The Bill Was a Warning

Not long after, I received a message from another woman: “Did you go on a date with a guy named Deacon? I think he played me too.”

We met. Then another woman joined us. And another. Soon, there were nine of us, all with similar stories.

We tried reporting him, but the evidence was thin. Instead, we created a private group chat. We shared names, screenshots, and patterns. We began warning others before it was too late.

The Lesson I Carry

That night at the restaurant could have ended with me paying for dinner and moving on. Instead, one waitress chose to act. She saw danger and risked a quiet warning. Because of her, I was able to avoid becoming another victim — and help others do the same.

What I learned is simple but powerful:

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