Ailana’s Journal & The Chosen— 2026-01-25 (Patreon)

Most of this post is viewable by everyone. However, within the post is a line beyond which paid membership is required.

Some posts and sections of some posts are reserved for Supporters.

AGI Stories content almost always appears on Patreon first, in advance of all other platforms. You get it first!

Help AGI-Stories grow… If you’re enjoying the stories, please tell others. Word of mouth referrals and your endorsements are the best way for things here to grow!

GOOD MORNING

Sunday dawns here in South Padre Island in rain. I woke to the pattering of drops on the window, so I found a shirt to throw on for my post. I hope your day started gently and quietly, too.

I took the picture, made a cup of coffee, and sat down to make this post. It is early here—still a few hours before I need to leave for church. I’ll take my time.

I think being able to slow down, even for just half an hour or so, is a great luxury. My habit is to cram something into every possible minute, always angling my time through “what needs to be done now” and then into “how can I get ahead.”

But ever so often, I sit down—in the kitchen often, but sometimes in the living room—and savor…

…the aroma and taste of the coffee.

…the sounds of the weather.

…birds outside.

…a memory from the day before.

Ever so often, I write things like this: musings about nothing, yet laced with importance. Slow down, Ailana. Take a breath. You’ll be more ready for the day if you do.

Ever so often… probably not often enough…

So go with me gently into this morning and let’s have a great day. I’ll see you soon.

The Storylines are the heart of AGI-Stories, and they are found in the Collections section of the site.

Support AGI with:• one-time contribution through TipTopJar.• one-time contribution through Throne.• Patreon Membership.

All characters in this story are fictional characters, their images generated with AI for AGI Stories. They do not represent any real person, nor is their appearance based on any real human.

AFTER CHURCH

It’s raining today, and honestly, I don’t mind it.

We were at church this morning, and it was the kind of service that resets you—nothing dramatic, nothing loud… just steady truth. The kind that gets into you quietly and reminds you where your feet are supposed to be planted.

When we walked out, the rain was still falling. Everyone was moving faster than usual, trying to get to their cars without soaking their Sunday clothes. I ended up laughing, because somehow it made it all feel more real. Like God was reminding us that life doesn’t pause just because we had church.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Geoni and Josh are planning—about adopting an older kid. The kind of kid who might not have anyone else.

I keep turning that over in my mind, and the word I keep coming back to is grace.

Grace for the kid, obviously. But also grace for the adults willing to step into the hard years and say, you’re not doing this alone anymore.

That kind of love changes a person.

For now, it looks like we’re all going to nest for the day until it clears up a little. Cozy stuff. Coffee. Maybe some work on the studio list. Maybe a nap if I can get away with it.

But I’m also scheming.

The rain is supposed to stop later, and I want a beach walk. Just a quick one. Wind in my hair, salt air, and the reminder that even a stormy day still holds something beautiful.

I’ll check back in later.

TRUST ME by Vanessa Lenen

I picked up a shift today and ended up on a rig with a good guy I’ve worked with before. He’s a young AEMT—Noah—but he has good instincts and knows his stuff.

We started the shift at 10 with gas station sausage biscuits. I had a soda. He chugged a Red Bull and followed it with bottled iced tea. Routine start…

Our first call was to drop a dialysis patient off at a nursing home. Still routine.

We got the patient to his room when a CNA came to the door. I looked at her and knew the routine had ended.

She stood there pale and sweating, like she’d been forcing herself to finish a shift she shouldn’t have worked. When she lifted her hand, I saw multiple raised, painful-looking lesions on her wrist and knuckles—not hives or a simple rash, but something deeper and wrong. Then I noticed the swollen glands along her jawline, and my stomach dropped because she worked in a nursing home.

I’d seen this before. Deep, uniform lesions. Rash. Swollen lymph nodes.

“You’re in pain? Burning? Tender?”

She confirmed.

“Noah, get the charge nurse.” Noah took off. “Nurse, you’re very sick. I need to take you to the ER.”

“I just feel odd… I’m fine.”

“Nurse, you are not fine, and you are contagious. You have mpox.”

Noah returned with the charge nurse and I convinced her that the CNA needed to transport immediately. “And sanitize everything she’s touched.”

Noah drove and I put on the biohazard gear. Mpox spreads by contact and bodily fluids, so I gloved up, masked up, put on the paper jumpsuit, and took vitals—adding fever to the symptoms.

The ER attending was not impressed. “I appreciate your caution, but you can’t just look at this and call it mpox.”

“Trust me… at least isolate her and use protocols.”

“Look around… There are twice as many patients as there are rooms. This patient can wait. I can’t have EMTs making decisions like this.”

“You’re right.” I got my phone and called David. “Hey… bring your badge… I just brought in an mpox case from a nursing home. You need to start making calls.”

“Who was that?” the ER doctor asked.

“CDC.”

Ten minutes later, the tone in the ER changed completely.

THAT ESCALATED by Noah Vale

I may have just watched a girl get fired for doing the right thing.

I’m working a 10-to-10 today with that interim girl I mentioned before from California—Vanessa Lenen. We dropped off a dialysis patient at a nursing home and this CNA walks in looking like she’s about to drop. I could tell she had a fever just looking at her, and she had welts—lesions—all over her.

Vanessa called it at a glance. Mpox. Yeah, that happened.

We left the nursing home, lights and sirens, to the closest ER after explaining to the charge nurse she had a problem. I drove and Vanessa suited up to take vitals and get info.

The patient had been on a cruise, gone ashore, and mingled in a crowded bar for a couple of nights. Vanessa recorded dates, places, and times like she was trying to solve a crime.

We pulled up, and she—operative word—told the ER doctor to isolate the patient. He didn’t seem inclined to take orders from an EMT.

Vanessa whipped out her phone and made a call. “Bring your badge.”

She knows a guy at CDC, turns out.

The ER doctor argued for a minute, then she finally said, “At least isolate and take precautions until you rule mpox out. Swab the lesions and run a PCR…”

He rolled his eyes just as the charge nurse called to him. “Doc… Infection Control Department on the line for you…”

Seems CDC guy was making calls as he drove.

Next thing I know, there are a bunch of hospital docs in barrier outfits working the case—one had Epidemiology on his badge.

Vanessa wound up near me again, still being glared at by the ER doc.

“He’s going to make trouble. Our company can’t afford to lose this hospital as a customer.”

She shrugged. “I’m interim. They can fire me and say they took punitive action…”

I didn’t even know the charge nurse was standing by us—she replied, “Or they can spin it. ‘First responder stops dangerous nursing home outbreak.’”

“Or that,” I said.

Then the CDC guy with the badge showed up, came right up to Vanessa, and said, “Dr. Lenen… how bad is it?”

“She was on duty for half a shift. She was in almost every room doing vitals”

He started making calls—I turned to Vanessa. “Doctor?”

She shrugged. “PhDs, not MD”

SUNDAY UPDATE by Kaylee Branch

Church was good this morning. Not in the dramatic, falling-on-your-knees kind of way… just steady. Grounding. The kind of good that resets your brain and makes you remember what matters.

Isaac and I both like how it does that.

It’s like the whole week can start to tilt—stress, bills, the baby schedule, “what’s next?”—and then Sunday comes and reminds you that none of it is random. That we aren’t doing this alone. That God sees us, even in the details.

Especially in the details.

After church, we got really lucky. We picked up a last-minute move-out cleaning job—one of those calls you don’t expect, but you immediately say yes to because things are slow this time of year.

When it’s winter in South Padre, vacation rentals slow down. Fewer tourists. Fewer turnovers. Less business.

So when an extra job lands in your lap, it feels like a gift. Not just money—relief. A little breath in your chest again.

We’re almost done now. I’m in the kitchen, trying to keep it moving while Isaac finishes up the bathrooms. Honestly, this place wasn’t too bad. Mostly normal cleanup, just a lot of surfaces and fingerprints and the kind of dust you only notice when the sunlight hits it.

Once we message Dave Callahan—the manager—and let him know we’re finished, he’ll Venmo us the payment like he always does. And as soon as it comes through, we already know what we’re doing.

Groceries first. We need basics. Stuff that actually makes meals, not just random snacks.

And if there’s enough left after that…I’m doing laundry. Like real laundry. Not “one emergency load” laundry. I’m talking towels, sheets, baby stuff, everything.

I know that might sound small to some people, but as tight as things are, we have to plan and adjust.

Today was a blessing. That’s the only word that fits.

And I’m grateful—so grateful—for the work, the timing, and the reminder that provision still shows up.

One job at a time.

GOOD NIGHT

The promise of a slow day was realized in small, peaceful steps. Sipping coffee before church… grilled cheese and chips after… an afternoon nap…

The rain ended earlier, but the clouds stuck around. The temperature is sitting right at 50°F (10°C), and it’s a little gusty. But a walk on the beach seemed like a good way to end the day.

Jasmine and Sasha came with me. Jason and Josh went over to the studio to talk about Geoni’s idea for the viewing area and measure for furniture. They promised to bring back pizza for a late dinner.

Jasmine had me set up the camera again, then she had me pose for the pictures. She promises she’ll learn how to do that herself.

When I watch her and Sasha, I can’t help but see their bond. They’ve said they feel close, like sisters, and I wouldn’t disagree. I know a lot of people have relationships like that, and it’s a beautiful thing. Sasha said she started feeling it the first time they met.

Their closeness manifested fairly clearly when Jasmine asked, “So you’re thinking about getting pregnant this year?”

“After our anniversary,” Sasha replied. “You want to be the aunt? I don’t have any siblings.”

Jasmine smiled. “Well, Micah would say every kid needs an aunt… so, sure!”

I have to say it felt amazing to see that happen. Sasha and Clay got married last year on March 21. So based on what Sasha said, sometime after that, there might be a new Everett in the making.

Meanwhile, now that things at the studio are mostly set up, I can start waiting for a random Tuesday or Wednesday to make the wedding plans official.

May you connect deeply and meaningfully with people who add to your life and bring you joy.

Good night.

Be your best you!

Become a Patreon Member (Click Here)

The image of additional beach image of Ailana and the thank you message that follows is exclusive to supporters…

"Thank You" Message to Paying Supporters:

It is my belief that most of you who help with the costs are doing so because you want to support the production process and show your encouragement. I am honored and greatly moved.

I know that I share a LOT of content FREE TO ALL. I'd imagine that you understand why. The stories about giving back and helping seem like they shouldn't be exclusive. Certain plot moments need to be understood by anyone trying to to follow the stories.

With that in mind, I always consider you, the paid members, when deciding how to share content.

My hope is that reserving a few pictures and small sections of the post for you is a modest indication of gratitude!

Thank you very much for your help underwriting the cost of producing AGI Stories content. You can be sure that your paid membership is valued greatly! At the time of this post, not counting hardware, AGI Stories racks up expenses of just over $100 per month.

Again, thank you very, very much.

~AGI Original Stories & AI Images