hey stella...
<% story.showDelayed("i know"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
i'm okay. i'm ngl, riverview has been so much lamer without you
<% story.showDelayed("It's what made me"); %>i know we haven't talked since you moved from riverview high a couple months ago
<% story.showDelayed("i hope"); %>but, how have you been? :)
[[Pearl, what a nice surprise!]]
[[It's been a long time]] and i hope it's not too weird to text you out of the blue, lol
<% story.showDelayed("anyways"); %>It feels like ages ago since we were at Riverview together! But I miss seeing you everyday at school, you were one of my favorite people there
<% story.showDelayed("Honestly, I'm pretty good"); %>
But I'm pretty good! I feel like so much has happened since we last talked haha
[[How are you?]]Of course that isn't weird, you were one of my favorite people at that school. I miss seeing you there everyday
<% story.showDelayed("I'm pretty good!"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
I still remember when coach tried to tell us that we should cut desserts out of our calory intake... we drove to 7/11 to get cosmic brownies right after practice 🤣
<% story.showDelayed("Damn straight"); %>damn straight. coach can't tell us what to do outside of practice, lol. i should take you for a drive in my car, sometime. anyways, anything new with you?
[[I've been pretty busy]]only us, right? at least we cleaned it up before you got home... your mom will never know haha
[[I miss the old times we had in that Toyota]]
[[Do you go driving a lot?]]Honestly, I'm pretty good! I can't lie, I'm like a whole different person here. In a good way though, you know?
[[How are you?]] it's what made me finally text you after all this time, i was just so curious to see if you like your new school?
[[It was a really big adjusment]]
[[I like it so much more than Riverview]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
It's not that I forgot about you, at all. In the beginning, I felt like I had no idea what to say.. and then it felt like too much time had passed. Then I just got used to focusing on myself, I guess
<% story.showDelayed("That's not an excuse"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
u da best...i'm so glad you're still down to talk sometimes :) lol
<% story.showDelayed("Stage 1 ending 1"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
At first, people were so, so different. I would say it's hard to explain, but I think you're actually the one person who'd get it. People are less judgy here, like it doesn't matter as much if you are different from who they are
<% story.showDelayed("Don't get me wrong"); %>I know it's only a couple hours away from Riverview, but it's a whole different place here. I feel like I've kind of found my people
[[What's new with you?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
I really struggled at first, but I realized the people that would come up to me were really nice. I found a group to sit with at lunch, and we're really close now!
<% story.showDelayed("I know it's only"); %>Don't get me wrong, it was really lonely when I was new. But the people weren't clicky, and a bunch of nice people came up to me, so I have some really good friends now
[[What's new with you?]] <% story.showDelayed; %>
honestly, the same old, same old. i finally got my liscense on my seventeenth birthday, though! other than that, i haven't really been up to anything
[[OMG you got your liscense!!]]
<% story.showDelayed; %>
I remember before I started driving you home from practice your mom would always bug you about getting it, haha, I knew you would! I still remember when I first got my liscense and I picked you up right after. We spilled a Shamrock shake all over my mom's Toyota 😭😭
<% story.showDelayed("At least we"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
aww thank you sm for saying that, i was rly nervous to reach out and honsetly i was starting to wonder if u thought it was awkward or something lol
[[Not at all]] <% story.showDelayed; %>
yeah, i do when i want to be alone. sometimes i don't have anywhere to go, so i just drive in circles. i should take you for a drive in my car, sometime. anyways, anything new with you?
[[I've been pretty busy]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
I joined the track team here, so I've got that to keep me busy. A couple of the girls on that team are some of my best friends, so I see them a lot too
<% story.showDelayed("OMG you're still running track?"); %>But that's not an excuse, and I'm sorry. We were good friends, and I kind of made it akward by forgetting that
<% story.showDelayed("aw thank you"); %>OMG you're still running track? that's so fun, and i'm glad there are sweet girls on your team
[[You don't run track anymore?]]nah, i quit the semester after you left. i wasn't really friends with any of the girls who did it, my mom rly wants me to go back to it tho lol
[[I get that]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
As hard as it was to make friends here, it was harder at Riverview. People are tough, over there
<% story.showDelayed("it was nice"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
thx... me too lol
<% story.showDelayed("well, i'm glad"); %>
dude thank you and me too! it was rly nice to talk to you :)
<% story.showDelayed("Stage 1 ending 1"); %>that would be cool :)
<% story.showDelayed("Stage 1 ending 2"); %>well, i'm glad things are going well for u. it was really cool that u answered
[[I'm glad you reached out]]
[[Maybe I'll see you around?]] Since I left Riverview I've always wonderd how you were. I feel like something just stopped me from texting you, you know?
<% story.showDelayed("I totally get that"); %>yeah, it was nice when we had each other. but i'm glad you have some good friends at the new school
[[I'm sorry I didn't text you]]
[[I hope it gets better over there]]Monday, September 29, 10:18 AM (6 days later)
<% story.showDelayed("Ana OMG"); %>i totally get that, i was rly nervous to text you, too, it was super cool you answered, your new school seems sick
[[I'm glad you reached out]]
[[Feel free to text me whenever]] Tuesday, September 23, 4:59pm
<% story.showDelayed("Start"); %>Saturday, September 27, 3:38pm (4 days later)
<% story.showDelayed("Start stage 2"); %>heyyyyy stella
<% story.showDelayed("Do you remember"); %>do you remember that spot we used to run at during track season?
<% story.showDelayed("I'm here"); %>i'm here and i cannot believe you run like this still! lol
[[Those woods were the best]]
[[I can't believe I do either]]Honestly I miss that hiking spot the most out of anything in town lol
<% story.showDelayed("Wait are you"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
They were sooo beautiful, I swear they made running so much easier
<% story.showDelayed("Honestly I miss"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
Trust me though, it'll come back to you when you have to go to practice every day lol
<% story.showDelayed("Wait are you"); %>Wait... so are you texting me from the top of the cliff right now??
<% story.showDelayed("In fact I am"); %>in fact i am haha, i'm surprised there's even service
<% story.showDelayed("thank u"); %>thank u mint mobile ig
<% story.showDelayed("So how was"); %>So how was your day so far?
[[If I'm being honest...]]
[[I'm fine]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
It's been a really tough week for me
<% story.showDelayed("I've been legit"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I can't lie, it definitley hasn't been my week. But I'm doing pretty good today
<% story.showDelayed("I'm chilling"); %>I'm finally getting to chance to chill in my bed so that's nice, I wish I was hiking right now though
<% story.showDelayed("yeah i know"); %>I've been legit rotting in my bed all day lol
<% story.showDelayed("Trust me"); %>trust me when i say, i've been there
<% story.showDelayed("Sometimes I feel"); %>is there something happening with you?
[[It's nothing crazy]]
[[I don't want to be a bummer]]sometimes i feel like i'm never not there, if you know what i mean lol
<% story.showDelayed("Is there something"); %>yeah i know what you mean
<% story.showDelayed("i came up"); %>i came up here just to get som quiet, it's a rly nice place to catch your breath
<% story.showDelayed("it seems like"); %>it seems like you haven't gotten the chance to catch your breath... is there something going on with you?
[[It's nothing crazy]]
[[I don't want to be a bummer]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
Well, you know how my parents argue...
<% story.showDelayed("They're doing it a lot"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
There's nothing I need to rant about, just some negative mental stuff going on
[[How's everything with you?]]like it's so crazy to think we're 17 already
<% story.showDelayed("time flew"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
idk what it is, i've been a bit down recentley, too
<% story.showDelayed("It's so crazy"); %>i feel like i'm not at all ready for junior year, but it's already begun lol
[[I know exactly what you mean]]
[[It'll get better]]They're doing it a lot. I don't know why it bothers me so much, it's not even yelling. It's just like bickering, so I pretty much stay in my room all the time
<% story.showDelayed("dang :("); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
I felt like time slowed to a crawl when I moved here
<% story.showDelayed("I just kinda"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
For the first few days I was here, every day just felt the same
<% story.showDelayed("But I forced"); %>I just kinda dreaded coming in for the first week and forced myself to join the track team, and then everything fell into place
<% story.showDelayed("that makes me"); %>i'm happy for you. that makes me feel a little better because that's pretty much where i'm at right now if u can believe it lol
<% story.showDelayed("i go for"); %>i go for drives a lot because it's like the only place where i can't feel time pass
<% story.showDelayed("sometimes it gets old"); %>sometimes it gets old, but i'm glad i get to use a car my parents got for me lol
[[Would you ever run track again?]]
[[It's good to have a quiet place to go]]But I forced myself to reach put and join the track team and I can tell you from experience, it'll get better!
<% story.showDelayed("everything will come around"); %>yea i'm sure everything will come around, and it's nice to know everything worked out for you
[[Would you ever run track again?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
It's a great way to meet new people and just a good distraction
<% story.showDelayed("i've thought about it"); %>i've been thinking about that a lot actually, but i feel rly disconnected from it at the moment
<% story.showDelayed("my mom wants me to"); %>my mom rlyyyy wants me to do it again, and it's not just bc you left or anything, but i have a mental block around running at the moment
<% story.showDelayed("That's the worst"); %>That's the worst, I hope it comes back to you
<% story.showDelayed("thx i hope so too"); %>thx! i hope so too, i'm sure it will
<% story.showDelayed("anyways if you ever"); %>anyways, if you ever get the chance, you should come and visit this spot again!
<% story.showDelayed("i feel sm better"); %> i feel sm better after coming here haha
[[I'll have to visit it sometime]]
[[Make sure to keep the spot safe for me]]
<% story.showDelayed; %>
There are so many good memories there, I hope the next kids who use it love it as much as we did
<% story.showDelayed("that's so sweet"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
Now it kinda belongs to you haha
<% story.showDelayed("yea ig it does"); %>aww, that's so sweet. i hope so too
<% story.showDelayed("i should probably go"); %>ig i should probably get out of here, i have the whole walk back still haha. but it was a pleasure to talk with you!
<% story.showDelayed("Stage 2 ending 2"); %>yea ig it does! haha
<% story.showDelayed("i'll do the best i can"); %>i'll do the best i can to keep it safe from the youths lol
<% story.showDelayed("i should probably go"); %>Monday, October 6, 10:18am (9 days later)
<% story.showDelayed("Ana OMG"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
Sometimes everything can get to be too much, too overwhelming
<% story.showDelayed("that's exactly"); %>
dude that's like exactly how i've felt the last couple days, just off
[[That sucks, I'm sorry]]
[[Why do you think you feel off?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
hmm... that's good question. it's just everything feels a little dull
<% story.showDelayed("i've felt like this before"); %>
but i've felt like this before, and i'm sure things will work themselves out
[[Hang in there]]
<% story.showDelayed; %>
That seems like a lot to deal with, I hope going to our spot and driving helps
<% story.showDelayed("i hope whatever's"); %>
i hope whatever's going on with you gets better too :)
<% story.showDelayed("thank you!"); %>
Thank you!
<% story.showDelayed("i should probably go"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I guess running has always been the place that I go when I feel like that
<% story.showDelayed("that makes so much sense"); %>
dude, that makes so much sense. so i guess u know what it's like to wish that you were just someplace else
<% story.showDelayed("Tbh, I've been"); %>
Tbh, I've been feeling that a lot recentley
[[It's nothing crazy]] dang :( i do remember us talking about that a little when we hung out before but i didn't know it was so intense
<% story.showDelayed("that sounds rly"); %>
that sounds rly hard, are they home right now?
<% story.showDelayed("They are not"); %>
They are not!!!!😊
<% story.showDelayed("They come home"); %>
They're coming home later though, they're having lunch with some of their friends as we speak🙄
<% story.showDelayed("They make me feel"); %>
oh i could see how, it puts you in the middle of their predicament
<% story.showDelayed("They mean well"); %>
Lolll yea but they mean well so i can't complain too much. I'm sure it'll get better soon
[[Do you get along with your parents?]]
[[So why are you feeling down?]]you want to get out of the house right?
<% story.showDelayed("Girl desperately"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
well the truth is my parent's rly didn't want me to quit track. and since i have quit, i haven't rly been doing anything. my parents have been bugging me to do anything... get a job, or do a club, whatever
<% story.showDelayed("I have no clue"); %>
of course... i've felt rly alone recentley. i just don't know many people at school, and it's been rly nice talking to you
<% story.showDelayed("Nice talking to you"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
oh definitley not haha, i think they've actually been fed up with me recentley
<% story.showDelayed("Ever since I quit"); %>
Girl desperately
<% story.showDelayed("Dinner tonight?"); %>
they barely let me quit, anyways. i have no idea what i'm gonna do what i get down from here, ig it feels like a lot of pressure
<% story.showDelayed("the view is nice"); %>ever since i quit track, they've been bugging me to do something. like get a job, or do a club, or whatever
<% story.showDelayed("They barely let"); %>
ik i should i just need more time to breathe or something. i kinda have no idea what i'm gonna do when i get down from here
[[I have no idea what I'm gonna do, either]]I thought I was gonna get a break tonight and go to a party with some friends, but my friend told me she got grounded today
<% story.showDelayed("SMH"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
It's not that I hate my parents,.. I just hate them right now. They've been so pissed at each other all week, and the worst is that they try to act like they're not
<% story.showDelayed("Cancelled plans"); %>
SMH
<% story.showDelayed("hold up"); %>
hold up...
<% story.showDelayed("You want to get out"); %>
ok me too... so what if we got dinner or something tonight? i can pick u up in my car
<% story.showDelayed("You know my house"); %>
uhhh do you know my town is like two hours away from Riverview?
<% story.showDelayed("I'll drive to you"); %>
i'll drive to u
<% story.showDelayed("You sure?"); %>
And you know what? I'd be down to meet up
<% story.showDelayed("rly??"); %>
Dude it's been nice talking to you too!
<% story.showDelayed("I'd be down to meet up"); %>
lol! i'll probably be there at around 6:30-7?
<% story.showDelayed("See you soon"); %>
rly??
<% story.showDelayed("F it we ball"); %>
F it we ball
<% story.showDelayed("Be there around?"); %>
Works for me! See you soon :)
<% story.showDelayed("Stage 2 ending 1"); %>You sure?
<% story.showDelayed("Of course..."); %>
They don't mean to, but they make me feel tense lol
<% story.showDelayed("oh i see"); %>
the view is nice tho, lol
[[I have no idea what I'm gonna do, either]]
Sunday, October 5, 5:58pm (8 days later)
<% story.showDelayed("how are ur parents"); %>hey dude, how was your dinner with your parents??
[[It was so much better than last weekend]]the sunset is so pretty
<% story.showDelayed("picture perfect"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
It wasn't much and they didn't say anything about how bad it's been lately butttt they actually seemed like they were in a better mood
<% story.showDelayed("Who knew all"); %>Who knew all it took was going out to a restuant for my sister's birthday to contain them lol
<% story.showDelayed("that is such good"); %>that is such good news! ik it'll still be tough but it sounds like they'll at least try to get their act together
[[Thank you for picking me up last week]]
[[What are you up to?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
Getting away like that was just what I needed, I also still cannot believe how spicy that Thai food was 🤣
<% story.showDelayed("it was so spicy"); %>welllll i'm actually at our spot lol
<% story.showDelayed("the sunset is so pretty"); %>rightttt it was so spicy i was blowing my nose for like three days after
[[I still can't believe you drove all that way]]
[[What are you up to?]]I still remember when my parents told me I was like so shocked, I guess you neevr know what you have until it's taken away from you lol
<% story.showDelayed("Hang out more"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
When you were driving back it made me think about how much time we missed when we lived so close
<% story.showDelayed("I was like so shocked"); %>i'm so gald we've gotten so close, i never expected it lol😊
[[What are you up to?]]man i would have loved to hang out with u more i thought u were cool before we rly started talking at track
<% story.showDelayed("We've gotten close"); %>picture perfect
<% story.showDelayed("Right time of day"); %>That sounds amazing! You certainly hiked at the right time of day lol
<% story.showDelayed("kinda tried"); %>you should go outside to look at it! we can see it together, just from different places
[[Okay, hold on]]
[[I think the view is better where you are]]yea i kinda tried to do that lol
<% story.showDelayed("look outside"); %>I'm just too comfy in my bed... I can kinda see the sunset from my window tho. It's got so many pretty colors
<% story.showDelayed("ok fair lol"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I'm looking at it rn from my porch! It's rly nice 😊
<% story.showDelayed("i told you"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
you're not gonna look at it?
<% story.showDelayed("i'm just comfy"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
i'm just watching the sun fall and i feel the river streaming beneath me and i'm thinking that i would be content if i never saw another sunset
[[Why are you saying this to me?]]
[[I don't know what to say]]ok fair lol
<% story.showDelayed("it rly makes me think"); %>it's so peaceful up here i've been chilling for a while and thinking about things
[[What's on your mind?]]
[[How long have you been there?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
i'm sorry
<% story.showDelayed("just thinking about it"); %>i was just thinking about it is all
[[What are you trying to say right now?]]
[[I don't know what to say]]just keep talking
<% story.showDelayed("back out point"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
don't worry about it, i didn't mean to flip u out
[[You can trust me]]
[[...]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
i guess i wouldn't know what to say to that either. don't worry about it, i didn't mean to flip u out
[[You can trust me]]
[[...]]i'm thinking about how i would feel if this was the last sunset i ever saw
[[What?]]
[[Why would you say that?]]
[[You would feel horrible, right?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
i just thought i could talk to u, i'm sorry if i'm a bother
[[You can trust me]]
[[...]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
Pearl, is this why you keep going up to our cliff?
<% story.showDelayed("does it even matter?"); %>I don't know what you want me to do...
<% story.showDelayed("What can I do to help?"); %>i told you haha
<% story.showDelayed("it rly makes me think"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
Ik life gets hard sometimes, but it's always worth it
<% story.showDelayed("you're probably right"); %>you're probably right
<% story.showDelayed("just thinking about it"); %>i'm so sorry that i made it awkward
<% story.showDelayed("Promise me? 2"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
honestly, so many things. my mind goes in circles
<% story.showDelayed("i'm depressed"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
i've been here a couple hours already, i've already come here a lot this week, but today i decided i wanted to be here to watch the sunset. it just felt like exactly the right time
<% story.showDelayed("lead in"); %>it's like i know i should be doing all of these things in life, but i can't do them. i should be making freinds at school, i should be getting a job, i should have a boyfriend, i should tell my mom that i love her
<% story.showDelayed("i'm depressed 2"); %>but i don't, i just keep coming to this cliff and listening to the noise of the water
[[We're young, it's normal not to have it together]]
[[I don't have it together, either]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
Nobody knows what they're doing at our age
<% story.showDelayed("You're just figuring it out"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I'm supposed to be thinking about applying to college but honestly I don't even know if I wanna go
<% story.showDelayed("You're just figuring it out"); %>I know your mom wants you to, but just because you don't run track doesn't mean that you're not doing anything. You're just figuring it out, you know?
<% story.showDelayed("i'm depressed 3"); %>it's just that, i rly don't care about figuring it out anymore. i don't even wanna try
<% story.showDelayed("i'm depressed 4"); %>one thought just keeps crossing my mind
<% story.showDelayed("what is it?"); %>does it even matter?
[[It matters to me]]
[[What can I do to help?]]What is it?
<% story.showDelayed("climax"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
...i guess kinda
[[What can I do to help?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
honestly, stella
<% story.showDelayed("just keep talking"); %>but i totally understand if you don't want to. i wouldn't blame u, i'm rly sorry i'm pressure on u like this
[[This is too much for me]]
[[That's the least I can do]]
[[What do you wanna talk about?]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
But I really care about you
<% story.showDelayed("Promise me?"); %>Can you promise me that you will get some help?
<% story.showDelayed("it's awkward"); %>You didn't. Just promise me, okay?
<% story.showDelayed("Promise kind of"); %>i promise that i'll do the best i can
<% story.showDelayed("u can't be blamed"); %>u can't be blamed for any one else's choices
[[Don't talk like that]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
You'll feel better once your home, Pearl. And text me when you get down from there, I'll be waiting
<% story.showDelayed("when i get to the car"); %>ok, i'll lyk when i get to my car
<% story.showDelayed("Scene 3 ending 2"); %>
<% story.showDelayed; %>
anything
<% story.showDelayed("i'm not picky"); %>i'm not picky
[[Let me tell you about my parents]]
[[Let me tell you why I love running]]When I started track in seventh grade and made some friends because of it, it was only a bonus. It's the only thing I have that's truly mine, where no one can reach me
<% story.showDelayed("running 3"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I really care about you, Pearl, you mean a lot to me
<% story.showDelayed("the nicest thing"); %>that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time :)
[[What do you wanna talk about?]]i'm not sure why but that feeling hasn't gone away. i wish that I could leave and start over, like life would be easier somehow
<% story.showDelayed("i know what it's like"); %>when I was in elementary school, I don't know what it was, but I kinda stuck out from all the kids in my grade. I remember sitting on the playground and watching everyone, and I would think about using a stick and a bandana to pack a bag, about what would happened if I just left
<% story.showDelayed("childhood memory 3"); %>It wasn't that I decided not to hate it, I actually tried to avoid it so much that I had no space to breathe. But when I finally get out of the house, I realize that I miss my parents anyways
<% story.showDelayed("parents 3"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I use it to avoid my thoughts, I have since I was a kid. It's what makes me feel alive, I don't know what I would do without it
<% story.showDelayed("running 2"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I used to hate how they argue. It wasn't so bad until recentley, before high school they mostly just stayed in seperate rooms or something, but it started to slip out more over time
<% story.showDelayed("parents 2"); %>I know what it's like to want to run away from everything, but...
[[Your life here would miss you]]
[[You belong right where you are]]that sounds peaceful, i suppose i need something like that
[[Tell me a childhood memory]]
[[Tell me about what you see around you]]And it's not perfect, and it's not how I wish that it would be, but I still love my parents despite it. Sometimes we make sacrifices for the ones we love
<% story.showDelayed("parents 4"); %>i think it's funny that we love like that as humans, that love takes so much sacrifice
[[Tell me a childhood memory]]
[[Tell me about what you see around you]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
well... i used to want to run away
<% story.showDelayed("childhood memory 2"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
well... the sun is almost below the horizon, and the river is still running beneath me. it's a little windy, the trees below the cliff are swaying
<% story.showDelayed("what you see 2"); %>i know i should go hone, it's just that i wish that I could leave and start over. like going to a brand new town with a brand new name would make life easier somehow
<% story.showDelayed("i know what it's like"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
it doesn't feel like i have anything here
<% story.showDelayed("your life 2"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
i don't feel like i belong anywhere
<% story.showDelayed("you belong 2"); %>There are people here who care about you. So much. I know I can't make anything better for you, but I need you to know that you should be here. Here and no where else
<% story.showDelayed("maybe you're right"); %>I know it's hard to see, but you are meant to be here. Your family needs you. Your classmates need you. You can't see it yet, but your future needs you. You will end up right where you need to be
<% story.showDelayed("maybe you're right"); %>maybe you're right
<% story.showDelayed("maybe you're right 2"); %>I promise you, I am
<% story.showDelayed("maybe you're right 3"); %>How do you know?
[[Because I have faith]]
[[Because I know you]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
I know you're here a reason. You just haven't found it yet. You're stong, I've seen it
<% story.showDelayed("ty"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I know you're smart, and funny, and brave, and loved. You don't know how yet, but you'll make it through this, You're strong, I've seen it
<% story.showDelayed("ty"); %>i really needed that
<% story.showDelayed("ty 2"); %>thank you <3
<% story.showDelayed("ty 1"); %>you're the only person in a while who's helped me feel less lonely. like i matter
[[You do matter]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
I'm sorry that the world has made it feel like you don't
<% story.showDelayed("you matter 2"); %>maybe you're right, i guess it's hard for the world to manage all the pain that there is, all that misery is not the universe's fault, i just wonder where all the pain of the world goes
[[I wish that I could help you]]<% story.showDelayed; %>
I can't tell you where the pain of the world goes, or why there's so much
<% story.showDelayed("help you 2"); %>It has no power over you if you accept it. You have to use it to be better, that's the only way you can fight it
<% story.showDelayed("fight"); %>i see. it's hard to choose to fight the trouble
<% story.showDelayed("fight 2"); %>but you help it feel easier
<% story.showDelayed("fight 3"); %>thank you for making me feel stronger tonight :)
[[Anytime, always]]thank you, stella
<% story.showDelayed("outro 2"); %><% story.showDelayed; %>
I will always be here to talk
<% story.showDelayed("outro"); %>i should really get going home, now. it's getting dark
<% story.showDelayed("outro 3"); %>Pls text me when you're home safe. I'll be waiting
<% story.showDelayed("outro 4"); %>you'll be the first to know
<% story.showDelayed("Scene 3 ending 1"); %>Sunday, October 5, 7:43pm (2 hours later)
<% story.showDelayed("don't worry 2"); %>But I do think about that a lot. It's that there's nothing that the pain of the world can do if you feel it, you know?
<% story.showDelayed("help you 3"); %>when i'm here i usually feel distracted from my thoughts, like one is not always talking over the other. and i've been coming here a lot recently... like nearly every day
<% story.showDelayed("lead in 2"); %>i thought if i kept coming here i could drown some of the million things that keep bugging me, like usual, but it hasn't been working like before. i feel like something's got to give
[[What's on your mind?]]Stella OMG
<% story.showDelayed("You remember Pearl"); %>You remember Pearl from our track team????
<% story.showDelayed("I guess your former"); %>I guess your former track team but whatever🙄
<% story.showDelayed("She's out of school"); %>Apparentley she's out of school because she was admitted to the mental hospital
<% story.showDelayed("OMG"); %>I knew she was kind of a loner here but I didn't know she was that depressed
<% story.showDelayed("Poor girl"); %>Poor girl😔
<% story.showDelayed("She texted me"); %>OMG
<% story.showDelayed("What"); %>
What???
<% story.showDelayed("I knew she was"); %>This is too weird, she texted me a bit ago just out of the blue
<% story.showDelayed("Dude what"); %>Dude what
<% story.showDelayed("That's crazy"); %>That's crazy
<% story.showDelayed("I feel horrible"); %>I know, now I feel horrible
<% story.showDelayed("She seems"); %>She seems like a nice girl, too
<% story.showDelayed("That's awful"); %>That's awful
<% story.showDelayed("I wonder"); %>I wonder what could've happened if I had said something different...i made it, you don't have to worry
<% story.showDelayed("Good, get home safe"); %>
Good, get home safe
<% story.showDelayed("Thumbs up"); %>
Sunday, October 5, 7:43pm (2 hours later)
<% story.showDelayed("you don't have to worry"); %>👍i made it, you don't have to worry
<% story.showDelayed("i'm glad you're here"); %>Good. I'm rly glad you're here, Pearl
<% story.showDelayed("blush face"); %>u make me happy i am, too😊