenly became a widow 30 days ago, leaving me with our special needs 5yo daughter and I'm currently 24w pregnant.

He went to bed and didn't wake up.

Never, ever dreamed I'd be a widow at 39 after 13 years together, 5.5 years married.

No stars out of 5. Do not recommend.

jennywindow , Pavel Danilyuk Report

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    #2

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mum told me I wasn’t welcome at Christmas dinner, so I stayed home and got drunk and cried all night. We celebrate on the 24th and my family spent all of the 25th guilt-tripping me for not showing up and telling me how my mum had hoped I would still show all night. So yeah, I am the bad guy no matter what. Proceeded to get drunk on the 25th as well. F**k family.

    Lyllythy , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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    ginny weasley
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two things. Alcohol will not solve this problem, but going NC with family will. Cut them and the booze out and spend Christmas with friends ( or cats) who really care about you and make new traditions

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    #3

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My dog passed away early Christmas morning. She had been sick for a couple weeks so I knew it was coming but it still f*****g sucks, and she died on Christmas of all days. She was such a nice dog, and now she's gone forever. RIP Daisy.

    LonelyGuy319 , Pixabay Report

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    #4

    My cousin announcing her pregnancy. She doesn't have a job, bounces from couch to couch, and already has 6 kids that CPS already took from her. She had 3 abortions in high school and had 2 babies pass away only hours after birth because they was born prematurely and addicted to drugs. I might be a feminist but, if anyone should be forced to get a Tubal it's her.

    RiseandRiseagain1814 Report

    #5

    We were going to my aunts for dinner and took multiple cars. I’m in the house with most of my family, other than my mom. She parks across the street and starts to cross the road to the house. A guy come flying down and nearly hits her. She gets pissed, swears at him and kicks at his car as he passes by.

    He stops in the middle of the street, chases her down and shoved her to the ground. She’s 75 and on blood thinners, so the small gash on the back of her head was gushing blood.

    My dad and wife saw this go down, so they go flying out of the house yelling at the guy. Dad is standing in front of this guys car yelling and trying to get his plates. The guy gets back in the car and guns it. Dad go rolling over the hood of the car and smashes onto the ground as the guy speeds off. He’s also in his 70s, but is somehow okay.

    Multiple paramedics and Sheriffs come. My mom had to get a couple of staples in her head, but all things considered, everyone is fine.

    But you know what, we did not let this ruin our Christmas. Mom made it home just in time for an amazing dinner.

    This happened 9 hours ago and I’m still on edge. I watched my dad get hit and fly in the air, but couldn’t see the result because of parked cars. There was a split second where I thought I had watched my dad die while I stood there with my 2 year old. Fortunately he’s fine.

    This was across from a very famous surf spot, so there are surf cams EVERYWHERE and the cops already have video of the suspects car. Waiting for the news that he’s been found.

    byfuryattheheart Report

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    Karen Grace
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope they charge him with felony assault and attempted murder when they get him.

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    #6

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas First Christmas separated. I was able to spend a few hours with my kids and my parents, siblings, etc. but when the kids became bored and were tearing up asking to go home, I broke down. I got them back with their mom, safe and sound, and cried for the next hour and a half. My Christmas want nearly as bad as many here, but I was still surprised at how much heartache I felt today

    RumblestheDwarf , Andrew Neel Report

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    Somebodys grandmother
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to learn knew traditions. It is hard - i know.... and it hurts. Be ready - make plan for yout time until you all can relax again...

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    #7

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mil pining over her grandchildren she can't be with. I've had 3 miscarriages this year, no kids. 4 years of IVF. We're talking about quitting and living child free. It has been the hardest Christmas.

    ohstaceymel , Felipe Cespedes Report

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    Altea
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Infertility is so hard. And people are usually super insensitive about it.

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    #8

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mom brought up the diary I kept as a teenager years ago. That diary had detailed plans about me offing myself. She brought it up legit an hour ago in front of everyone. have spent the last two hours in my room crying and feeling all sorts of emotions. I’m 25 now but damn I feel all the feelings I left at that time and I don’t know how to feel.

    charlie33596 , Alina Vilchenko Report

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    Lyn Moffett
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WHY does she have your personal property and what a c**t for bringing up such a dark time in your life. I hope you are feeling much better. I would've taken the book off her and set it alight

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    #9

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My baby was still born at the beginning of December. I'm too heartbroken for Christmas cheer

    Purple_Ingenuity_302 , Engin Akyurt Report

    #10

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Husband is a recovering alcoholic and last night on Christmas Eve he relapsed following 1 year sober. I don’t want to go through all that hell again and I’m 8 months pregnant with no job and 1000 miles from home. I seriously don’t know what to do. I think I’m doomed.

    SnooObjections3195 , cottonbro studio Report

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    Minath
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fingers crossed it's just a blip in his recovery. I've lived with an alcoholic and it's really hard to deal with when you're not pregnant, OP must be suffering so much right now.

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    #11

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Being called selfish for having a migraine and "ruining the festivities", and then getting socks, underwear, some pillows and random chocolate my mom and sister "split the cost of because money was tight", while seeing my sister get JBL Bluetooth headphones, a JBL speaker and a JBL clip on speaker my mom single-handedly bought her.

    But most of all, a migraine. Those ruin any day.

    jassietheconqueror , Keira Burton Report

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    R.A. Haley
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you've lived with someone who gets migraines you know how totally incapacitating they are. Most sufferers I know swear by 2 cold cans of Coke, one to drink and one to hold behind your head. Caffeine can be a trigger in some people though, so it becomes time for a cold towel and a dark room.

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    #12

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Certainly not as awful as most stories here, but my son’s pet frog died. He’s 10 and he adored that frog. Poor kid was so sad.

    froggyjamboree , David McPictures Report

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    Karen Grace
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Frogs have so much character I can see why he's sad. That's the hard part of keeping critters like frogs, they have a short lifespan.

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    #13

    Came home from the military and seemed like my family had forgotten about me. Not that I needed presents or really even wanted them but the fact that nobody even thought about something as simple as a card kind of hurts when I’m sitting here for an hour watching them pass presents around to each other and I got one for each of them as well. Just feels bad

    Firsthalthor Report

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    Libstak
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Happened to me too. Different reasons. My sister claimed to be too broke for gifts for her girls. Mum gave her our Christmas money to cover. On the day she and her partner exchanged expensive gifts to each other and the girls. We got them gifts too. I got mum and dad a special gift. Nobody got me so much as a box of chocolates or a soap on a rope. Then the smarmy partner had to point it out in front of everybody, hey you didn't get anything. Worst part is that Christmas money existed because I paid double rent for 2 months out of my pocket so mum and dad would have spare Christmas money to help us all out.

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    #14

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My grandma fed my dog (who has serious digestion and other health problems) 5 Christmas cookies, and he not only shat and vomited all over the house, but had to go to the vet.

    IchigoMainSSF2 , Valeria Boltneva Report

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    ginny weasley
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't invite grandma back to the house if she can't follow house rules.

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    #15

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My sister-in-law has been verbally berating her children all day. They're kids. It's Christmas. They're supposed to be hyper and excited.

    anon , Anastasia Shuraeva Report

    #16

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mom started crying and causing drama because my sisters didn’t stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve to celebrate Christmas early. She decided not to show up for breakfast and gift exchanges this morning and instead messaged us all morning saying no one loves her or cares about her. I love being guilt tripped……

    machoman102299 , Brett Sayles Report

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    Nicole Weymann
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If she keeps putting in that kind of effort she'll be right sooner or later .

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    #17

    Being raised a Jehovahs Witness, leaving, and then being too broke from all the therapy to celebrate.

    Jehovah wins this time; but I’ll get him next year.

    Moonflufff Report

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    Jill Pulcifer
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No way! You won. You may have been too broke to celebrate how you would like to, however you left the cult behind and your smart enough to know that investing in yourself with therapy is more important than any item money can buy.

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    #18

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Found out today my wife of 10 years is cheating on me.

    RuFioooo0 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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    #19

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My grandma asked if I was pregnant because my stomach I guess was sticking out a little. Didn’t appreciate that one.

    sultryballerina , cottonbro studio Report

    #20

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My grandmother berating my sister and I, in front of our whole family, for not calling her on Christmas. While we were facetiming her...

    somestoner69 , Dollar Gill Report

    #21

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas my mom told us she has cancer and it’s quite bad

    rtmcx18 , Teona Swift Report

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    Kate Jones
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm so sorry. But I have to ask, why would anyone choose a holiday to announce that to people? Like it's not bad enough they might lose you. Those you leave behind will always have this reminder that their lives changed on Christmas and every year when it rolls around there will be this sadness. I understand certain things like cancer happen quickly, but more than likely waiting a few days to tell anyone so it doesn't become a yearly depressing reminder would do the family a lot of good. Of course, there may be circumstances I'm not aware of but just in general... please don't do this to your family, people!

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    #22

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My sister stormed out an hour before the food was ready because she believed we were talking s**t about her or threatening her or something. She’s schizophrenic. None of that was happening. There’s no way to convince her it’s not true.

    Weird_Blanket , Liza Summer Report

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    liyanee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get them the help and support they need. Don't abandon them without at least trying. Medications and therapy can help them and the family to handle situations better.

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    #23

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Girlfriend shaming me for taking a half day off work on Christmas Eve to see my family. Woke up to her making snide comments about how it “must be nice” to sleep in a bit, then told me to “run home to mommy”. This was all unprovoked while I was laying in bed; not as bad as a lot of stories here but it’s put a damper on the whole holidays.

    brooney2 , Polina Zimmerman Report

    #24

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My dad’s anger issues and mom forcing us to pretend nothing is happening.

    mgr98 , Evelyn Chong Report

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    ginny weasley
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is it his personality or a medical side effect? My father got interferon treatment for Hep C and it made him into a rage monster. It was a tough time, but also not his fault. When he came off the meds he was better and it had knocked the viral load down enough that that was not what killed him in the end. If it is something medical there may not be a choice but to deal with it till it passes.

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    #25

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Wife wants a divorce and moved out, parents on a cruise.

    Up till 2am Xmas eve staring at my reflection in my ipad eating a block of cheese.

    I haven't cared about xmas since I was a kid, so why does this suck so hard?

    Tacos_117 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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    Tamra
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The world paints a picture of the holidays as a magical time, full of festive gatherings and parties, fun times with family and friends, beautiful gifts, etc. That's simply not the reality for many people, and when bad things happen on the holidays, it makes things feel so much worse because it's "supposed" to be this magical time.

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    #26

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mother has the uncanny ability to make me more upset than anyone else in the world. I love her but she is so difficult and can ruin anything.

    skatelikevirtue , Elina Fairytale Report

    #27

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas my sister's boss told her they were only open until 5, but they're actually open until 10 and she won't let my sister leave. Surprise 10 hour shift! So now my mom's watching a WWII documentary and I'm on reddit lol.

    Merry Christmas!

    noexplanation2069 , Tim Douglas Report

    #28

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas My mom slipped on a patch of ice on her way into my house for breakfast and gifts this morning. She insisted she was fine, but after a few hours she could barely walk.

    Her foot is broken and may require surgery, so it looks like we'll be spending my birthday tomorrow in their hotel room. My Christmas wasn't ruined, but I feel awful that hers and my dad's basically was.

    SnowMiser26 , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report

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    Penelope Orange
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't that just like a mom? 'It's fine'...it was broken! So sorry this happened and hoping the break won't require surgery.

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    #29

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas I was reaching for a puzzle piece when something in my body decided to f**k right off, and now I've got immense shoulder/neck/back pain. I keep trying to stretch it gently & move it as much as I can, but I'm pretty out of commission.

    A damn PUZZLE PIECE.

    Foxien , Kindel Media Report

    #30

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Family members testing positive after we had already spent time together.

    Moony2433 , Nicole Michalou Report

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    Robert Gray
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Could be worse. They could have tested positive BEFORE the time spent together and chose not to tell you.

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    #31

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Divorce

    1_dog_lady , cottonbro studio Report

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    Kate Jones
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If things were bad it might be a freeing and positive change in your life. I know that's a little pie in the sky but for some people, divorce is the best thing that happened to them. Especially if they were miserable together.

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    #32

    Having to hang out with my brother all day. I love the guy, but holy f**k he never shuts up. Ever. At all. I’ve got three years on him and I’m certain he has flown past me in words spoken in our lifetime. Its exhausting. And whenever I act disinterested or just politely end the conversation, I’m the a*****e.

    dynnk Report

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    #33

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Pretty sure I got food poisoning last night at dinner so I spent all night in the bathroom with horrible stomach cramps all day today.

    cruisegal224 , Sora Shimazaki Report

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    Niki A
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did you perchance come to my family's dinner where my cousin who can't cook prepared everything and left it on the counter to get cold?

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    #34

    I got paged (oncall engineer) as the family was getting ready to eat our Christmas dinner. Later, I microwaved my plate and ate on my own before going back to my laptop.

    Ruined is a strong word, but I’m bitter about it.

    MCRN_Lopez Report

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    Sandor M
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm with you. Once I spent New Years eve recovering data for a server,so next day our users can have internet

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    #35

    My ex. Was married 20 years (had one daughter). Have been divorced for 5. Yesterday she asked to come back “home”. I had to force myself to say no. It was hard and made me sad thinking we could have been together if she hadn’t made the decisions she did 5 years ago.

    Hawk13424 Report

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    liyanee
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stay strong. You guys split for a reason and regretting certain actions around christmas seems as though she merely feels lonely.

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    #36

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Mom breaking down about us being a broken family and having an hour long conversation about why we arent close like other families

    DingDongSchomolong , Nicole Michalou Report

    #37

    "Grandma Asked If I Was Pregnant": 30 People Open Up About What Ruined Their Christmas Being on a greyhound bus for 13 f*****g hours

    SubliminalFish , AEMoreira042281 - Report

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    Sunny Day
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I adopted 2 families for Christmas from a local program. Went all out - clothes, toys, shoes, personal gifts, some cash & gift cards for dinner & extras. They each had about 15 gifts to open because I wanted to help a needy family who otherwise couldn't afford Christmas. Then I see on FB that one mom posted last week, offering a $500 reward for her 11yo's stolen 2021 Polaris quad-runner. TBH, I feel like I got scammed. Like giving a panhandler all the cash you have, only to see them climb into a new Mercedes and drive away.

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