What Still Remains

You pick up the Space Needle Artifact in the Apartmet. Examine? [[yes]]

*1 year ago...* Jacob: "Marlene! Hurry up, we're going to miss it!" Marlene: "Miss what?" Jacob: "You'll know it when you see it, but we have get there first and I'd like to get there before the sun goes down. What's the fastest way there you think? An Uber or a Bus? Marlene: "How would I know? I don't even know where we're going. Unless you plan on telling me where we are going?" Jacob: "That was stupid of me to ask. I can't possibly spoil the surprise now! Let me figure it out." Do you [[ride the bus]] or [[call for an uber]]

*Jacob and Marlene enter the bus and present the driver with their bus passes* Jacob: "Should we sit in the back or the front?" Pick [[back]] or [[front]]

You get out your phone and open the Uber app. Jacob: "Ugh, it says the Uber won't be here for another 20 minutes. Are you sure you don't want to ride the bus?" [[wait for the uber]] or [[ride the bus]]

Marlene: "The back looks fine!" *You both head to the empty seats in the back.* Jacob: "I can't wait for you to see what I have planned for us! Marlene: "*I'm dying with anticipation.*" Jacob: "Can you lighten up a bit? We're in Seattle. Let's just enjoy it!" *A man in white, red-hearted underwear, a puffy snow jacket, and a black fedora approaches Marlene* Man: (to Marlene) *tips fedora* "M'lady" *winks* *You both give each other an uncomfortable look and ignore the man.* *You both sit in silence for the rest of the way there.* [Arrived] [[Part 2]]

Marlene: "Front looks good!" *You both take a seat at the front of the bus next to a strange old man dressed in a wizard's robe* Wizard: *leans over to Marlene and Jacob* "Want me to tell you your fortune? 5 bucks each!" Do you [[have the wizard tell you your fortune?]] or [[ignore]]

*You arrive at the Space Needle* Marlene: "You're not taking me to the Space Needle, are you? Jacob: "Surprise!" Marlene: "Why would you take me here?" Jacob: "Top quintessential things to do while in Seattle: visit the Space Needle! *AND* I thought it would be a great way to help you get over your deathly fear of heights! It's a win-win situation, right?" Marlene: "Lose-Lose to be more precise." Jacob: "So, are we going, or what?" Do you [[conquer your fears]] or [[stay on the ground where it's safe]]

Marlene: "Let's just wait for an Uber. Buses are yucky." Jacob: "Whatever you say, your majesty." [[Uber arrives]]

*You enter the back seat of the Uber. Even though the app said 20 minutes, your driver took 35 minutes to get to you.* Marlene: *Quietly to Jacob* "Looks like someone's not getting their tip." Jacob: *Ignores Marlene* Uber driver: "Sorry for the delay! I thought I saw Kurt Cobain! I heard he lives around these parts." Jacob: "Kurt Cobain?" Uber Driver: "You never heard of Kurt Cobain? Kid, you gotta lot to learn when it comes to music! I usually let my passangers choose the music, but I gotta educate you now! Uber Driver: *Plays Evenflow by Pearl Jam* Jacob: (To Marlene) "Uh, did I just have a stroke?" Marlene: (To Jacob) "I think we would have had less crazies on the bus. Doesn't this guy know that Kurt Cobain has been dead for over 20 years?" Uber Driver: *Singing incrediby loud* "Kneeeeeelin',Lookin'throughthepaperthoughhedoesn'tknowtoread. Oh yeah!" Jacob: (to Marlene) "More importantly, doesn't he know this isn't Nirvana?" Marlene: (to Jacob) "Ignorance is bliss. Haha." Skip the ride [[Part 2]]

Jacob: "Sure, why the hell not?" *Jacob hands the weird old man in the wizard's robe 10 bucks. Wizard: "I predict..." Wizard: "That you're fucking stupid! Thanks buddy, I'm gonna use this to buy some drugs." Jacob: "God dammit. I should have known." Marlene: "Say cheese!" //takes picture// Jacob: "Why did you just take my picture?" Marlene: "We need some pictures to commemorate this trip! And 'getting robbed by an old dude in a wizard's robe' is definitely going in the Instagram collage." Jacob: "Yeah, yeah, that's good. It'll be evidence to prove you were an accomplice in all this!" Marlene: "Guilty as charged." [[Part 2]]

Wizard: "Aww C'mon. Aren't you just a little bit curious? Jacob: "No." Wizard: "I'll give you a hint... it has something to do with money." [[have the wizard tell you your fortune?]] or Ignore and go to [[Part 2]]

Marlene: "You're right. I'm in my 20's. It's time to start taking on my fears head on. And when's the next time we'll be in Seattle, right?" Jacob: "Now that's the spirit! *Marlene and Jacob enter the elevator inside the Space Needle* Jacob: "Going up!" *As you ascend to the top, Marlene starts to feel lightheaded.* Marlene: "Jacob...I think... I think this was a ..." *Marlene collapses* [[Part 3]]

Jacob: "If you really want to waste this trip sitting on a bench, go right ahead. *I'm* going to go up the Space Needle to take in the gorgeous views. Marlene: [[conquer your fears]] or [[still stay behind]]

*Marlene slowly starts to wake up* *Your vision is blurred, but you see a small white object being held in front of you* Jacob: "You awake?" Marlene: "Uhm, yeah. I think I am." Jacob: "Well, surprise!" Marlene: "What is it?" Jacob: "Since you didn't make it to the top, I thought I'd bring the Space Needle to you!" *Jacob hands Marlene the Space Needle Artifact* Marlene: "I love you so much." [[Chapter 4]]

Marlene: "The lobby is as far as I'll go." Jacob: "Whatever. I'm going to go in, so I guess just wait here while I go up there and actually enjoy myself." *Marlene takes a seat at a bench in the lobby of the Space Needle* *After 30 minutes, Marlene starts to fall asleep.* [[Part 3]]

*Present Day* *You hear keys jingling from outside of the apartment.* Do you [[investigate]] or [[stay seated]]

*Jacob heads for the door and opens it* Marlene: "Oh. Hey, Jacob... I thought you were going to be gone by the time I got off of work?" Jacob: "Yeah, sorry. I just got uh--" Marlene: "Is that the thing you got me from when we went to the Space Needle?" Jacob: "Yeah, I was just looking at it." *Marlene enters the apartment, sets her things down, and takes a seat on the barstool in the kitchen and turns to face Jacob* Marlene: "It's hard to believe that trip was a year ago." *Jacob looks intently at the Space Needle Artifact* Jacob: "You never made it up there." Marlene: "Well, maybe you shouldn't have brought me there in the first place." Jacob: "You're not serious right now, are you?" Marlene: "Seattle was never my idea." Jacob: "I know it wasn't your idea, but I was trying to plan something special, for us. I wanted to surprise you with this nice trip." Marlene: "You don't get it, though. That's how it's always been." Jacob: "What do you mean?" Marlene: "It's always about you. It's always about what you want to do. It's never about what I want to do. If you knew me at all, you would know that I wouldn't have wanted to do that--not in a million years." "I've come to realize something over this past year. We've never been right for each other.We were always on borrowed time because neither one of us wanted to be alone. Jacob: "Is that how you feel?" Marlene: "Isn't that what you feel?" Jacob: [[Yeah]] or [[No]]

*You continue to look at the Space Needle Artifact* *You hear knocking at the door* [[investigate]]

*Jacob avoids making eye contact with Marlene and starts to pick at the dry skin on the bottom of his palms.* Jacob: "You might be right. You might have said what something I've never been strong enough to say. There's obviously a lot of things I need to work on, and hopefully, this will somehow get easier. But for now, I'm broken. [[leave the apartment]]

Jacob: "Well, if that's really how you feel." Marlene: "It's not just 'how I feel.' And until you realize that, you're going to be mad at me for all the wrong reasons." Marlene: "I know what I'm saying is hard, but sadly, that's always been the case with us." Marlene: "I'm not trying to hurt you, Jacob. One day, you'll understand what I mean, but until then, all I can say is I'm sorry." [[leave the apartment]]

*Jacob grabs whatever belongings still remain in the apartment, but you leave the artifacts behind. Even if Jacob didn't believe what Marlene said right away, it starts to make more sense as he leaves. Normally, Jacob would want to turn around and try to change her mind, but this time, he doesn't. As scary as it is to leave what's familiar and safe, both of them realize that in order for them to grow, they need to trust themselves and let go. They will eventually find comfort in the uncertainty that comes next.* It'll all be for the best. The End

#What Still Remains [[Begin]]

...... Why does the end of a relationship blindslide us, as if we didn't see it coming? [[continue]]

A five-day forecast can accurately predict the weather 90% of the time. And a seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80% percent of the time. How far back can we go? and how accurate would that forecast be? were there any warning signs? Can I make things right? What could I have done differently? What will I do now? Should I leave everything that I know? Am I better off alone? [[Chapter 1]]

//Jacob enters the Quiet, Lonely, Apartment// Jacob: "It's hard to imagine how things got as bad as they did. I remember how you used to ge upset when I didn't want to spend the night. That was in the beginnning... Now, I'm asked to be gone before you come home." //Jacob moves into the living room to the closet. He reaches down to grab his blue duffel bag.// //After Jacob picks up the duffel bag, a vinyl record is revealed.// [[Pick up the record]]

Jacob: "Wow, //Spin// by Tigers Jaw. I can't believe you've been hiding in here all this time." //Jacob carefully removes the vinyl from its sleeve. Adjusting his hands so that they're never touching the engravings. He places his hands on the edges of the record to examine it. The record was light blue with a white spatter that started from the middle of the record and extened to the edges.// //Jacob walks the vinyl over to the record player, sets it down, and adjusts the needle to play Track 8// [[Brass Ring begins to play]]

//Four years ago...// Jacob had never thought of Marlene as a somone he would date. It's just a thought that never crossed his mind. Maybe it's because he felt that she didn't think of him that way, and he was content with their platonic relationship. That's why it came as a shock when she asked him to go out to their local record store. Jacob and Marlene had never hung out on their own. Marlene: "What do you think of this record?" Jacob: "What is it?" Marlene: "You've never heard of Tigers Jaw?" [[Of course I have!]] or [[No, who are they?]]

Jacob: "I think I've heard a couple of their songs, but that's about it." Marlene: "They're only my favorite band of all time. There's just something about their music; some may call them a whiney pop-punk band, but, they've got me through some rough times. Their overall sound of just sadness gives me... I don't know... comfort I guess?" Jacob: "I love music like that. A band or song that can just match the emotion you're feeling at any given moment." Marlene: "Yes! I couldn't agree with you more! If I buy it, you have to promise to come over and listen to it, okay?" [[I promise]]

Jacob: "No, who are they?" Marlene: "They're only my favorite band of all time. There's just something about their music; some may call them a whiney pop-punk band, but, they've got me through some rough times. Their overall sound of just sadness gives me... I don't know... comfort I guess?" Jacob: "I love music like that. A band or song that can just match the emotion you're feeling at any given moment." Marlene: "Yes! I couldn't agree with you more! If I buy it, you have to promise to come over and listen to it, okay?" [[I promise]]

//Jacob smiles// Jacob: "I promise!" Marlene: "It's a date, then." Jacob: "Soooo, I've been meaning to ask you: what made you want to hang out?" Marlene: "We've known each other for a while now and we hang out with the same friend group! I just thought It would be nice for you and I to hang out for once, rather than inviting the whole gang." Jacob: "Well, I'm happy you did!" Marlene: "Me too!" //Before making their purchase, Jacob and Marlene take several loops around the inside part of the store. They spend this time connecting, and really getting to know one another.// Marlene: "Do you want to leave?" [[Keep talking?]] or [[leave?]]

Jacob: "I'm in no rush." Marlene: "I already have what I need. Was there more stuff you needed grab?" Jacob: "Oh no, I'm good. I knew you wanted to come here so I wanted make sure you had everything you needed." Marlene: "Yup! I have my excuse to see you again right here." //Marlene holds up Spin by Tigers Jaw// //The two smile at one another and head for the register.// [[check out]]

Jacob: "Yeah, let's go" //Jacob and Marlene head to the register.// [[check out]]

//Marlene pays for her record and the two walk out closely together.// Jacob: "So, what's your favorite song on that record?" Marlene: "That's like asking me to pick my favorite child." Jacob: "You have kids?" Marlene: //Marlene laughs// "Hell no. I was just making a comparison!" Jacob: "Phew. I dodged a bullet on that one!" Marlene: "Whatever!" //Jacob and Marlene walk towards Marlene's car. Before the two make it there, Jacob notices a small Ice Cream shop across the street and the two decide to extend the night further to grab a scoop.// [[Ice Cream Shop]]

Marlene: "These are some interesting names for flavors." Jacob: "Which one did you end up getting?" Marlene: "uhhh... I think it's called 'shitstorm.'" Jacob: "Does it live up to its name?" Marlene: "No, thank god. It's like a chocolate of some sort, but now I can't dissociate the two. The name makes me think of the relationship I just got out of." Jacob: "Oh, I didn't know you were in one." Marlene: "Yeah... we actually broke up about a month ago. He was just controlling, and extremely jealous. That's why we never hung out, or talked much. I wasn't allowed." Jacob: "I'm sorry to hear about that. I guess it's a good thing you two aren't together anymore." //Marlene pauses for a moment to look up from her Ice Cream and gives jacob a warm smile.// Marlene: "Yeah, it is a good thing." [[Chapter 2]]

//Present Day// The needle reaches the end of the record. Jacob gets up, removes the record from the player, and puts it back in its sleeve. Jacob: That was the first date we went on. We didn't know it was a date until the day I came over to listen to this record. We just knew something was there. [[Keep the record]] or [[leave the record]]

Jacob: "I don't think she's going to miss this. It was just sitting in the closet collecting dust. I never was a huge fan of them while we were tgoether, but it hit me differently this time. //Jacob takes the record and puts it in his duffel bag and walks to the kitchen// [[Kitchen]]

Jacob: "This is her favorite band. I have no buisness taking it with me." //Instead of placing the record back in the closet, Jacob places it next to the record player and heads into the bedroom.// [[Bedroom]]

//There is a small bulletin board hanging from the front of the fridge. It was once covered in photos of Jacob and Marlene, but now Marlene uses it as a reminder to pay her bills.// //Peaking behind an overdue phone bill is a restruant receipt. Jacob grabs the reciept and examines it.// Jacob: "This is the receipt from our one year anniversary. I can't believe she kept this, and how did I not know she still had this?" [[Restaurant]]

//Jacob enters the bedroom and stands at the doorway. Everything was exactly the way it was when he was over several days earlier. Marlene's words still echoed in his mind: "I've been unhappy."// //Out of the corner of Jacob's eye, he notices a small telescope. It was a souvenir from their trip to an observatory two years prior.// //On the other side of the room, Jacob notices a mini replica of the Space Needle that he got for Marlene one year ago.// Investigate the telescope artifact and go to the [[Observatory]]? or investigate the Space Needle artifact to proceed to [[Chapter 3]]?

2 years ago... Marlene: "Are you able to make anything out?" Jacob: "I see a bunch of stars, but I can't make anything out." Marlene: "Can I look for a second?" Jacob: "Hold on." Marlene: "You've been tring to find something for 10 minutes now. I don't think anymore time is going to help you with that!" Jacob: "You're probably right, but you never know." Marlene: "Alrighty, looks like I'm gonna have to remove you by force." Jacob: "Do your worst." //Marlene goes to reach under Jacob's arm and tickle him, but Jacob moves out the way before she can do this.// Marlene: "Was that so hard?" Jacob: "Extremely" //Marlene puts her eyes against the telescope and studies the night sky.// Marlene: "Got something! Jacob: "What is it?" Marlene: "You can see the aries consellation! If you look a little to the left, you can see alpha, beta, and gamma, which are the three main stars in it. Do you want to look at it? Jacob?" "Jacob?" [[Back to Bedroom]]

Three years ago... //Jacob and Marlene are celebrating their one year anniversary together at the same restaurant where Jacob first asked Marlene to be his girlfriend.// Jacob and Marlene: "Cheers!" Marlene: "One down, and many more to go!" //Jacob takes a drink.// Marlene: "Did you ever think we would make it this far?" Jacob: "Honestly, I didn't even think we would ever date. This year was more that I could have hoped for." Marlene: "Me too, babe. So, what do we have planned for tonight?" Jacob: "Oh, well, I only actually planned dinner. Did you want to do something else?" Marlene: No, I love this! I mean, it's super romantic of you to bring us back to where it all started for us. I just thought I'd ask." Jacob: "Can you put your phone away?" Marlene: "Hold on, I'm just sending a text real quick." Jacob: "Why are you texting somebody right now? We're celebrating our one year anniversary. Who could you be texing right now?" Marlene: "It's just my mom checking in, don't worry." Jacob: "I'm not worried. I just would rather spend our time together and not glued to our phones." Marlene: "Can you relax a bit? I'm not glued to my phone. I'm just going to let me mom know how it's going and then I'll put it away for the rest of the night. Jacob: "Okay, I'm sorry." //Marlene opens her purse, puts her phone in and zips it back up.// Jacob: "You wouldn't lie to me, would you?" Marlene: "Of course not. What are you getting at though?" Jacob: "No nevermind." Marlene: "Okaaaay." Jacob: "It's just... you wouldn't be texting a guy and lie about it?" Marlene: "It was my mother, I already told you." Jacob: "You didn't answer my question." Marlene: "No, I would never lie to you; I promise I was just talking to my mom." Jacob: "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'll stop for real this time. Let's just forget I said anything." //Jacob and Marlene spend the rest of the night talking and laughing. After dinner, Jacob surprises Marlene with a decorated cake that says "Happy 1 Year Anniversary!" The two go back home, cuddle up, and watch one of their favorite movies together.// [[end of flashback]]

//Back in the kitchen, Jacob crumples up the receipt and throws it in the garbage. Jacob grabs his duffel bag and heads the the bedroom.// [[Bedroom]]

//That was supposed to be a fun trip, but Jacob let his emotions get the better of him.// //Jacob sets his telescope down and leaves the bedroom// [[Kitchen]]