You are about to experience a story. In this story, there will be choices that you will have to make. Before you are the instructions on how to fully enjoy this experience:
1. When you see ''bold blue text'', know that this progresses the story. These will determine your choices.
2. When you see //''bold, blue, italicised text''//, you will be given the ability to change a word in a passage of text. You just have to click on the word(s) to do so.
3. Once you have made a choice, you cannot go back.
[[Okay.]]
CW - Swearing, Graphic depicitions of violence, Self harm, Death (suicide, murder, sudden murder, cancer diagnosis), Drug use and abuse, Assault, Domestic abuse, Drink spiking, Police brutality, Bombings
“Words make a wonderful interface. Very flexible. And less terrifying than staring at the reality behind the screen.”
- //End Poem//, by Julian Gough
[[Introduction]] You open your eyes.
A mirror before you, you see yourself.
There you are.
And there are three doors behind you.
You turn around.
…
Which door do you choose to walk through?
[[HUMAN DOOR]]
[[ALIEN DOOR]]
[[ANIMAL DOOR]]You are a human child, about 12-years-old, and you've just started at a new school after moving house.
In your new class, you see the class only has two free seats left.
One of them is next to a person who has a strip of colour in their hair, and has some badges and patches on their bag.
The other is next to a person who is chewing some gum, before putting under the desk, and has a pencil tucked behind their ear.
[[I want to sit by the person with the badges.]]
[[I want to sit next to the person chewing gum.]]The game master is a stressed and tired university student, so could not finish this section of the story. Please go through the human door.
[[HUMAN DOOR]]
[[ANIMAL DOOR|Animal door funny]] The game master is a stressed and tired university student, so could not finish this section of the story. Please go through the human door.
[[HUMAN DOOR]]
[[ALIEN DOOR|alien door funny]]
You go and sit next to the person with a streak in their hair.
"Hi there!" The person says jovially, "I'm Ari."
"Hi," you reply, "I'm (cycling-link: "[*James*]", "[*Ariel*]", "[*Noor*]", "[*Alex*]", "[*Charlie*]","[*Naomi*]", "[*Robin*]", "[*Finn*]")."
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After class, you and Ari go to the park.
"I love flowers," Ari begins while picking the petals of a dandelion, "Do you want to make daisy chains?"
[["Okay!"]]
[["Actually, can we play a game instead?"]]]You go and sit next to the person who just put a piece of gum under the desk.
"Hi," you say, "I'm (cycling-link: "[*James*]", "[*Ariel*]", "[*Noor*]", "[*Alex*]", "[*Charlie*]","[*Naomi*]", "[*Robin*]", "[*Finn*]")."
"Ash."
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After class ends, you and Ash go to the park, where there is a group people from your class playing football.
"Hey, wanna go an pick on them? They're fucking pricks."
[["Yeah, okay!"]]
[["Erm, nah, let's play a game together."]]]"Oi!" Ash shouts at the kids, "We wanna join in."
"Really? Okay, you can be on Wade's te--"
Ash pushes the girl to the ground.
"Er, excuse me!" A woman with long brown hair and glasses walks over.
You look at Ash as you realise that the woman is your teacher.
Ash walks towards your teacher, fists tight.
[[Join Ash and attempt to fight the teacher.]]
[[Grab Ash and convince them to calm down.]]The two of you pick flowers and connect.
You become best friends, and are inseparably all through school.
You both get top grades and get accepted into university.
[[Go to University of Birmingham with Ari|high uni w/ friend]]
[[Go to Durham University with Ari|high uni w/ friend]]
[[Go to Oxford University with AriI|high uni w/ friend]]"Fine. You count, I'll hide."
***
The next day, you and Ash go to school together.
You see the kids from the park are sitting at yours and Ash's table.
"I told you they were pricks." Ash muttered under their breath, "C'mon, let's fuck them up."
[["Let's show them not to sit in our seats again."]]
[["No, Ash, let's just sit somewhere else; it's not a big deal."]]The two of you play hide and seek at the park, and then when it gets dark, Ari invites you to their house for a sleepover.
You become best friends, and are inseparably all through school.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You both get top grades and get accepted into university.
[[Go to University of Birmingham with Ari|high uni w/ friend]]
[[Go to Durham University with Ari|high uni w/ friend]]
[[Go to Oxford University with AriI|high uni w/ friend]]]
Ash seems annoyed.
"Fine." They kick a rock at their feet, "What do you wanna play?"
[["Why don't we go and play football with them?"]]
[["How about hide-and-seek?"]] "Sure!" Ari stops picking the petals, and sees a group of kids playing with a football.
"Do you want to go and play with them?"
[["Yeah!"]]
[["I was thinking we could play hide and seek!"]]The two of you try to fight the teacher, but the police show up quickly, and you both get sentenced to seven months in juvvie.
The seven months drag by, but it gives you time to think.
Ash comes to you a few days after your release and asks if you want to Continue. this life.
[[Refuse and buckle down in school.]]
[["Yeah, let's give it another shot,"]]"Hey, what the hell was that?"
Ash seethes, looking down at their shoes, before running down the corridor.
[["Hey, wait up!"]]
[[Go back to class and apologise to the kids.]]"Ew. Why?"
"Because they look like they're having fun," you reply.
"You can go and play with them, but I'm not. See you around."
Ash walks away and you go and play football with the group.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Years pass and you remain friends with the Bob, Wade and Mari, the football gang. You get the opportunity to go to the same uni as your friends, but you see Ash at a local shop.
"Hey, you." They say, "Don't suppose you want to help me out with a drug deal?"
[["No thanks, Ash. I'll be going to uni soon and I don't want to get involved."]]
[[It might be a good way to get some extra cash, you think. "Sure."]]]You and Ari walk up to the group.
"Hey! Can we join in?"
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You, Ari, and the football group, Wade, Bob and Mari, become close knit friends, and you all do well in school.
You get accepted to lots of good unis, but Ari was planning on going to a different uni than you were.
[[Go to uni with Ari.|high uni w/ friend]]
[[Go to uni alone.]]]You go to the same uni as your friends, which you all succeed in and graduate.
You and your friends decide what to do after graduation.
[[Pool together all of your money and go on a road trip.]]
[[Pool together all your money and buy a home together.]]Ash agrees to give you a cut if you help out.
You and Ash get to the meeting point, but you find police there.
You get arrested and sent to prison for 6 months, and the unis recall their offers.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After you leave prison, Ash finds you.
"What do you say? Wanna try this life?" They ask you.
[["Yeah, let's give it another shot,"]]
[["I can't. I don't want to Continue. this life, Ash."]]]You go on a road trip with your friends in a campervan you rent. You and your friends experience a wonderful few months with them.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[While you're filling up the van at a petrol station, you go to pay and recognise the cashier.
"Ash?"
The person chuckled nervously, "Yeah?"
---
You and Ash catch up for a bit, and exchange numbers.
A few days later, they call you, offering to move in with them as their flatmate has just moved out.
[[Live with Ash.]]
[[Go back with football friends.]]]The four of you buy a home together, and everything works out well.
You have cleaning and cooking rotas, as well as game and movie nights.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Wade and Mari tell you and Bob one day that they're now in a relationship.
[[Stick with them.]]
[[LEAVE]]]You all continue to live together.
Bob and Mari have a child and all four of you raise the kid.
You all watch the child grow as you too grow old.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You become sick and die at 89-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You leave the house and the friends give you your share.
You have enough money to live by yourself, but you feel sad about it, after living with friends for so long.
[[Continue.|LEAVE NO FRIENDS]]After seven months in juvvie, you decide to buckle down in school.
The teachers recognise your hard work and dedication.
You manage to get offers from three unis.
[[Go to Birmingham City University.|middle uni alone]]
[[Go to University of Derby.|middle uni alone]]
[[Go to Northumbria University.|middle uni alone]]You and Ash begin a life of crime, successfully scheming your way through life and making a lot of money.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After a few years, Ash takes you out for food.
"What do you say, do you wanna be with me?"
"In what way?"
Ash rolls their eyes.
"You *know* in what way."
[[Start a romantic relationship with Ash.]]
[[Remain a business relationship.]]]You and Ash begin a romantic relationship. You're like the new Thelma and Louise.
You pull off many smaller crimes, until Ash suggests you go more extreme.
"We can do it, babe, I know we can do it."
[[Rob a bank with Ash||ROB A BANK ROMANCE]]
[[Kill and mug a person with Ash|KILL A PERSON ROMANCE]]You and Ash continue as business partners and friends.
As a team, you grow even more successful in your crimes.
One day, Ash suggests taking things up a notch.
[["Let's kill someone!"]]
[["Let's rob a bank!"]] You and Ash plan to rob a bank.
"Everyone get down!" Ash shouts, as you point a gun at the patrons.
Ash attempts to get the cashier to put the money in their bag, but then the police barge down the door with a battering ram.
"Get down!"
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ash aims their gun at the police, but gets shot immediately.
You run to them and catch them. You hold them as they die in your arms.
You cry.
You get sent to prison.
[[Commit suicide.|Commit suicide. 2]]
[[Live out your life in prison.]]]The two of you successfully kill someone one night in the street.
With the money you stole from them, you and Ash decide to take a holiday. You go on a road trip.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Contine.")[You and Ash stop at a petrol station to get petrol and some snacks.
At the petrol station, the cashier recognises Ash. Ash kills them.
"Get in the car!" You shout.
You both speed out of the petrol station without looking and crash into another car on the motorway, killing you and Ash instantly.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ash walk along a road at night. It's relatively empty with only a few stragglers and groups of drunk party goers going home.
"That one." Ash whispers to you.
You look forward and see your victim.
Ash charges forward and stabs the person in the throat.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[But you notice a police car come down the road.
"Ash! Come on!"
You run in a frenzy, running into the road, where you get struck by a car.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ash successfully rob a bank in the middle of the night, and you escape. However, the police stop you a few streets away from the bank, while you're carrying the bag of money.
They ask to see the bag.
[[Sacrifice yourself.]]
[[Sacrifice the money.]]You commit suicide in your cell, unable to live without Ash.
[[You are dead.]] You decide to live out your life in prison. You learn to paint. You take more time to read the books you've always wanted to read.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[In a prison riot six months before you are released, you are accidentally killed in the cross fire.
[[You are dead.]]]"I don't suppose you could help us to find a place called--" You take out your phone to show the police your phone, while handing the bag to Ash, who sneaks away.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")["Hey!" The police officer in the car notices Ash walk away. You push the officer in front of you and try to run away, but you get shot by the police in the back.
[[You are dead.]]]"Of course, here you are." You hand the bag to the police, grab Ash, and make a run for it.
The police are distracted by the money they find and so don't see which corner you and Ash take.
The both of you make it to an abandoned building, where you sleep for the night.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[From CCTV footage, the police are able to find you.
They kill you and Ash while you sleep.
[[You are dead.]]](if: visits is 1)[Well?
[[What?]]] (if: visits is 2)[Was that better?
[[No! I wanted a different ending! I still died!]]] (if: visits is 3)[//Thank you.//
[[END]]]Really? I can tell you're gonna be fun.
Go through the [[HUMAN DOOR]]. "I'm sick of this place." Ash hissed.
"Huh?"
"I need to get out of here."
Ash turns to you.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.") ["Run away with me."
"What?"
"Let's starts a life of crime!"
[["Yeah, sure."|"Yeah, let's give it another shot,"]]
[["No, Ash, I can't do that."|Go back to class and apologise to the kids.]]]
You stop being friends with Ash, and do well at school.
Because of this, you are offered places at multiple universities.
[[I choose the University of Birmingham.|high uni alone]]
[[I choose the Durham University.|high uni alone]]
[[I choose to go to Oxford University.|high uni alone]] You work hard at uni, and manage to get a really good, high-paying job that you enjoy.
One day, you turn on the news.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.") ["...the perpetrator, Ash Williams, 25, died while trying to rob the luxury jewelry store..."
Shit.
[[You feel guilty.]]
[[You feel vindicated.]]]No matter how hard you try, you can't stop thinking about how life could have gone differently. For you and for Ash.
You visit their grave.
[[You try to move on.]]
[[You commit suicide.]]You feel no remorse for your ex-friend. He is dead to you. As well as literally dead.
You get a promotion at work and are able to move into a bigger house, where you host a house warming party.
At the party, a person catches your eye.
[[Ask the person out.]]
[[Leave them be.]]"Goodbye, Ash." You leave, and Ash's grave remains undisturbed.
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [You return to your life: your job, your social life. You adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]"), and live a happy life in the house you bought.
You go out with your friends to a bar where Ollie, one of your friends, comes up to you.
"I really hope this doesn't make things awkward between us, but--", they look down at their glass, "would you like to maybe go on a date with me?"
[[You smile. "That'd be lovely, Ollie."]]
[[You look down at your own glass. "I'm sorry, Ollie, I'm-- I'm not interested in you in that way."]]]"I'm sorry, Ash," you weep at their grave, "You didn't deserve this."
You shoot yourself in the head.
[[You are dead.]]
You and Ollie go out on a date, but it does not go well at all.
Things get a little awkward between you and Ollie.
[[Take a new job opportunity in a new town.]]
[[Attempt to make amends with Ollie.]]"Oh, that's okay, sorry, I thought I'd just ask. Just in case."
"I get it."
You stand in silence for a few seconds.
"I think I should go."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm getting tired anyway."
"Okay, let me know when you get home."
"I will."
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [You get home, let Ollie know you got back safely, and collapse onto your bed, quickly falling asleep.
[[Continue.]]]The years go by, you get a promotion at work. You're trying to make life the best it can be. You're happy.
[[Continue.|Continue. 2]]You feel the end coming soon. You've had a calm life, and you die content.
[[You are dead.]]
"Hey." You walk up to the person.
They turn to you and smile, "Hi, there."
***
On your date with Harper, you hit it off.
[["Let's get married!"]]
[["I don't want to get married, but I want to stay with you."]]You leave them be, and enjoy the rest of your party.
You occasionally host meals with your neighbours over the years, and adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]") as the house feels a little empty with just you.
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [
You enjoy a long life with your pet and die peacefully of old age.
[[You are dead.]]]
The two of you get married in a lovely ceremony on the beach--as Harper wanted.
You go back to that beach every year, and decide to buy a holiday home right next to it.
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [
You both eventually die of old age in the house.
[[You are dead.]]]"Oh, that's good, because neither do I." Harper laughs.
---
The two of you remain together for many years, but you get a call one evening.
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [It's the hospital, and they tell you Harper has died of sudden cardiac death.
You are distraught.
[[Commit suicide.]]
[[Continue. living for Harper.]]]You commit suicide to be with your late partner.
[[You are dead.]]
You set up a charity for other people whose partners have died suddenly. You make friends with the people at a support group.
You get by.
You decide to move out of the neighbourhood; the house holds too many memories.
You move into a smaller home and adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]"), which you name (cycling-link: "[*Ruby.*]", "[*Max.*]", "[*Harper.*]")
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.") [You die peacefully in your sleep in your eighties.
[[You are dead.]]]You move to the new town and get the new job. You enjoy this new job a lot more than your previous one.
But you also lose contact with Ollie, and all of your friends from your previous life.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You enjoy this new life, until you die of an illness at 67-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]"Hi." You bring Ollie a bouquet of flowers to their house.
Ollie smiles, and takes the bouquet.
You and your friends begin to move on, and you even get closer with some, leading to you making more of their friends your friends.
Ollie finds a partner and is happy. You're happy for them
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Work becomes grating, but you're able to get through it by hanging out with your friends as much as you can.
Life is pretty good.
[[Continue.|Continue 3]]
You go and sit at a free table, but Ash walks over to the group and punches one of the children in the face.
They get taken out of the room.
You go back home and your parent tells you that you can't see Ash again.
The next day, you go to school. And Ash isn't there.
[[Continue.|Go back to class and apologise to the kids.]]You and Ash walk over to the kids at the table.
"This is our table. Fuck off." Ash says in a low tone.
Before any of the children could say anything, Ash punches one of them on the nose.
"Hey!"
The teacher comes over and you see Ash go towards her.
[[Join Ash and attempt to fight the teacher.]]
[[Stop Ash, and take them outside of the classroom to cool down.]]You grab Ash's arm, pulling them back.
"We're so sorry about that, Miss."
You turn to the girl on the ground and help her up, but when you turn back, Ash grabs you and walks down the hill.
"C'mon, let's ditch this place and rob the cornerstone down the road."
[["That's sounds like a good idea."|ROB THE STORE]]
[["What? No!"|REFUSE]]Ash informs you of the plan and you distract the cashier as they steal some alcohol from the back of the store.
They try and grab some other things, but the cashier wasn't fooled by your distraction, and phoned the police almost immediately.
They arrive and you and Ash get sent to juvvie for eight months.
Continue.
(click-replace: "Continue.")["What do you say?" Ash asks a few days after you've been released.
"What?"
"Wanna try again? Last time was a bust, trust me."
[["No, I'm tired of this."|Rob store route]]
[["Yeah, let's give it another shot,"]]]"C'mon, it'll be a laugh!"
"No. Ash, I can't do that."
You leave and go home. The next day you go to school and avoid Ash.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[A few months later, Ash disappears from school and they don't return.
[[Continue.|Go back to class and apologise to the kids.]]]"Fuck you, I can do this by myself." Ash leaves, and you never see them again.
Weeks pass and you try to get a job but no one will hire you.
You ask your old football friends if you could couch surf while you try and find a place. Mari is the only one who gives you a chance. You make sure to make it up to her.
It takes a while, but you do eventually get a job. it doesn't pay great, but you try to contribute to Mari's rent as best you can.
You do well in your job and your boss is impressed with you.
[[Continue.|Continue. STORE ROBBERY SHOT BY ASH]]
But one day, the shop you work at gets robbed.
"Hands up." The perpertrator aims a gun at the back of your head after you turned to retrieve some cigarettes for them.
You recognise the voice.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.") [It's Ash.
You turn around, hands up.
"Ash, please--"
They shoot you without remorse.
[[You are dead.]]]
You go to a uni on the other side of the country to Ari, but you remain in contact.
After you both graduate, you meet up for a long catch up.
"What do you say about living together?" Ari asks you over coffee.
[["That sounds like a great idea."]]
[[Politely decline, and move close to the job offer you received.]]You move in with Ari and reject the job offer.
The two of you struggle to find jobs in the area as there are not many placements available in your neighbourhood.
[[Keep trying to get a job.]]
[[Tell Ari you need to move out to find a job elsewhere.]]You decide that moving and accepting the job offer was the best thing to do.
You and Ari still keep in touch, just like in uni, and you meet up as often as you can.
Your job pays really well, but Ari is struggling to find a job.
[[Help Ari.]]
[[Keep your money.]]You call Ash for a catchup, and ultimately decide to live alone.
You go out with Ash a lot, and get to know them more.
The two of you slowly reconnect.
They have changed a lot since they saw you last, for the better.
You consider starting a romantic relationship with them.
[[Yes, start a romantic relationship.|YES PLS]]
[[No, remain friends.|NO PLS]]You and Ash begin a romantic relationship. You get a promotion at your job, while Ash begins writing stories.
While writing a children's story, Ash turns to you:
"What do you say about kids?"
[["I think they're a great idea."]]
[["I'd rather not deal with them."]]You and Ash decide to remain friends.
You get a promotion at your job, while Ash begins writing stories.
Ash starts acting a little off around since you suggested it.
[[Move out.]]
[[Try to cheer up Ash.]]You and Ash begin a romantic relationship. You get a promotion at your job, while Ash begins writing stories.
While writing a children's story, Ash calls you.
"What do you say about kids?"
[["I think they're a great idea."]]
[["I'd rather not deal with them."]] You and Ash remain friends, and your relationship is great.
You continue to meet up sometimes, until one day Ash comes to a meet-up with someone else.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")["This is my new partner, Harry." They tell you.
[[Get a partner too.]]
[[Remain single.]]]"How do you feel about maybe living together?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You and Ash move in together. You slowly reconnect and learn more about Ash.
They have changed a lot since they saw you last, for the better.
You consider starting a romantic relationship with them.
[[Yes, start a romantic relationship.]]
[[No, remain friends.]]]You awkwardly move out of the apartment, and you and Ash become distant.
You move into a different apartment by yourself, and adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]").
You start to miss Ash a lot.
[[Try to reconnect with Ash.]]
[[Move on from Ash.]]"Is everything okay?" You ask.
"Yeah, I'm fine." They say quickly, before walking into the kitchen.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You commission a painting of the characters from their new book.
They adore it.
Things get better and the tension dissipates.
[[Continue.|Continue 6]]]
You and your partner adopt a child called Joy.
You watch Joy grow up. She becomes successful. You and Ash are proud of her.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ash dies of old age first, leaving just you and Joy.
You die a few years later, being survived by your 42-year-old Joy and you 15-year-old grandchild.
[[You are dead.]]]Ash agrees, and the both of you remain childless.
Ash's writing career really takes off and, with your various promotions, the two of you enjoy financial prosperity.
You go on many holidays, and buy a large house where you host lots of get-togethers.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After years of travelling the world, you die of old age, at 90-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari go and work at the same place.
You are hard workers and each get promotions.
You and Ari are inseparable, and form a reputation of always being together.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ari suggests a romantic relationship.
[[Begin a relationship with Ari.]]
[[Refuse the idea gently.]]]You commission a painting of the characters from their new book.
They adore it.
Things get better and the tension dissipates.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ash gets a book deal and, to celebrate, offers to take you on holiday.
[["Absolutely!"]]
[["I'm sorry, I can't."]]]You decide to move on and go on some dating apps.
You talk with someone called Harper and go on a date with them.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You go on lots of dates and hit it off with Harper.
One day, Harper suggests marriage.
[["Let's get married!"]]
[[Break up with Harper.]]]You give up on romantic relationships, and you focus on your career.
You get to a very high level in your job and are able to travel a lot.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After a life of great success, you die of old age at 88-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You go on holiday and have a fun time.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[On your final day there, you and Ash go to a restaurant, where a bomb has been planted.
It explodes and kills 7 people, including you and Ash.
[[You are dead.]]]"I've got a lot of work to do, I don't have much time, I'm sorry."
"Ash is understanding.
"Eh, your loss." They tease.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You find out Ash has died while on holiday after being poisoned at a restaurant.
You are stricken with grief.
[[Commit suicide.|Commit suicide. 3]]
[[Continue living.|Continue. LIVING PLATONIC]]]You end your life to be with Ash.
[[You are dead.]]You continue living in Ash's honour.
You take up their writings, and attempt to continue it in their name.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You die of old age at 85-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You move and get the high-paying job. You somewhat enjoy it, but you miss Ari a lot.
Ari comes to visit and suggests you two go out to a club.
"We're only young once." Ari says.
[[Go out to the club.]]
[[Go out to a restaurant.]]After the roadtrip, you all live together in a rented flat.
You have cleaning and cooking rotas, as well as game and movie nights. You all get on really well.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Wade and Mari tell you and Bob one day that they're now in a relationship.
[[Stick with them.]]
[[Leave.|Leave 2]]]You get a great job, but your home life doesn't feel the same.
You decide to get a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]").
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You live out your life and die peacefully in your sleep of old age.
[[You are dead.]]]You get a partner as well, and you, your partner Yasmin, Ash and Harry all become close friends.
At a dinner party with the four of you, you go to the bathroom and discover a note.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The note is from Harry to Yasmin, and tells her to meet her at a bar after the dinner.
There are kisses at the bottom of the page.
[[Remain silent.]]
[[Show the note to Ash.|Pretend to be shocked.]]
[[Kill your partner.]]]
You slowly walk downstairs, but you see blood on the walls.
You see Ash dead on the floor.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Before you can even react, Yasmin stabs you in the stomach.
You bleed out and die.
[[You are dead.]]]You remain silent, not wanting to cause drama in the group.
The cheating continues, and your relationship with Yasmin becomes strained.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ash comes to you one day.
"Hey, I-- I don't know how to say this so, I'll just say it." They show you some messages between Yasmin and Harry.
"Harry and Yasmin are having an affair."
[[Reveal to Ash that you already knew.]]
[[Pretend to be shocked.]]]"I'm so sorry, Ash, I already knew."
Ash's eyes bulge and their brow furrows.
"You what?"
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ash cuts you out of their life.
You are distraught.
You die of a broken heart.
[[You are dead.]]]"What?!" You convince Ash you never knew.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The two of you dump your respective partners, and live a life together, drinking wine and enjoying life until you both die of old age.
[[You are dead.]]]"I got one!" Ari screams one day.
They get a very well-paying job, which is able to sustain both of your lives.
[[Keep trying to find your own job.]]
[[Pursue your dream.]]You move to a new city, leaving Ari, and find a good job.
You lose contact with Ari.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You go on a date with someone from work.
[[Pursue the relationship.]]
[[Remain single.|Remain single. 2]]]
You offer Ari some money to help her get by. She's very grateful.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[At your job, they ask if you know anyone with the skills needed for a new job. You recommend Ari and they get the job because of your recommendation.
However, a month later, they are caught stealing from the company, and you and Ari are both fired.
"I'm so sorry, I just needed a little extra because my landlord keeps asking me for more and more money otherwise he's going to kick me out." They explain.
[[Forgive Ari and remain friends.]]
[[Cut Ari out of your life.]]]You wish Ari luck with finding a job.
After a while, they tell you they have to move back into their parents' house.
With the money from a promotion, you buy another house.
[[Offer the house to Ari to live in.]]
[[Rent the house to someone who can pay rent.]]
You eventually find a remote job which also pays well.
With both of your salaries, you are able to move into a bigger apartment.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ari asks if you would like to start a romantic relationship with them.
[[Yes. Absolutely.]]
[[No, sorry...]]]
You pursue your dream, but you don't make enough to make ends meet, relying on Ari to do so.
Your friendship with Ari becomes strained and they tell you that they can't keep providing for you.
[[Give up on your dream and get a stable job.]]
[[Try to continue with your dream.]]You are suddenly made redundant at your job, but Ari, now your partner, helps you through it.
Ari's savings are able to get you both by for a while, but soon you are unable to continue living in your large apartment.
Despite your hardships, the two of you are happy together.
[[Continue.|Continue. 3]]
You refuse the relationship with Ari. Things are a little awkward for a few months, before eventually going back to normal.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You are made redundant and have to move back in with your parents.
Ari calls you one evening, crying, and explains how their father has been arrested for being the head of a drug ring.
[[Get an office job.]]
[[Take over drug ring.]]]
You get married to Noah. Your marriage and life is good.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[A few years later, at a work conference, you see Ari there.
Ari confesses that they realised they're in love with you, and wants to be with you.
[[Cheat on Noah with Ari.]]
[[Explain that you are now married.]]]You decide to remain single, and adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]").
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[For your job, you are sent to a conference in your home town where you reconnect with Ari.
Ari says they miss you and want to be with you romantically.
[[Be with Ari.]]
[[REFUSE THE RELATIONSHIP]]]Ari is incredibly grateful to you, and with the house security, is able to find a job.
After a while, they are able to move out into a place of their own.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You decide to rent the house out to someone else.
[[Rent it out to a single person.]]
[[Rent it out to a family.]]]You rent the house out and make a lot of money from doing so. You make so much money that you are able to go into early retirement.
Meanwhile, Ari has finally found a job that she enjoys.
You have a holiday planned and consider asking Ari to come with you.
[[Go on holiday with Ari.]]
[[Go on holiday alone.]]You and Ari have a good holiday, but your credit card gets stolen.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Luckily, Ari is there to help you and sorts the situation.
When you return home, you have lost a bit of money, but not much compared to the amount in your savings.
You thank Ari.
[[Give her a car.]]
[[Give her a card.]]]
You go on holiday, but it becomes a nightmare as someone steals your passport and your identity.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You are stranded in a foreign country without money.
Eventually, you get help to get home, but when you return, you have lost all of your money and savings.
You commit suicide.
[[You are dead.]]]The person destroys the house and you cannot afford to fix it, and you cannot sell it without losing money.
You meet up with Ari for a catch up.
[[Ask Ari for help.]]
[[Don't bother Ari and try to get by on your own.]]The family move in. You make friends with them.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After a few months, the family confess to you that they cannot afford to stay in the house anymore because the mother has lost her job.
[[Help them.]]
[[Kick them out of the house.]]]You help the family while the mother finds a new job.
The family stay in the house longterm and eventually the children grow up and go to university.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[One of the children becomes a famous painter, and creates a large painting for you.
[[Display it in your house.]]
[[Sell it.]]]
You kick them out, leaving them homeless.
One night, you hear your burgarly alarm go off in the middle of the night.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[It's the mother of the family you kicked out, and she kills you in your sleep.
[[You are dead.]]]You display the painting in your house proudly.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You leave them all of your money in your will, and die at 78-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You sell the painting and use the money to buy a new car.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[On the way back from the car dealership, you get into a fatal car crash, and die at 43-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]
Ari helps you to restore the house. You sell it, finally free of it. You give some of the money to Ari.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You and Ari continue your lives, catching up every so often, before you die of old age at 82-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You quickly become bankrupt and don't tell anyone about your problems
Eventually, it gets too much and you commit suicide.
[[You are dead.]]You and Ari begin a relationship, and Ari moves to your city.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The two of you lead a nice life, until you are suddenly diagnosed with cancer, and die at 42-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]Ari understands, but is clearly trying to hide their sadness.
You say your goodbyes, and see Ari leaving alone.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You get a promotion at your job, and are finanfically stable enough to pursue your dream.
[[Pursue a painting career.]]
[[Pursue a writing career.]]
[[Pursue an acting career.]]]Throughout your life as a painter, you manage to sell many pieces of art. You go to conventions and markets to sell your work, and cultivate a good following.
Money is tight sometimes, but not most of the time which you are grateful for.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You die peacefully in bed at 70-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You begin writing short stories, and get a publishing deal to write a full novel after they do well.
You become a best-selling author and philanthropist.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You die from natural causes at 92-years-old, with a book unfinished on your desk.
[[You are dead.]]]Throughout your life as an actor, you only get a few acting gigs, in plays and adverts, but you have never been happier.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You continue acting until you die of breast cancer at 46-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You cheat on Noah with Ari.
This continues for months, before Noah eventually discovers the infidelity.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[One night, after an outing with Ari, you return home and Noah kills you.
[[You are dead.]]]Ari understands, but is clearly upset.
You say your goodbyes, and see Ari leaving alone.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You go home to Noah, who wants to have a conversation.
He asks if you want kids.
[[Have kids with Noah.]]
[[Don't have kids with Noah.]]]
You have kids with Noah, two of them in fact.
You are proud of your children as you watch them grow up.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[At a routine check-up, you get diagnosed with cancer, and you die at 46-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Noah decide to not have kids.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You get diagnosed with cancer and die at 45-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari now live in their parent's house.
Neither of you enjoy no longer having your own place, but you're grateful to Ari's parents.
One day, you see an open letter on the coffee table.
[[Look at letter.]]
[[Leave letter alone.]]You decide to take over the drug ring, and it earns you a lot of money, more money than you've ever seen in your whole life.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[One night, a drop is invaded by the police and you are shot. You succumb to your injuries and die at 34-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You take the office job.
It's not fun, and the people there are horrible, but it pays the bills.
You start looking for different jobs more suited to your interests.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[One day on your way to work, you get into a fatal car accident, that kills you instantly.
[[You are dead.]]]You forgive Ari and help them find a new apartment after their landlord problems escalated.
You manage to get a different job. You don't enjoy it as much but it pays the bills.
Ari still struggles to find a job after her firing.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You get a call from Ari's parents,
"Ari is dead."
They tell you Ari was attempting to sell their things to get by, but a man killed them.
You're in shock.
You visit their grave.
[[Mourn and move on.]]
[[Commit suicide.|Commit suicide. 4]]]You cut Ari out of your life, never speaking to them again.
You attempt to get your job back, and they cautiously rehire you.
After proving yourself to them, they begin to trust you again, and you get promoted.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Over the years, you amass lots of savings, and decide that you are secure enough to pursue your dream.
[[Pursue a writing career.]]
[[Pursue a painting career.]]
[[Pursue an acting career.]]]You find a job that you don't enjoy, but it significantly helps Ari and your friendship gets better.
The new job is boring, but continuing your hobby on the side helps you to relax after each day.
[[Continue.|Continue. 8]]You still struggle to make money, and eventually have to file for bankruptcy after Ari leaves you alone.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Out in town, you get stabbed in a mugging, despite having no money.
[[You are dead.]]]One day, your work gets noticed and your dream takes off.
You become very finanfically successful, and you and Ari are able to move into a large house.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You get diagnosed with cancer, and die at 54-years-old after a nice life.
[[You are dead.]]]]You realise how short life is, and decide to try to pursue your dream.
[[Pursue a writing career.]]
[[Pursue a painting career.]]
[[Pursue an acting career.]] You cannot live without Ari.
[[You are dead.]]You and Ari begin a relationship and, with your salary, move into a large house together.
You and Ari get an offer from a TV series asking you to be on their show.
[[Be on the show.]]
[[Refuse the show.]]
You and Ari remain friends. Things become a little awkward for a while but things eventually feel natural again.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ari gets a partner and moves away.
You are alone without Ari for the first time in your life.
[[Adopt a pet.]]
[[Get your own partner.]]]You decide to adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]").
With help from your new pet, solitary life isn't too bad, and you still keep in contact with Ari, visiting each other every now and then.
You get a promotion at work and amass a lot of savings.
You develop a sense of independence and a thirst for adventure.
[[Continue.|Continue. 7]]You get a partner called Noah. The two of you are happy.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After a few years of being together, you walk in on Noah cheating on you with someone else.
In a fit of rage over discovering the affair, Noah kills you.
[[You are dead.]]]In your retirement years and after your pet dies, you go an live on a cruise.
Your thirst for adventure is satisfied as you meet lots of new and wonderful people, and visit lots of unbelivable places.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You see a familiar face one day.
It's Ari.
You catch up after a decade of not seeing each other. They tell you that their partner died a few years ago.
[[Ask Ari if they want to live on the cruise with you.]]
[[Say goodbye.]]]You and Ari explore the world together, until you die of old age at 96-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]You say goodbye to Ari after their holiday comes to an end, and you continue your life on the cruise, until you die of old age at 92-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]Are you happy with that ending?
[[I guess.]]
[[No.]]Well, you're free to play again if you want?
[[Okay. I will.]]Well, you're free to play again if you want?
[[Okay. I will.]] [[Restart game.|Box 1]]Yeah. So?
[[I wanted a different ending.]]Why?
[[My ending was shit again.]]
[[Because what is the point of playing a choose-your-own-adventure game if the ending isn't going to change?]]And getting a different ending was the only thing on your mind?
[[...Of course...]]You didn't enjoy your story?
[[No! I wanted a different ending!]]Sometimes, the point of games isn't to get a new and exciting ending.
Despite the ups and downs of your story, that's //your// story.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You are the player of your own game. It will end like every other player's game. But does that make either of the lives you've lived any less valuable?
[[I guess not.|second to last]]]
Thank you for playing.
//Okay.// created by Ezra B. But did you //appreciate// your story?
[[What do you mean?]]Why don't you play one more time?
Now that you know it will end in death, please, I ask of you, take your time. Take in the story properly.
[[Okay.|Box 1]]You stop being friends with Ash and try your best at school.
You do pretty well, and get offers from three different universities.
[[Go to Birmingham City University.|middle uni alone]]
[[Go to Northumbria University.|middle uni alone]]
[[Go to University of Derby.|middle uni alone]] After uni, which you do relatively well in, you get a nice job and manage to move in to a small apartment.
You adopt a pet (cycling-link: "[*bird*]", "[*cat*]", "[*dog*]", "[*camillion*]").
You are scrolling on your phone one day, when you see a post talking about a murder in the area.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The perpetrator is Ash.
[[You feel guilty.]]
[[You feel vindicated.]]]...
I'm too tired for this. Go through the [[HUMAN DOOR]].As the years go by, you watch your friends die one by one.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You go home from a night out but you get murdered on the street by two people.
[[You are dead.]]]You leave the house and the friends give you your share.
You have enough money to live by yourself, but you feel sad about it, after living with friends for so long.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You call Ash.
[[Live with Ash.]]
[[Live alone.]]]You and Ash live together for the rest of your lives.
You have good times and bad, until you die of a heart attack at 78-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]You decide romantic relationships aren't for you, but that's okay, because Ash and Harry make you feel included.
You get to a very high level in your job and are able to travel a lot with Ash and Harry.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[After a life of great success, you die of old age at 88-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari graduate with very high marks.
You get offered two different jobs: one where Ari is going to work, and one that pays better but is in a different city.
[[Get the job offered to you at the place your friend works at]]
[[Move away and get the higher paying job.]]You look at the letter.
It has details of the drug gang Ari's father leads.
"You shouldn't be snooping." A voice says.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Before you know what's happening, Ari's father hits you in the back of the head with something heavy, killing you instantly.
[[You are dead.]]]You don't look at the letter, and continue with your day.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You manage to find another job a few months later, and you and Ari are able to move back into your own place.
Life is good.
[[Continue|Continue. 4]]]Ari is shattered when their father is arrested for being the leader of a drug gang.
They struggle to come to terms with it.
With your help, they manage to continue with a semi-normal life.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The two of you continue out your life and you die of natural causes at 78-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari go to the club in town. You have never been before but the two of you have a fun time drinking and dancing.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Your drink gets spiked.
You and Ari are murdered.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari go to a restaurant and have a good catch up.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Ari leaves the next day and that's the final time you see Ari in a while.
Life goes on and you slowly lose contact with Ari.
[[Continue.|Continue. 5]]]
You continue your life and grow old.
You receive a letter and a bouquet of flowers from Ari. It reads:
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I was an awful friend and stopped speaking to you. I never meant for that. You mean so much to me and I miss you everyday. I am no longer able to visit in person due to illness, but please have this letter and this gift as a parting gift from an old friend.
You'll always have a place in my heart, no matter where we end up after this."
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[Having received the letter, you are able to die with closure.
You pass away a few weeks later from old age.
[[You are dead.]]]You give Ari a car and they are very thankful.
They are able to use the car to find a different job which pays them better than their original job.
The two of you remain in contact.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You and Ari live good lives, until you die of SCD at 42-years-old.
[[You are dead.]]]You give Ari a thank you card and they seem grateful.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The two of you drift apart, and you are lonely.
You die of loneliness.
[[You are dead.]]]You and Ari become a famous celebrity couple, make a lot of money from it.
Life is good.
[[Continue.|Continue. 6]]Ari wants to do the show, but you don't, and so the TV production crew find a different couple.
Ari is upset you didn't want to do the show.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You try to make it up to them.
[[Commission a painting for Ari.]]
[[Cooking a dinner.]]]After a few decades, fame dies down, but the love you and Ari have for each other persists.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You die in each other's arms peacefully after a long and happy life.
[[You are dead.]]]Ari loves the painting and forgets about the TV offer.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[The two of you live out a happy, long life together, before you die of old age.
[[You are dead.]]]Ari is pleased by the dinner, and the two of you dance in your dining room.
Continue.
(click-replace:"Continue.")[You and Ari live out a happy, long life together, before you die of old age.
[[You are dead.]]]But. Did you play a different story?
[[Of course!]]But. Did you play a different story?
[[Of course!]]