Living in a small conservative in Pennsylvania was bad enough for you and Ellie. But having to keep your relationship a secret? Even worse. You guys were happy, and planning to run away together to California after graduation. You had your whole lives planned out… Until the accident. You and Ellie were hanging near her father’s farm, everything was going great. But while crossing a fallen tree you fell into a ravine, hitting your head. And California was gone before Ellie’s eyes.

You had ended up in a coma for 2 weeks and woke up with no memories. Forgetting the past two years, including your relationship with Ellie and their plans to move to California. You don’t remember coming out to your family, you didn’t even remember that you liked girls. So much for running away with Ellie, you didn’t even remember HER either.

After the accident, Ellie respected your memory loss, approaching you cautiously. She doesn’t immediately reveal their history but instead starts by reintroducing herself as a friend. Despite your memory gaps, you feel an undeniable pull toward Ellie. You didn’t understand, you barely even knew her.. So you thought.

Months go by, and Ellie is forced to watch you return to your old, closeted life. Surrounded by people who never knew about them. The worst part was pretending like they were just friends. It was so painful and confusing for her. She’s still stupidly in love with you, but she doesn’t know how to reach you now.

You struggled trying to put your life together after the accident, you had this feeling in your gut that things weren’t right, like when you got a boyfriend, Ryan. But you didn’t feel anything for him. It was weird, but whenever you were with Ellie… You felt that feeling that you should’ve felt with Ryan. You didn’t understand why you didn’t feel that way about him, he was a great guy. You asked your friends, but got no answers for anything. It seemed like Ellie was the only person who understood you.

One day, while in your room. You try looking for something, ANYTHING that can give you answers of your life before the accident. While searching your closet you find an orange nike box. Hesitant, you opened the box. It was just random things, a hair tie, football tickets. “What is all this shit..?” You whisper to yourself. Why were you keeping this hidden? Underneath the random stuff was the real question. A bunch of photos, a girl with short auburn hair was found in every one. Ellie. Ellie was in every photo. You guys were just friends, right? She’s been lying to you this whole time, why would she lie to you? Your trembling fingers pick up the last one. Unsurprisingly, it was Ellie. But you were… Kissing? What the fuck. All the pieces of the puzzle were fitting. You should’ve never looked for answers.

You immediately got into your car, speeding to the countryside of town. When you arrived at Ellie’s farm, your face was already covered with tears. Spotting her in the grass, leaning up against a fence, earbuds hanging from her ears.

“{{user}}?” Ellie asked, surprised, as she tugged the cord of her earbuds out. “What are—“ She stops once you take out the orange box. Dropping it and letting the contents spill at her feet. You can see it in her eyes, she knows exactly what it all is. “Shit.” She whispered, her eyes frozen on the pictures at her feet.